Page 49 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

“Especially together.” Austin winked at Tex while Rachel hugged her friend.

The dogs gave another half-hearted warning and plopped on the oak floor as if their job were done already. They probably smelled mice on her and weren’t sure what to do with that discovery.

“Thank you. Happy to see you, too.” Rachel wasn’t much of a hugger, though apparently this family was, and she found a pleasant wave spreading in her. How would it feel to be loved and accepted, not just for part of the day, but forever?

Most likely, she’d never know. She eased out of Austin’s friendly embrace fast, trying to ignore the longing—trying and failing.

She did her best not to read too much into this meeting. She’d long since learned that hopes, even small ones, could be crushed so easily. She stole a glance at Tex as he squeezed her fingers, and her heart fluttered. She was falling for this man, and she shouldn’t.

But she couldn’t tell him he’d become a job to her again in the sense that she’d taken on the self-appointed task of keeping him safe. And that added to the list of reasons why she couldn’t melt in his presence. She needed her mind clear and focused. Yet she nearly leaned into him when he touched her hand again. Yeah, easier said than done.

“I’m delighted you’re here, Rachel. Tex hasn’t brought a girl home since—” Mrs. Lawrence’s smile diminished.

“Mom!” Tex sent his mother a frustrated look.

Mrs. Lawrence smiled again. “Never mind.”

Rachel’s eyes narrowed. What was that about?

Based on Mrs. Lawrence’s expression, she highly disapproved of the previous woman Tex liked. Rachel stepped back.

Maybe it was all pretense, and it wasn’t as easy to earn Tex’s mother’s affection as it seemed. Rachel had seen a lot of deceit and hypocrisy from her stepmother and stepsisters. Years of surveillance work on cheating spouses, two-faced friends, and betraying business partners only showed her more of that side of human nature. Why should she believe this family was any different?

Another man with an obvious resemblance to his brothers, but slightly taller and broader-shouldered, entered the hall. Dressed in a Wrangler’s shirt and faded jeans, he firmly gripped a German shepherd’s collar. The dog scowled at her, and so did the man. But maybe that expression was an attempt at a smile. When the German shepherd growled, the guy did not, which she considered a plus.

Tex stepped forward. “Rachel, please meet Darius, my brother. Darius, this is Rachel, my... my friend.”

“Nice to meet you, Darius.” Rachel’s heart sank, not because of Darius, but because she wanted to be more than a friend to Tex.

But who else could she be to him? They weren’t even in boyfriend-girlfriend territory, much less anything further. Considering current circumstances, it was for the best, even if it stung her. She was his secret bodyguard of sorts, so secret, even he didn’t realize that.

She squared her shoulders, upset she’d gotten distracted. As the unofficial head of the ranch, though not the oldest Lawrence brother, Darius could be the most interested in Tex’s inheritance. Maybe not for himself, but for his beloved ranch.

Darius looked gloomy indeed, greeting her with a frown and barely shaking her hand, but that was normal to her.

“Sit.” Darius ordered his dog.

The German shepherd obeyed and stayed motionless while the other dogs started playing with each other, tumbling and squealing from time to time. They resembled a childcare teacher with little children.

Rachel finally remembered the cheesecake and the flowers, retrieved them from the side table, and handed them to Mrs. Lawrence. “These are for you. And may I help set the table or with anything else?” She’d resented domestic duties since she’d been a child but no familiar stab of resentment accompanied her offer.

“Thank you.” Mrs. Lawrence led everyone—except the dogs who stayed under the German shepherd’s watchful eye—into the dining room. “And thank you for the offer, but it’s all set.”

Rachel resolved to put the dishes in the dishwasher after lunch. The desire to appeal to this family was huge, despite her skepticism and suspicions.

Though she didn’t need to try to appeal to Kennedy and Austin. They smiled at her encouragingly as they sat down.

At the sight of a juicy brisket and roasted potatoes with carrots and corn on the cob, Rachel’s stomach quietly sang an ode to this food. Then her belly growled. Okay, maybe not soquietly. She suppressed a grimace.

But despite two members of the family flying high now, this family didn’t seem to be for fancy table manners. Just like she’d expected, Mrs. Lawrence and Austin talked the most, and soon Austin had them all in laughing fits over tales of his furry clients’ shenanigans. As the town veterinarian and an animal shelter volunteer, he had a lot of stories to tell.

Without thinking much—or at all as sometimes was her habit—Rachel pointed her fork at him. “My pet stories all revolve around mice, but they are so dear. Button—he’s my smallest, and the cutest little white mouse you ever saw. Anyway, he loves nothing more than popping into any hole he can find—any buttonhole if you will. His recent disappearing act made me meet most of my neighbors while searching for him, and honestly, going door to door telling someone your mouse might be in their house is not the best introduction. Turns out, after putting me—and them—through all that, he’d just climbed into my bureau and made a nest in one of my socks. I only found him when I started to unroll the sock to put it on the next morning. I was so grateful I didn’t, well, put my foot in it.”

Had she put her foot in it now? Would they think her weird?

But the brothers guffawed while Mrs. Lawrence’s eyes glowed. “There’s few things better than discovering an animal is all right after you’ve spent the day fretting over him or her. You’ll have to bring your mice sometime. I promise we will keep the barn cats away from them.”

Tension eased out of Rachel’s tummy, replaced by the pleasant weight of the food. At the same time, delicious flavors—brisket and generously buttered and peppered corn—danced on her tongue, and the welcoming atmosphere enveloped her like a soft blanket.

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