Page 21 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

He smiled. “Don’t worry. It won’t matter, because marriage is not even remotely on my horizon.”

She squeezed his arm lightly. “Well, I’m here if you need me. That’s what friends are for.”

He needed to remember that friendship when they got back to his house tonight and he was alone with her. He thought about her father’s warning to not hurt her. He wasn’t worried about her father, but he didn’t want to hurt Meg. He glanced around at her, looking at the deep-vee neckline of her dress and how it clung to her lush curves and creamy skin. He was going to have to keep remembering she was his friend, not a lover.

* * *

The Callahan brothers stood as Meg and Gabe approached their table. She caught the look that passed between them when they realized who she was.

“Wow, Meg,” Cade said, smiling at her, “you don’t look like the kid who used to climb over our fence to play ball with us.”

She laughed. “Thanks, Cade.”

“You may remember Erin, Luke Dorsey’s younger sister,” Cade said, introducing his wife. “Erin, this is Meg Aldridge, who was our Downly neighbor when Gabe and Meg were growing up.”

“We do know each other, although we haven’t seen each other in a long time,” Meg said, smiling at Erin and remembering her big green eyes and red hair. Gabe touched her back to draw her attention. “Meg, you remember my older brother Blake, and this is his wife, Sierra.”

She greeted the other brother and the beautiful brunette.

Gabe pulled out a chair for Meg and she sat at the table with the Callahans. In no time the men were sharing pictures of their babies on their phones. She saw pictures of Amelia, who had been adopted by Cade and Erin, and Sierra and Blake’s baby girl, Emily. They seemed so happily married, she couldn’t help wondering why Gabe was so opposed to settling down. Tonight wasn’t a typical evening for Gabe and he probably wouldn’t have attended if he hadn’t been doing a favor for her. She knew he liked a wilder time than he was having at the staid country club.

She was grateful to Gabe for pouring on the charm, especially when she could see Justin sitting only a few tables away.

Gabe put his arm lightly across her shoulders and leaned closer. “I see one of my friends. Remember Marc Medina?”

“Yes, I do. I haven’t seen him in a long time.”

“He isn’t going to recognize you. Let’s go over and say hello.”

Gabe stood and pulled out her chair and then took her hand in his as they wound through tables. Marc saw him coming and stepped away from his table to meet them. She looked at a handsome, broad-shouldered man with thick, wavy hair as black as Gabe’s.

“Good to see you,” he said to Gabe, shaking hands with him.

“Hey, Marc. Good to see you, too,” Gabe said. “You remember Megan.”

“Megan, I haven’t seen you in a long time. You’ve grown up into a very beautiful woman,” Marc said.

“Thank you.”

“I’ve seen your landscaping around town. It’s good. Do you have a card?”

She dug one out of her evening bag and handed it to him.

“Thanks.”

“We’ve got to get back to the family,” Gabe said. “We’ll get lunch soon. I’ll call you.”

As they walked away, Gabe said, “Marc is doing well with his oil and gas business. I’m glad because he’s a hardworking guy.”

“A nice guy, too, as I recall.”

Gabe pulled out her chair and they joined his family again.

With constant attention from Gabe, she couldn’t keep from having a wonderful time. After the speeches ended and dinner finished, the band took over, playing soft ballads. She knew from other events that the music would change later in the evening when the older crowd disappeared.

Gabe sat with his arm on the back of her chair, turned slightly to face her. He leaned in close, and to anyone watching them he’d look as if he couldn’t take his gaze from her.

“Justin hasn’t taken his eyes off you,” he whispered. “If I take you out on that dance floor, he’ll ask you to dance in a flash.”

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