Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,38
get out of the truck. There wasn’t any need to trespass on the folks’ privacy.
“It’s nice.” Riley peered out the truck windows. “Is that the same creek that goes through Rockstead?”
He shook his head. “No. Different source.”
“What a pretty house. I like the wide, covered deck.”
“There was a porch swing when I was a kid.” Adam’s voice thickened at the memory of his parents sitting out there, shelling peas, talking about their day, while he and the twins climbed that big elm to the treehouse. With the branches barren at winter’s approach, the old platform was clearly visible, but the walls were gone. He’d rebuild it for his sons.
But even that thought threatened to choke his air supply. Would Riley be his sons’ mother? Maybe it was time to lay out his cards and let her know he was actually falling for her. Find out if she felt the same, or if there was any hope she’d come to.
A truck growled up the drive behind them.
Oh, no. Caught sitting in someone else’s yard. Adam could always pretend he’d lost his way. At least he hadn’t shut off the engine or gotten out. He shifted into drive and pointed the truck back toward the driveway.
Scotty Erickson’s blue pickup lurched around the curve.
Great. Just whom Adam wanted most to see. He tipped his hat and turned the wheel to maneuver past, not that the guy had left a ton of room.
But Erickson’s window came rolling down as he pulled even.
Until he knew why Scotty was at Running Creek, Adam couldn’t be rude enough to edge past without exchanging pleasantries, so he put his truck in park and pressed the button to lower his window. “Erickson.”
“Hey, Cavanagh.” Scotty peered past him and his jaw ticked. “Riley. What a surprise.”
Adam leaned his elbow out the window, thankful for his shearling-lined denim jacket. The early December afternoon had a distinct bite to it. “Not sure why you’re surprised. We’re engaged, after all. I think you knew that.”
Erickson snorted. “Didn’t believe you for a minute. Still don’t, all evidence to the contrary.” His gaze narrowed on Riley.
“Well, believe it.”
“Riley, if you think better of hitching your wagon to Cavanagh’s, you know where to find me. I’ll get you away.”
“Are you proposing marriage to an engaged woman, Scotty Erickson?” came Riley’s light voice from beyond Adam.
Adam wasn’t looking, though. He didn’t dare take his eyes off the scum.
“Marriage? Isn’t that a bit old-fashioned?” Erickson chuckled.
Adam’s fingers clenched. Wouldn’t he just love to punch the guy’s lights out?
“Oh, I don’t know,” Riley went on. “A church wedding is every girl’s dream, complete with the white dress, the flowers, and the music. The whole works.”
“Yeah. Not buying that.”
“Maybe that’s why you haven’t found a woman who’ll have you, whereas I have the best one in the world right beside me.”
Erickson shook his head. “What’re you doing here, anyway? It might have been your old man’s ranch once, but it’s not anymore.”
Adam tightened the reins on his temper. “It’s Cavanagh land. But I could ask you the same. What brings you here?”
“Friends of mine rent the place. I’m looking after the dogs and horses while they’re away. And I don’t remember inviting you.”
Didn’t that just figure?”
“So you might want to be on your way before I phone the cops. I might let them know you’re holding her under false pretenses while I’ve got them on the line.”
The impulse to close the gap between the two trucks and grab Erickson by the front of his fluffy jacket was nearly too strong for Adam to resist. Instead, he offered his most threatening glare.
“Save it, Cavanagh. And get off this property.”
Blood thundered in Adam’s ears as his finger stabbed the button. The window rolled up, cutting off Scotty’s voice. Adam muttered a few choice words under his breath as he shoved the truck into drive and hurtled around the first bend.
“It’s sweet of you to get so upset, but it’s okay. I promise I won’t call Scotty when we break up.”
“That’s not what I’m frustrated about.”
“Oh?” Now she sounded bewildered more than humored.
“I’m not worried about you. I just hate the thought of him in my childhood home, doing damage just to spite me. He’d do it, too.”
Riley tightened her arms around her belly as Adam took the bumpy driveway much too quickly. There was a short reprieve on the smoother highway before he turned up the much longer Rockstead drive.
His jaw remained clenched as he stared straight ahead, both hands on the