Page 53 of Her Last Chance Cowboy

“No, she just finally accepted,” Olivia said.

On the baby monitor, Mae started to cry.

Hannah got up from her chair, but Olivia stopped her. “Go call him. I’m good for today.” It was just past two.

“What if he’s already made other plans?”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Jesse said drily.

Chapter 12

Hannah borrowed a teal sundress and a white shawl. She wore her cowboy boots but carried flip-flops in her purse. Her hair was down, but Olivia made her wear a silk scarf. Hannah didn’t usually accessorize or worry about what held her hair back. She felt like a little girl playing in her mother’s closet.

“You’re dressing up,” Olivia said, holding up a necklace to check it out in the mirror. “You know, like dating women have done for centuries.”

“It’s just… I never dress up.” Hannah felt ridiculous.

“You should!” Olivia draped the necklace around Hannah’s neck. “You look great.”

“Yeah, Mom,” Emma said, playing on her phone. “You look amazing.”

Hannah looked at herself in the mirror. She had to admit, she looked… pretty. She touched the necklace as she studied her reflection. “Thanks, guys.”

Olivia smiled.

She had planned out a whole night with Emma and Maggie. Chinese food, romance movies, mani-pedis, and lots of sweets. Jesse was on baby Mae patrol for the night.

“I found Sixteen Candles on VHS,” Olivia told her. “Maggie seriously has never thrown a thing away.”

No, Hannah thought, as excitement electrified her whole body.Boudreaus never threw anything away. They took care of things. And people.

Right on time, Jake pulled up to the farmhouse and jumped out of his truck, holding a bouquet of flowers. “You look incredible,” he said.

She couldn’t hold back her smile.

“You ready?” He opened the passenger door for her.

“I hope you like steak,” he said, turning over the engine. “Millie’s kind of turned me off pork.”

She laughed. “Steak sounds great.”

When he turned into his long drive, she could see all the lights were on in the farmhouse. He’d even strung tiny faerie lights up around the front porch’s railings and along the eaves. As they drew closer, she saw that he’d set up the picnic table with a tablecloth, candles, and a huge vase of wildflowers.

“Jake, this is amazing.”

“Hold on,” he said, coming around to her door. “I’ve got you.”

“I can open my own door,” she chided him.

“Oh, I know. Believe me.” He took her hand. “But you don’t always have to do everything yourself. Please, let me help you, even if it’s just something little, like helping you out of the truck. It makes me happy.”

And that’s exactly howshefelt at that moment.

Happy.

* * *

Jake had listened to the Gundersons. He still wasn’t sure whether or not he’d made a big mistake.

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