Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,47

The Delgado family hired a different farrier, though.

“Fake-engaged is kind of fun. Lots of side benefits.”

Sawyer looked at him sharply. “I thought—”

“Not that, dude. I’m not falling into your trap. Too much emotional stuff hitches a ride with sex.” He should know. “Kissing is my limit these days. And she’s darn good at it.”

“Just marry her.”

Adam laughed. “Nah, that’s not our deal.” He’d had a week or two daydreaming about it, but then Riley had turned a cold shoulder, and that was that. He shoved the car door open. “Let’s go find your Anna a ring she can’t resist.”

But it took more than a ring. Adam knew that much.

Why had Riley agreed to Dakota’s invitation again? Because here she was on a Thursday evening in a Jewel Lake townhouse with a woman and a little boy she barely knew.

But Dakota had made the trip to Rockstead to pick her up, and with Adam off in Texas, the ranch seemed quiet and lonely. Kathryn wanted to fill Riley’s evenings, but that was a bad idea. It seemed only planning a wedding kept Adam’s mom from teetering back into full depression, and Riley didn’t want to be responsible for offering even more false hope and adding to the issues.

“See Woody?” Toby thrust a cowboy action figure in Riley’s face.

“You like Toy Story?”

The little guy nodded enthusiastically and charged down the short hallway.

Dakota laughed. “If you go in his room, prepare to be overwhelmed. There’s more than one reason I didn’t offer you his bedroom for tonight. Now, if you’d come on a weekend when he’s up at the ranch, you could have decided for yourself.”

“The sofa will be fine.” Riley’d already had a peek, and the living room furniture looked thick and comfy. It was just for one night, after all. She could survive anything.

“I thought we’d go over to the Golden Grill for dinner. Is that okay? I cook as little as I can get by with, and Toby loves their nuggets and fries.”

“That sounds fine. They have great food.” She’d only ever eaten there with Adam, but it was their usual Sunday lunch spot. Half the crowd from Creekside Fellowship reconvened at the diner after the benediction. “Where do you work?”

Dakota flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I manage the western wear shop downtown.”

“Ooh, I could use some new duds.”

“I took tomorrow off, but we could stop by for a bit if you like.”

What else would they do all day? “Sure. And you need to show me all the sights of Jewel Lake. I haven’t seen much of the town, and I have all my Christmas shopping to do.” What on earth was she going to get Adam?

“Toby!” called Dakota. “Time to go to the Golden Grill.”

“Coming, Mama.” The little guy careened around the corner and into Dakota’s arms.

A woman who scooped her giggling son and twirled him around couldn’t be a bad person, could she? Riley’d seen Toby soak up ranch life, but it was obvious this was his real home. Mind you, it would be hard for anyone to relax around Travis. He was just as driven as his father. Maybe Dakota would confide in her...

Bad idea, because girl-talk went both ways, and Riley had nothing to share. Nothing from New Mexico, and definitely nothing about her relationship with Adam.

Toby tugged on his little cowboy boots, and they headed out the door.

A few minutes later, Riley had a plate of chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes doused in thick brown gravy in front of her. Across the booth, Dakota’s gaze swung between Riley’s plate and her own Caesar Chicken Salad. Was Riley supposed to be embarrassed by her appetite? She worked hard at a physical job. She’d burn those calories, no problem. Besides, Dakota might be a little taller, but Riley’d bet they wore the same size clothes. She’d go ahead and enjoy her dinner, thanks.

A shadow fell over the table, and she glanced up. Scotty. Her heart seized.

“Mind if I join you?”

Riley tried to get a refusal out, but Dakota beat her to words. “Sure. Make room, would you, Riley? You’ve met my brother, Scott.”

“Unca Scotty!”

“Hey, buddy.” Scotty’s gaze swiveled back to Riley, his eyebrows raised.

Did she dare make a scene? Not in this diner, where she had once before. Besides, she wasn’t beholden to Scotty anymore. Jewel Lake wasn’t an unknown blip on the map like when she’d arrived in his truck two months back. There was nothing to fear.

That didn’t mean she wanted him next to