Bossing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch #4) - Kennedy Fox Page 0,46
against the doorway.
“You know I wasn’t kidding about y’all joining us. You really are welcome to come. Grandma Bishop would eat her up,” she muses.
As I open my mouth to explain the invitation wasn’t necessary, she holds up her hand and interrupts me.
“If you change your mind, be there around three. You know where the B&B is.” She gives me a smirk before walking away.
Chapter Fifteen
Elizabeth
“So I heard Stephen sent you flowers,” Ethan sing-songs as we clear the extra food off the table from our Thanksgiving lunch.
I groan with an eye roll.
“Mom said you rejected him. Really think you should be turning down guys at your age?”
“Oh my God.” I punch him in the shoulder. “You’re a pain in the ass. Go away.”
“Stop being rude to Elle,” Harper scolds. She puts the bowl of leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge. Though they’re still “just friends,” Harper joining our family holiday meals has become a tradition.
“A woman has every right to keep her standards high when waiting for the right one,” Harper confirms.
“Exactly,” I drawl out. “Which is why she’s kept you in the friend zone.”
I burst out laughing as Ethan’s face drops.
“That’s what you get.” I poke him in the chest. “Mind ya own business next time.”
After Stephen sent a massive bouquet to the clinic on Monday, I let him know I wasn’t interested. Even though he very well could be a great guy to date, there was no spark. No real connection. I wasn’t about to lead him on, so I thanked him for the generous gift and explained how I felt. He wasn’t thrilled but understood. Stephen won’t have any issues finding another date.
However, it was interesting to watch Connor’s eyebrows lift when he heard who they were from. I know he has a lot going on with his ex-wife and daughter, but if he’d open up just a little and give me a chance, he’d learn I’m a great listener. Even if we only stayed co-workers, it’d be nice to see that side of him.
After our half-day of work yesterday, I reminded Connor about the invite. I hope they join us, but he’s stubborn. The only way he’ll budge is if Olivia wears him down.
Once the kitchen’s clean, I tell everyone that I’m heading to the B&B to help set up and chat with the girls. They’re probably dying to interrogate me about Stephen and Connor. Especially since no one knew Olivia existed until Maize’s party. Well, most of us didn’t anyway.
“Hey!” I call out when I walk into the B&B. Rowan and Kenzie are sitting on the couch with Zoey. “Did I miss the memo or somethin’? Y’all are here so early.”
“We were summoned by Maize.” Kenzie laughs.
“Where is she?”
“She and Gavin are in the kitchen,” she explains.
“Which is why the rest of us are out here.” Rowan smirks.
“I actually just came for the early access desserts.” Zoey chuckles, rubbing her baby bump. She and Riley are expecting baby number two in a couple of months, but she already looks uncomfortable as hell.
“I don’t blame ya, and I’m not even pregnant.” I snort, walking to the kitchen, covering my eyes. “I’m comin’ in. Hope y’all have your clothes on!”
Maize pulls me in for a hug. “Tell those slackers to get in here and start workin’.”
Gavin’s pulling pies out of the oven as I glance around, noticing the spread that’s ready.
“I can’t believe you aren’t sweatin’ in here.”
“Trust me, I am. Add the extra baby weight, and I’m a human sauna.” Maize groans. “But it’ll be okay. In a few years, I’ll have two extra little helpers.” She beams.
“Alright, enough about my sister’s uterus. Tell us the juicy gossip,” Kenzie says, barging through the kitchen doors.
“About what?” I play dumb, quickly looking for a way out of this.
“About Romeo from last weekend,” she clarifies with a knowing grin.
“And Dr. VetDreamy’s secret daughter,” Rowan adds.
Here we go.
“Stephen’s just a friend, and that’s how it’s stayin’,” I confirm. “Though he did send flowers to the clinic on Monday.”
“I didn’t get a good vibe from him,” Gavin states. I hadn’t realized he was even listening.
“Well you weren’t the only one, apparently.” I sigh.
“That means Connor said something.” Kenzie beams proudly.
I inhale a sharp breath and nod. “He claims Stephen isn’t my type and implied that I could do better.”
“Like him?” Rowan waggles her brows. “I mean, y’all tell me you didn’t see their connection at the party?”
“Yep, I’ve called it since day one,” Maize gloats.