Page 20 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

He couldn’t wait for the evening to end. He had looked forward to seeing his brothers and their wives, but now he wanted to have Meg all to himself, which surprised him.

Everything about her surprised him now.

He got out of the car and walked around it while a valet held the door for her and she stepped out. She was poised, radiant and absolutely breathtaking. He couldn’t stop looking at her. Her new appearance pushed him into more complications, yet now he looked forward to spending time with her this evening, not his family.

The event schedule was a cocktail hour, dinner, some speeches and then dancing, and he intended to enjoy every minute with her.

He took her arm and they entered the club, turning toward the refurbished ballroom where piano music could be heard. They didn’t get far before they encountered Justin and his date.

Meg had turned to speak to someone nearby while Justin addressed Gabe. Justin started to look away when Meg turned and said hello to him, and Gabe saw the man’s jaw drop. He recovered swiftly, his gaze sweeping over her once more, and Gabe couldn’t resist slipping his arm around her waist—getting a look from Justin that expressed unmistakable hatred and anger.

“If looks could kill, I would be a dead man now,” Gabe said when they walked on.

“Good. I told you we would be taken seriously. Wait until my parents see us. You just keep your arm around me.”

“I don’t think so. Some things I don’t do around parents, and you have very nice parents. I don’t want to anger them more than I have to. They don’t like me to begin with. I’m still my father’s son whether he ever sees me or not.”

“Don’t worry,” she replied, “my family will be civil toward you. And me. This is, after all, a social event.”

“Justin’s another story. I saw the look on his face.”

“Wait until this weekend is over. We will have a whirlwind courtship and then get engaged. Gabe, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You keep that thought in your pretty head until we get home.”

Why was he flirting with her, while common sense told him to back off? The lady was not his type and he didn’t want to get seriously entangled with her. If only he could remember that each time he looked at her. Well, he’d better cling to wisdom like a lifeline when he kissed her tonight. At the mere thought, another heat wave swamped him.

If he had good sense, he wouldn’t kiss her—tonight or ever again. But they had a deal. Besides, kisses he couldn’t resist. Where he had to use willpower was ensuring they didn’t go beyond kissing. He simply had to keep his wits about him.

He laughed to himself. He never would have thought Meg could do anything to make him lose all common sense.

Till now.

They stopped at the table with her parents and grandparents. Meg’s dad came to his feet, as well as her grandfather who was the rancher, but her other grandfather did not.

Gabe offered his hand and Meg’s father shook it, surprising him. “Hello, Mr. Aldridge, Mrs. Aldridge,” he said, smiling at her mother.

Mason Aldridge also shook hands with Gabe, talking briefly to him about livestock and the need for rain.

When the old man sat down, Meg’s father leaned in close and said in a harsh, low voice, so only Gabe could hear, “Do not hurt my daughter.”

“Yes, sir,” Gabe answered quietly. “I never have and I don’t plan to. She’s been my best friend since before we started school.”

“You’re a grown man now, not a kid, and she’s a beautiful young woman. Don’t hurt her.”

“No, sir, I won’t,” he reiterated politely and turned to smile at Meg’s mother, who was seated and ignoring him while talking to her mother, who sat beside her.

“We’ll see you later,” Meg said as she took Gabe’s arm and pulled slightly. He didn’t need any urging to walk away from her family.

“You get along with my grandfather.”

“We’re both ranchers. We have some of the same problems. But your dad threatened me. He told me not to hurt you.”

“Did he really? I suppose it just never got through to them that they were hurting me by trying to push me into marrying a guy I don’t love. By the way, do your brothers know about the fake engagement?”

“Yes, they do, and so do their wives. They accepted it as a simple favor I’m doing. Cade’s amused that I would even agree to a fake engagement. And they’re worried having a brief engagement may complicate my life.”

She frowned. “I hadn’t thought about afterward. There may be some women who’ll be bothered about a previous engagement. Tell them it wasn’t real. I’ll be glad to tell anyone.”

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