Page 25 of Seasoned with Love (Prosperity Ranch 4)

Roman rubbed his fingers against his temple. “I know you’re right, Cara. Thank you for saying all of this. But the pain is sometimes really hard to bear. Like someone is stabbing my chest with a hot poker.”

Cara didn’t even pretend she could imagine that feeling. She’d had ups and downs in life. Disappointments. Losses. But Roman had experienced such raw tragedy. She continued moving her hand over his back for another moment.

When the sound of someone whistling reached them, Cara dropped her hand and shifted away.

Lila’s husband Thayne walked into the room, and Cara had to smile because he was decked out in a huge cowboy hat, brand-new jeans, and a plaid shirt that looked like it had been pressed into a rectangle before being pulled on.

Thayne spread his arms wide and made a slow turn. “What do you think, kids?” He stopped when he faced them again, a huge smile on his oblong face. “Dave said that I’m gonna be a featured extra today. Amazon delivered my get-up just in time.”

Dave was the director, and he seemed like a pretty cool guy. But Thayne’s outfit was something else. Cara covered her mouth because it was the only way she could stop herself from laughing aloud.

Roman rose to his feet and clapped Thayne on the shoulder. “Looking fine, my man. Do you think you could distress the clothing just a bit to make it look like you’re a working cowboy?”

Thayne’s blond brows tugged together. “Distress?”

Cara stood as well. “When do you have to be on set?”

Thayne frowned some more. “This afternoon. Why? What are you saying? I don’t look good?”

“You look great,” Cara hurried to say. “But your clothing needs to look more rugged.”

Thayne didn’t looked convinced. “Are you doubling as a costume consultant? I mean, your cooking is great but—”

“She’s from a ranch in Texas,” Roman cut in. “Her brothers are all cowboys, and one of them is a professional bull-rider.”

“Oh, well, in that case,” Thayne said, his tone lightening up, “have at it.” He spread his arms out again.

Cara smiled. “Can you change into something else? I’m going to wash your clothing and get the rugged look enhanced.”

Thayne cast Roman a worried look.

“Go change, man,” Roman said. “We can trust Cara. She knows what she’s doing.”

As Thayne headed off with a few grumbles under his breath, Cara said, “Thanks for vouching for me.”

Roman’s smile was back, and it was good to see. “Anytime. I thought you might burst out laughing, and I didn’t want to hurt his pride.”

Cara grimaced. “Was it that obvious?”

“Don’t worry,” he said, with a wink. “It was pretty funny.”

Wow, that wink made Cara pretty sure her heart expanded a couple of sizes.

She smiled back, relishing in this sweeter moment after their painful conversation. “It was pretty funny.”

Roman nodded, his smile growing.

How was it possible for Cara’s stomach to feel all fluttery when simply standing in the same room as this man?

Then he sobered. “Thanks for the talk, Cara. I needed to hear it. You’ve been . . . great. A good friend.”

He seemed to put extra emphasis on the word friend, but Cara didn’t mind. She was only too happy to help him through his struggle with guilt. She knew that sometimes it was hard to see your own way through a trial. An outside perspective could make a big difference. “Anytime, Roman,” she said in a soft voice, realizing that she meant it. Fully. “You’ve been a good listener, too. I don’t meet many men—er, people—like that.”

His mouth quirked. “Did you just throw down on the male species?”

“Almost.” She laughed. “But I caught myself just in time.”

His eyes danced, the brown color as warm and golden as the sunlight coming in through the kitchen windows.

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