Page 22 of A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy

“Stephanie?” Tate waited until she looked up at him. “I won’t ever lie to you. Even about something as inconsequential as pizza.”

She searched his face before grinning. “You’re calling this inconsequential? You’re so wrong, buster. Pizza toppings are life. Well, I guess salad is life. I brought a container of that, too. Caesar.”

“Caesar sounds good. I’d like to reimburse you for the meal.”

“Not needed.” She waved his words away. “I studied the contract your grandfather emailed me on Friday. It seems like I’ll be paid well enough to buy an occasional pizza or two, especially since most meals are included.”

“I should hope so. “ Tate chuckled, set a piece of each flavor on each of two plates, and handed one to Stephanie. “I’ve got some pop in the fridge, if you’d like a can. Coke?”

“I’ll grab it. Thanks.”

A moment later, the three of them sat around the table with their meal in front of them, though Jamie was picking his apart.

Tate held out his palm. “May I say grace?”

Stephanie’s warm hand fit inside his perfectly. “Please.”

Something about the contact gave Tate a deep sense of peace. Of belonging.

* * *

“Wait up, Jamie.” Stephanie trailed the toddler down the gravel road lined with cedar duplexes. Seemed like everyone must be at work, since the neighborhood was quiet.

Until a door on the unit closest to the lake opened, and a cowboy sauntered out, settling his Stetson on his head. The man stopped when he noticed her.

“Hi, there!” Stephanie called.

“Hi.”

This must be one of new cousins. She hadn’t met them yet and didn’t recognize this guy from around town. “I’m Stephanie, and this is Jamie.”

He strode closer. “Weston Kline.”

Talkative sort. “It’s nice to meet you, Weston. What do you do around here?”

“Head wrangler.” He scowled. “Nothing so fancy as Mister Chief Operating Officer.”

Also, sensitive. “I’m sure it takes a lot of different skill sets to run a place like this.”

“I guess. Most of those guys don’t ride. Do you?”

She hesitated. “Not much. Friends have a ranch, but I don’t get out often.” Would that be expected of her here? Maybe if Jamie wanted to learn.

“I’ll be teaching vacationing city slickers how to ride.” Weston studied her. “Pretty sure you’d be a quicker study than most of them.”

“Maybe.” The guy seemed to have a burr under his saddle. “Well, you have a great day.”

“You want to ride, come on by the stable. I’ll teach you.”

“Um, thanks. I’ll be pretty busy with Jamie, though.”

“Kids can ride, too. He can come up with me.”

“Maybe sometime.” Stephanie flashed him a noncommittal smile. At least, she hoped that’s what it looked like to him. The guy weirded her out, but he lived here and was Tate’s cousin. She’d have to figure out how to deal with him. Or avoid him.

“Your choice.” Weston started past her.

Stephanie checked on Jamie, who’d continued meandering down the gravel roadway toward the green space in the middle of the turnaround.

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