Page 32 of A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy

“Gama!” Jamie ran toward the woman standing beside the fireplace, only tripping once on his way across the expanse.

The woman scooped him up and pressed kisses to his cheeks while twirling him in circles.

Stephanie closed the lodge door behind her as she studied the woman for Tate’s likeness, because this had to be his mother. He had her eyes. Her laugh lines. Her chin.

“Come meet my mom.” Tate came out from behind the reception counter, holding his hand toward her.

She bit her lip and looked up at him. He was really going to claim her upon first meeting? This was more amazing than she’d dreamed of. She slipped her hand into his. “I’d like that.”

They crossed the space. Only then did Stephanie notice two middle-aged men sitting on easy chairs off to the side, deep in conversation with each other.

Tate’s arm bumped into hers. “My dad and uncle. We’ll get to them.” Then he pulled her up to his mom. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Stephanie Simpson. She’s Jamie’s nanny and my girlfriend. Stephanie, my mom, Maribel Sullivan.”

The twirling stopped, and Maribel’s eyes widened as she looked between them. “Well, that’s… unexpected.” She blinked a couple of times. “I’m pleased to meet you, Stephanie. You have charge over my greatest treasure.”

Tate leaned against Stephanie. “She means Jamie, not me, in case you were wondering.”

Maribel chuckled, breaking the ice.

Jamie lunged at Tate. “Dada!”

Tate hugged the boy, slid him to the floor, and turned toward the men. “And now I’d like you to meet the others who flew in this morning. Dad, Uncle Theodore, this is Stephanie. Stephanie, my dad, James Sullivan, and my uncle, Theodore Sullivan.”

Both men rose and held out their hands.

Stephanie started by responding to James, then Theodore. Both men seemed wary, but could she blame them? They’d obviously been apprised of the situation ahead of time. Bless Tate for that. He wasn’t trying to keep a secret.

Wouldn’t a secret have been easier, though? Because what if something went wrong and she and Tate split up? They probably would. Statistically, most new relationships failed.

She held her smile and answered their few polite questions. Thankfully, the lunch chime sounded right then, and everyone turned toward the kitchen. She couldn’t help noticing James and Theodore holding back from talking to Nadine, while Maribel gave the other woman a big smile.

Oh, boy. This family was in a major state of turmoil right now. Was this really a good time to join in the fray? Stephanie felt Tate’s hand on the small of her back, and she couldn’t help pressing against his touch, just a little, and smiling up at him.

“Hey.” His gaze warmed upon meeting hers. “Don’t worry about all of them. They can’t affect us.”

Couldn’t they, though? They were Tate’s family, and she had no part of their dynamics. Not yet, anyway. “I should get Jamie.”

“Mom’s got him.” He nodded to where Maribel hoisted the little guy to her hip. “She’s going to want lots of Jamie time while she’s here. After all, he lived with her for five months.”

“And with you, right?”

“Right. But at first, Mom took the lead on his care. It’s like she clung to him to keep from mourning Wally and Ashley. But then the scale tipped, and the grief took over.”

Stephanie studied Maribel and the toddler. The grandmother’s smile was clear and happy. The boy obviously delighted to see her. “Is she going to want him back?” If so, there went Stephanie’s job.

Her conscience jabbed. If that was what was best for Jamie, then it was best. Besides, Sweet River was hiring. If she no longer had a job as Jamie’s nanny, she could fill a different position here. A shudder rippled through her. Anything to prevent having to move back to Jewel Lake and work for her own dad again.

Keeping jobs in the family seemed to work for Tate and the others, although their grandfather was at the helm, not the in-between generation. Her grandfather was even more domineering than Dad. If the man had ever approved of Stephanie, she hadn’t noticed. He’d also been unimpressed that her parents only managed to produce one child, a girl at that. Sons to carry the family name were everything to that man. No worry about the Sullivan name dying out anytime soon.

Tate steered her into line behind Jude and Weston. Weston looked at her over his shoulder. “I haven’t seen you by the stable yet.”

“I don’t really ride and, besides, I’ve got Jamie.”

Weston’s eyebrows rose as he took in Tate. “Nor you, cousin. You should really fit in a horseback ride and experience the ranch the way our guests will.”

“I’m busy.”

“Aren’t we all?” the man drawled. “I’ll have to speak to our grandfather and arrange a group excursion.”

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