Page 36 of My Cowboy Temptation

I nod, not even hesitating. “Think so. I guess I’m more a Montana girl at heart than I thought.”

“Can’t argue with that. Does your dad know you’re back?” she asks as she ushers me in and shuts the door.

“I wanted it to be a surprise and figured Sunday dinner was as good a time as any. Is he here?” I ask, following her into the kitchen.

“He and Everly went for a ride, but they should be back any minute. Can I make you some coffee? Or tea maybe?”

“Just water,” I say and take a seat at the kitchen table.

It’s still weird to think about my dad and my best friend getting it on, but I can’t deny that I’m happy for them both and the future they’re going to have together. A future they’re going to have because they were brave enough to declare to each other and everyone what they wanted.

I’m only a little bitter.

“Here. Keep yourself busy and tell me all about London,” Rita says, settling a bowl of peas in front of me that need shelling, just like when I was a little girl.

I pick up the first pod and open it, running my finger inside to push the peas out into the bowl while I regale her with some stories from my trip. But talking about London isn’t easy since there are more horror stories to share than good ones working with Theodore, which is why I’m happy to change the subject after a few minutes. “So how are things going on the ranch? I saw Childs on the road, and he mentioned something about cameras. How long has that been going on?”

“Not long after you left, your dad decided he wanted to beef up security. I think having that maniac out there gunning for Everly shook him more than he let on.”

Hmm. Maybe. I don’t know how much if anything Rita knows about the Palmer situation, and it’s probably best I don’t enlighten her if she doesn’t know. “And my dad and Everly? They seem okay?”

She smiles at me. “They seem fine.”

“Does it feel weird to you, seeing them together?”

“Probably not as much as it does for you. I’ve seen how your friend has looked at your dad since she was a teenager, so the fact she still feels that way isn’t a shock to me.”

She had? How had I missed it? And why hadn’t Everly told—okay. I guess I get why she wouldn’t tell me she was crushing on my dad. And it’s not like I confided to her my feelings about Brody.

“As for your dad,” Rita continues, “I think Everly is just what he needs in his life. He’s definitely much happier than I’ve ever seen him.”

“Good to hear,” I say, nodding. “So tell me about your new baby grandson?”

She takes up the conversation and shares how much the baby has grown and how great the little family is doing. She’s definitely a proud grandma, and I can’t help but feel a little jealous of her daughter for having such a doting mom in her life.

Unfortunately, it’s not the first time I’ve been jealous of her daughter, since Rita has been more of a mother to me than my own. But I’ve worked on overcoming my jealousy over the years, but there’s still that whisper in the back of my head wondering…

Will Rita be as happy and proud of my little one?

I have all the peas shelled when the kitchen door opens, and Everly walks in, her face flushed from her ride. She takes one look at me and screams, then rushes over, nearly toppling my chair and me as I laugh. She squeezes my shoulders in excitement, and a second later my dad races through the door, his face tense with worry. When he sees me, his face relaxes, and his eyes light up.

I stand as he reaches me, and we hug briefly—butt out again. “Hi, Dad,” I say and kiss his cheek as I look up at him. He really does seem happier. More at peace.

Unlike Rita, my dad and Everly don’t just accept the news that London wasn’t the right fit for my explanation of my return, and they pepper me with questions. It’s only when I get to the part about my accepting a job as Natasha’s assistant, a job I’ve been working at for nearly three weeks now, that they get quiet.

“You’ve been back for three weeks?” Everly asks. “How come you never told me?”

“I’d like to know that myself,” my dad says, accepting the cup of coffee that Rita brings over to him.

“Because for too long I’ve been dependent on my dad and his money, and I figured it was time I showed some independence and took care of myself. And I’m doing it. I have my own apartment and a great job that I love, and that gives me time to work on my projects.”

“So that’s your Jeep out in front, I take it?” he asks.

“It is. I just bought it, and before you can ask, I also took it to a shop to be independently checked out for safety.”

“Well, I’m happy that you’ve been able to do all that on your own, Cal, but don’t forget that I’m more than happy to help you if you ever need me,” he says and kisses the top of my head. “Now, I’m going to go take a quick shower before dinner, so I’ll let you and Everly get caught up.”

He pauses as he sees Everly, and there’s a look of love—and something a bit more that has me inwardly grimacing—that passes between them before he heads out.

---