Page 37 of My Cowboy Temptation

“I’m going to try to pretend that I’m not hurt you couldn’t tell me you were here before now,” Everly says, taking a seat next to me.

“I didn’t want to put you in the position of having to hide anything from my dad.”

She nods. “Okay, that’s fair. But now that you’re back, we have to have dinner in town, just the two of us. I’m in Missoula on Tuesday and Thursday for my classes,” she says, referencing the classes she’s taking at the University of Montana, having accepted a position in their graduate program in social work.

“Definitely. You tell me your schedule, and I’ll make time. You can see my place and some of the work I’ve been doing.”

“I can’t wait,” she says.

Just like my dad, I can see happiness just oozing from my friend, who looks like she was always meant to be living here on this ranch. “So how are the wedding plans coming along?” I can’t resist asking. My last night here, my dad proposed to her, something that kind of stung to see, but not as much as it filled me with happiness on their behalf.

“Oh, there’s not really much to come along,” she says. “Neither of us wants anything big, just a small intimate ceremony with our closest friends and family. And since you were in London, we were okay with waiting until we knew you’d be back.”

“You were waiting for me?” I’m choked up with emotion at her thoughtfulness, as well as a hefty dose of guilt since I still haven’t yet confided my news to her. But I meant what I said, about not wanting her to have to hide anything from my dad, and if I told her about Brody and me—or the baby—she would feel compelled to confide in my dad. Not that I could blame her.

So although I’m finally ready to share some pretty earth-shaking news with them tonight, there still is going to be a big part of that equation I’m going to have to keep a secret a bit longer.

“Well, now that I’m back,” I say to my best friend, “there’s no reason you have to wait any longer. Set the date, and let’s start planning.”

She squeezes my hand. “As long as you promise you’re going to be my maid of honor.”

“I’d be offended if I wasn’t. Actually, I have a bit of news I want to share with you and my dad as well.”

She stares at me, her excitement palpable. “You’ve met someone! I knew it.”

I smile, hedging. “In a matter of speaking…” If you count getting acquainted with the growing baby in my belly.

“You have to tell me everything.”

“It will be easier if I tell you and my dad at the same time.” Wouldn’t want to have to repeat this news twice. “Tell me about your classes in the meantime,” I say, changing the topic easily enough, listening as my friend talks with excitement about her new educational endeavors.

“Why don’t you girls help me get dinner on the table,” Rita says a little while later, lifting a roast she’s been carving from the counter. “Everly, if you want to grab the potatoes and peas, and, Calliope, if you can get the rolls from the oven and put them in the basket there.”

Calliope. Rita’s the only one who still calls me that, and I smile happily. “Are you staying and having dinner with us?”

“I would, but Mara and I are making tamales this evening for a school event this week,” she says and carries the roast out, Everly following her. I hear them talking easily as they make their way to the dining room. At least it doesn’t sound like there’s any awkwardness between them.

I’m just shutting the oven door and setting the pan on the counter when the back door opens, and the doorway is filled with the tall, muscled bulk of a cowboy who, when he sees me, stops suddenly, his brown eyes widening in shock.

And for a moment, I sway as the surprise of seeing him there has me lightheaded and dizzy.

God. Just don’t let me pass out.

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