Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,7
massaged Riley’s side. “He won’t unless he has other plans for it.”
“Or other plans for you.”
Riley glanced up as Adam stiffened. What would a loving fiancée say or do at that remark? She turned slightly and touched his stubbled cheek. “It’ll be okay.”
“Thanks for your faith in me, honey.” He dropped a light kiss to her lips.
That should convince his brother and anyone else who might be watching.
“You tucked your tail between your legs and came home, huh? Rodeo’s not big enough to keep you anymore?”
Riley shivered at the booming voice and allowed Adam to turn them both as a unit. She clung to his waist and took in the lean middle-aged rancher striding toward them, boots crunching on the gravel. This had to be the infamous Declan Cavanagh.
The man stopped a few feet away, piercing eyes taking them in from beneath the brim of his well-worn felt cowboy hat. His feet were braced, and his thumbs hooked through belt loops.
“Hi, Dad. Yes, I’m back.”
Riley took strength from Adam’s even tone.
Then Declan’s gaze fixed on her. “And you are?”
She sucked in her lips to moisten them, but Adam spoke first. “This is my fiancée, Riley Dunning. I offered her a job here, and she needs a place to stay. How about cabin three? Nat says it’s empty.”
“What if we don’t need a hand?”
This was what Riley had been afraid of. That she’d be turfed out before she even had a chance to play her part.
Adam returned his stepdad’s look. “We always need a hand. She can ride or muck out stalls. Or she can help in the house or take on Alexia and Emma. You can’t tell me there’s nothing that needs doing.”
Wait, no. He was offering her as a chaperone for two teenagers? So not happening. Except ten thousand dollars and a honkin’ big diamond said she’d do it if she had to.
“You can ride?”
“Yes, sir.” Riley said it as cheerfully as she could muster. Maybe her voice squeaked a little. Maybe not.
“Are you pregnant?”
Why did everyone’s minds go there? She raised her chin. “I am not, sir.”
His eyebrows rose. “You’re sure?”
What, he wanted to see evidence? He could take a flying leap off the top of that ginormous red barn. Riley sent mental daggers from her eyes. “Absolutely.”
“We’ll talk.” Declan gave Adam another probing, significant look and strode away.
Riley could feel Adam’s back muscles relax slightly.
“That went pretty well,” Nathaniel observed.
It had? Riley’d thought the rancher would eat her alive, but here she still was, in one piece.
Maybe it had gone pretty well.
Adam disconnected the horse trailer then pulled his Dodge Ram up to the last cabin. He turned to Riley. “Home sweet home.” If only he could keep the bitterness out of his voice.
“It’s beautiful here, Adam.” Her blue eyes shone with sincerity, and her long curly hair framed her pretty face.
“You’re what’s beautiful.” He hadn’t intended to say it, but it was true.
She snickered. “You don’t need to flatter me when there’s no one to overhear.”
At Rockstead, there was always someone to overhear. “It’s still true.” He leaned across the cab and kissed her lightly. “Let me show you around. And stay put until I come open your truck door.”
“Oh, the gentleman thing.”
“Don’t mock me, woman.”
She was still laughing when he plucked her off her seat a moment later and swung her to the ground. He grabbed her hand, led her up the two steps to the covered porch, then unlocked the plank door. It had been months since he’d been home, and it showed. The air was chilly and stale.
Riley looked around, taking it all in. What did it look like to her?
“Cabin three’s just like this one but mirrored. A kitchenette and front room, a full bath, and a bedroom at the back, overlooking the creek.”
“Wood heat?” Her gaze fixed on the cast-iron stove.
“Yep. There’s a big stack of split logs across by the machine shed.” He eyed her. “Ever used a wood stove? If you’d rather not, I could probably get you a room in the house.”
She shuddered. “I’ll learn.”
“That’s my girl.”
Riley rolled her eyes and peeked into the bathroom then his bedroom.
No worries. He’d left it picked up in August, last time he’d been here. There was a skim of dust on everything, but the space was small, and it wouldn’t take long to freshen it up.
They’d clean hers first, if Declan allowed her a cabin. At least Cook was settled into cabin one, nearest the house, so there was a precedent