Page 25 of A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy

Tate wrapped up his notes. “I’d thought to check on Jamie.”

“You have a nanny for that. Unless you don’t trust her?”

Graham snickered. “More like he wants to check on the nanny.”

“Coffee this morning is on the clock. Consider it an informal staff meeting.”

“Yes, sir.” Whatever you say, sir.

* * *

Stephanie opened the lodge door and let Jamie trundle in under his own steam. Corporate lunch, huh? And since she was an employee, she was invited. So long as the food was good, she didn’t mind not having to fix meals for herself and her charge.

Voices sounded from the office wing. Others from behind the closed doors of the conference room. But the aroma of chicken noodle soup came from the kitchen, so she headed that direction.

A middle-aged woman looked up from stirring a pot and smiled. “You must be Stephanie, and this little fellow is Jamie? I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Nadine, Walter’s daughter.”

Which made her Weston’s mother. “Yes, I’m Stephanie. I’m pleased to meet you. Can I help with lunch?”

Nadine glanced at the wall clock. “I think everything is under control. The men will be here in a couple of minutes. Garlic toast is holding warm in the oven, and I’ll serve the soup cafeteria style.”

“Have you cooked for crowds before?” Not that Sweet River currently hosted vast numbers, but the nose count would go up as the season got underway.

“I have.” Nadine smiled. “I’ve headed up meals for various conferences in the area. I’m looking forward to this new challenge. Though, I’ll admit I wasn’t thinking of a toddler when I fixed soup for lunch. Will it be okay?”

Stephanie’s mind stuttered. She located the boy in question before entering the kitchen and peeking into the pot. “Wow, this smells so good. Maybe we can pull out some of the vegetable and meat chunks and put them on his tray.”

“Sure.” Nadine reached for a bowl and began scooping solids into it. “He’ll probably like some toast, too.”

“I’m sure he will. But, I have to be honest. I don’t know his tastes at all yet, so we’re both guessing.”

“Fair enough. We can figure it out together.”

“Excellent.” Seemed like she’d get along fine with the only other woman currently on the ranch, which was a good start.

Jamie had pulled two cars out of a basket near the fireplace and was crawling around with one under each hand. A chime sounded, and voices came nearer. Tate entered from the conference room, his gaze going straight to her. Then to Jamie. Then back to Stephanie with a small grin.

Her heart flipped, and she smiled back.

He dropped to the floor beside his nephew. “Hey, shorty.”

Jamie drove a car up over Tate’s leg. “Dada.”

The other guys crowded around the counter, where Nadine began serving bowls of soup. Mr. Sullivan, senior, approached Stephanie. “Miss Simpson.”

“Stephanie, please.”

He nodded. “Tate volunteered you for an additional task, if you’re willing.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“I have stacks of employment records on my desk from previous years. I need someone to sort them and build a tentative list of those we should contact to see if they might be interested in returning. There will, obviously, be many that won’t be a good fit for a variety of reasons. Tate suggested you could do a preliminary sort while young James naps?”

She glanced at Tate, who looked back with his eyebrows lifted. “I’m not sure if I can be any help, but I’m willing to try.”

“Excellent. We’ll meet in my office before you head out after lunch. Tate can carry the box out for you.”

“Thank you for the vote of confidence.” Even though the added responsibility made her nervous.

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