Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,37

you were giving your brothers the chance to decide we were fake.”

He grimaced. “I thought of that too late. But I’ve always been able to tell if someone’s lying.”

“Well, that’s dandy. Your brothers are already suspicious. Your stepfather watches everything I do. Your mother is blind to everything but hope, and your sisters just want to know what kissing is like. Now you’re giving them ammunition.”

“I did not.” Adam rose and pushed in the chairs. “It was a deflection. Nobody would say something that brazen if he had something to hide.”

“You have something to hide. You think your brothers are denser than you?”

Adam narrowed his gaze at her across the table as he leaned on the back of Noah’s chair. “What’re you saying, woman? Calling me dumb?”

“Not even, cowboy.” Riley stood, grabbed her parka, and shrugged into it. “Just saying we’re in way over our heads here, and it’s only been a month. You need to get what you need from your stepfather before someone figures all this out.” She tugged up the zipper and reached for the door. “Good night.”

Chapter Fourteen

They were in the same booth at the back of the Golden Grill as they had been the night they’d made their deal. After church, they usually sat at one of the long tables in the middle with all the brothers and a few friends.

Adam didn’t have any friends left around here. He’d never integrated much with Jewel Lake after moving to Rockstead. He hadn’t attended the local high school, mostly coming into town for gymkhanas. At those amateur horsemanship events, he’d left other wannabe cowboys in the arena dust, no love lost either direction.

When he hit pro rodeo, Sawyer Delgado and Ace Desjardins had become the brothers of his heart, the best friends he’d ever had. He’d finally found a place to belong, a place where his skills had been celebrated, where everyone liked him. So, he’d put on a front. Didn’t everyone?

Even Riley.

He studied her across the table as she polished off a chicken-fried steak. They’d been together every day for going on two months now, and she still evaded questions about her past.

Just as he’d been evading questions from his mom and brothers. “Want to have a look at Running Creek today?”

She blinked at him, her fork with a forkful of green beans paused in midair. “I thought someone lived there?”

“Yeah. Declan has the home place rented out. You know, the house, yard, and outbuildings. Rockstead runs the ranch land.”

“Won’t the renters think it’s weird if someone comes in the yard?”

Adam hesitated. “Heard at church they’re away for a couple of weeks. Mrs. McDiarmid said Hawaii.”

She put the vegetables in her mouth and chewed while staring at him thoughtfully. “Okay.”

“Good. Want some cheesecake?”

Riley shook her head. “I’d kill for a gooey chocolate brownie, though. You’d think a diner like this would serve something other than cheesecake for dessert.”

“It’s a Golden Girls diner.” Adam waved his fork to direct her attention to dozens of photos and memorabilia from the classic sitcom on display.

“Right, whatever, but—”

“Look, I’ve never seen but two episodes in my life, but apparently cheesecake was a serious thing on the show, and Estelle plays everything as close as she can.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “Golden Grill. Golden Girls.”

“Uh, yeah. Anyway, you want some brownies, we can grab a box from Super One. The bakery is closed Sundays. Or I’ll tell Cook you want some. She’s certainly up for it, and the twins would probably love you forever. What’s up with women and chocolate, anyway?”

“Hormones.” She ate the last few bites of her steak while he cleared his plate of mashed potatoes and gravy.

The only hormone Adam knew much about was testosterone. Without a hefty dose of it, guys would have enough sense to avoid high-risk sports like bronc riding. He’d thought it was the greatest way to live until Ace’s accident. Now, it looked anything but.

They turned into the lane at Running Creek Ranch a half hour later. The home place sat much closer to the highway than Rockstead’s did, and the whole setup was less imposing. The two-story farmhouse lacked the grandeur of Rockstead’s mansion but, to Adam, it looked far homier. The barn and stables were smaller, but they’d been big enough for his dad. That made them good enough for Adam.

A dog ran from the house toward them, barking his fool head off.

Adam frowned. Had the rumor been wrong? Maybe the renters weren’t on vacation, after all. Either way, he and Riley wouldn’t