Page 38 of The Rancher's Secret Son

“Early, but I can’t take credit. Douglas had all this ready. He left it for us.”

“Mercy, what a spread. Very tempting,” she said, looking at the ingredients again and glancing at Nick to find him watching her with another intent look.

“What? Is something wrong?”

“Far, far from wrong,” he said, his voice dropping lower, stirring more sizzles in her. “What’s tempting in this kitchen isn’t the chopped veggies.”

Smiling, her heart beating faster, she moved away from him to sip her orange juice. “I’ll have a bit of everything in my omelet. How’s that? Can you cram it all in and still have a small omelet?”

“Just watch,” he said, turning his attention to his cooking.

Was he flirting to see if he still held appeal or was he flirting for the fun of it? She wondered if she would always suspect his motives.

* * *

It was midmorning before they were on horseback. Claire took pictures of Cody, whose eyes sparkled. In his parka, Western hat, jeans and boots, he looked like a little cowboy and he sat on the big horse in front of Nick looking as if he had been given the world.

In addition to appearing almost as happy as his son, Nick was handsome, sexy and appealing in his black broad-brimmed hat, tight jeans that hugged his muscled legs and his boots. Would he kiss her again tonight? With the question came the realization that she wanted him to. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to be with him and wanted to be in his arms, which was not going to help her in dealing with him.

“Well, you’ve cinched your place in his heart,” she told Nick, looking up at him. “I imagine you can do no wrong in his eyes and there is no man on this earth who could possibly be a more wonderful dad.”

“I hope you’re right,” Nick said. “That’s awesome, but I love it. We can come out to the corral tonight after dinner when the guys spend a couple of hours riding and it’ll be an eye-opener. I don’t think he realizes what this animal can do. Has he ever been to a rodeo?”

She gave Nick a look.

“Well, we’ll remedy that soon, maybe tomorrow night if I can find one somewhere we can get to.”

“That will be the crowning touch.”

Their busy schedules were not going to allow many more weeks like this one and the past weekend, when they had both cleared their calendars, so things would change soon. In the meantime, Claire was going to enjoy every moment.

All day she trailed after them, mostly to take pictures of Cody. And that night she sat down to another delicious meal with them, courtesy of Douglas and his wife who served them.

After dinner Claire passed on going to the corral to watch the cowboys with the horses.

When Nick and Cody returned, Cody ran to tell her about the bucking horses and the cowboys. He jabbered and waved his hands and she got out her iPad to take a video to show her grandmother. Cody didn’t seem to notice the iPad. When he told her about his dad riding a bucking horse, she glanced at Nick in surprise. He grinned and she realized again that Nick loved ranch life, even the more rugged moments. If he hadn’t been born a Milan with their legend and traditions, would his life and his choices have been different?

“Cody, I think it’s time to call Grandma and go to bed so you’ll be able to do things tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said as she got out her phone.

As he got ready for bed, Cody tugged on her wrist, and when she looked at him he continued telling her about the bucking horses. Nick joined them while she read to Cody and minutes after he climbed into bed he was asleep.

“Let’s go look at the pictures you took today. I would like some copies.” Nick draped his arm across her shoulders and they went to the sitting room to sit on the sofa together.

“I think you had another hit this evening. To say he was impressed is an understatement.”

“I’ve told him he doesn’t go around the horses unless I’m with him or Mr. Macklin, my foreman. Dusty Macklin has raised five boys and he knows kids. I would trust him with Cody, but nearly all the time Cody will be with me if he’s on the ranch.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You have a bull or two somewhere on the place, horses and rattlesnakes. Heaven knows what else, so I hope he’s always with you.”

“Don’t ever worry about him here,” Nick said, his blue eyes clear and direct. “Let’s see the pics.”

Together they went through the pictures, laughing over them. At one point Nick paused. “Claire, there’s something I was thinking about even before this week. Christmas is coming. I know you have Christmas with your grandparents, and I don’t want to interfere, but I want Cody around and my family will, too. Would you and Cody come back during Christmas week to have a Christmas together here at the ranch or in Dallas and include my parents? Your grandmother would be invited, and if I can possibly fly your grandfather here, he would be, too.”

She hadn’t wanted to think that Nick might want Cody with him at Christmastime, but now she had to make a decision. Once again her life was getting tied to Nick’s and she felt on course for another giant hurt.

“If I can have Christmas morning at home with my grandparents, then we could come that afternoon, providing the weather is good enough to travel. If Grandpa can’t travel, you can always join us in Houston. We’d be happy to have you.”

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