Page 16 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

“Yes.” He swallowed so hard Cadence could hear it. “This is Cadence Foster. She’s just joined us from Chicago, and she’s taking on the photographer and social media position.”

“I’m so happy to meet you! You’re going to love it here.” Paisley’s smile widened.

Cadence couldn’t remember the last time a total stranger had been so excited to meet her. “Thank you,” she murmured, shaking Paisley’s hand. Then she backed up a step in case this woman was headed in for an embrace. Paisley looked like a hugger.

“As you may know, staff housing is close to capacity, and we’re now to the doubling-up stage. Tate has assigned Cadence to be your roommate.” Graham hesitated a beat. “I hope that’s okay.”

“More than okay! It will be so much fun to have a roommate. I’ll have to rein in all my stuff, though. I’m sort of spread out all over, but it won’t take long to clear out the loft. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve got the main floor bedroom? Oh, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about!”

“I’ve been inside Graham’s place.” Hopefully, that wasn’t admitting something she shouldn’t. “If they’re all the same layout, the loft is fine.”

After all, beggars couldn’t be choosers. Maybe she could find a curtain to help with privacy, since the lofts were open to the minuscule living room below.

“That’s excellent!”

Did she always speak in exclamation points? Was Cadence up for ten weeks of Paisley Teele? But it would sure beat living with an angry, grumpy person. It would sure beat living with Paul Bradley. Being married to him.

Cadence suppressed a shudder.

“I’ve got a riding lesson with several tweens at one.” Paisley checked her watch. “But I’ll be free for a bit at three. I’d say to go ahead without me, but I wasn’t kidding about my stuff having exploded all over the place. Can I meet you there at three or four?”

Graham touched the small of Cadence’s back as he nodded at Paisley. “That will be fine. Her belongings are all in my car at the moment. You’re in unit six, right?”

Paisley nodded. “That’s right. Oh, I’m so excited! I can hardly wait to get to know you. We’re going to be best friends. I know it.”

Cadence held her smile in place. “I hope so.” But she wasn’t quite as sure as Paisley seemed to be.

Also, she was a little distracted by the gentle pressure on her back. Had Paul ever touched her like that? He must have, but he’d been much more forward. More brash. Less with the polite niceties.

“The lunch line is nearly through,” Graham said. “Ready, Cadence? Paisley, have you—”

“I’ve eaten! Catch you two later.” Paisley fluttered her fingertips and twirled away.

Cadence let out a breath. “Is she for real?”

“Do you want me to ask Tate if there are any other options?” Graham studied her.

No glasses blocked her view of his gorgeous gray eyes today. “No. It will be fine, I’m sure. But she is a bit much. I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll be looking for things to do outside of the cabin.”

The skin around Graham’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “Come over any time.”

“I was thinking of outdoorsy stuff.” She gestured out the wide windows to the little lake beyond the lodge deck. “I see kayaks. Do you get out much?”

Was that a barely repressed shudder? She elbowed him lightly. “Haven’t you been taking advantage of the natural beauty around here?”

Graham’s eyes locked on hers for a few seconds, until she nearly forgot her question. “Not much, no.”

Was she reading into that gaze? It was like he meant she was the natural beauty. Like he’d truly had a crush on her all those years ago and never quite forgotten it. But that couldn’t be. What guy in his twenties liked a girl but never let her know?

Possibly, this one. Which might mean there’d been something off-putting about her, even with an initial spark of attraction. What was wrong with her? Why hadn’t he made a move? Was the defect in her the very thing that had attracted Paul? Ugh.

Graham turned away, and the moment was broken. He guided her to the tail end of the lineup and introduced her to the chef, Nadine, and her two assistants.

The middle-aged woman glanced between them as she welcomed Cadence to the ranch. Cadence braced for questions that didn’t come. Yet.

Good thing, as she had fewer answers than she’d had even while driving through the night.

They took their trays to a table as the family who’d been sitting there vacated it.

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