Page 45 of Seasoned with Love (Prosperity Ranch 4)

ROMAN COULDN’T REMEMBER THE LAST time he’d been in Texas, but it seemed they were in a heat wave. Although a quick check of his phone app told him it was only in the low 70s outside. Or maybe the airport didn’t have air circulating through it? Or maybe . . . he was just nervous to be meeting Cara Prosper’s family? Probably all of the above.

While he waited at the car rental counter, Cara had taken Mia to the ladies’ room, which Mia had been thrilled about. They didn’t have to search around for a family restroom. Already, Roman was seeing the advantage of having another woman in his life where his daughter was concerned. Especially when Mia adored Cara.

“Next, please.”

Roman looked up to see a round-faced woman with purple-framed glasses waiting to help him. By the time he had the rental reserved and paid for, Cara and Mia were heading back his way.

For a second, Roman looked at the pair as if he were an outside observer. Cara’s blonde hair hung in waves to her shoulders, and her blue eyes rivaled the prettiest Wyoming sky. Mia’s dark hair had been braided into two French braids by Cara on the plane. They’d scrounged up a couple of red ribbons to tie at each end. And Mia had insisted on wearing her red Christmas dress.

Despite their differences in looks and ages, they both smiled and chatted away as if they were bosom buddies. Which, Roman realized, they’d quickly become.

Would this trip just make it harder to say goodbye to Cara? Probably, but Roman hadn’t been able to say no. In fact, he’d been more of the instigator, which said something about where his heart and mind were when it came to Cara.

Just then, she looked up from Mia, and their gazes caught.

Cara smiled, and Roman smiled back, his heart racing now. Kind of crazy. But mostly exhilarating. If Cara’s description of her family was in any way accurate, Roman knew that the drive to the town of Prosper would be the most private time they’d have over the next day or so. He hadn’t really defined when he’d be leaving with Mia, but he’d promised they’d stay long enough so she could ride a pony, and play with Ruby.

“Did you get a car or a truck?” Mia asked as soon as they reached him.

“A car,” Roman said.

“But it’s Texas,” she said. “Like Wyoming, but bigger, and everyone drives trucks.”

“Is that so?” Roman said, looking at Cara, who only gave an innocent shrug.

“Not everyone, maybe, but a lot of people,” Cara clarified.

“Like your brothers and your dad?” Mia asked. She hadn’t let go of Cara’s hand in all of this.

“Yep.” Cara reached for her carry-on, since Roman had already insisted he’d be in charge of her suitcase. “A car will be fine this time around.”

Roman liked the sound of that—like there would be future trips with Cara. “This way,” he said, before he could dwell on any possibilities too much.

Having Cara sitting next to him in the car as they drove from San Antonio to Prosper was kind of surreal. This morning, it would have been the last thing he’d imagined. Cara pointed out stuff along the way and explained a few Texan traditions to Mia.

“I’ve never been to a rodeo,” Mia said. “Can we see one?”

“I don’t think you’ll be here long enough to see one,” Cara said. “There are rodeos in Wyoming, you know.”

“Really?” Mia asked, as if it were the most fascinating information ever.

In the rearview mirror, Roman saw her eyes widen, and he chuckled.

“Can we go, Daddy?” she continued. “Can Cara come with us to explain everything?”

“Uh . . .” Roman looked over at Cara.

Her expression was expectant, with a hint of a smile.

“We’ll see,” he said finally, because Mia was pushing things forward at a breakneck speed, as if they were already the Three Musketeers or something.

“That means no,” Mia said.

Roman could smell a pouting session a mile away with his daughter. It was one thing when they were home, but when they were guests somewhere else . . . “It means we can’t make decisions on the spot all the time. There are other things to consider.”

Mia huffed out a breath. “That still means no.” Her voice bordered on whiny.

Cara turned around to face her. “Hey, have you ever played the license plate game?”

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