The Rancher Meets His Match (The Millers of Morgan Valley #4) - Kate Pearce Page 0,60
her.
She grabbed her clothes and went into the Jack and Jill bathroom between what had been her and Miguel’s bedrooms. Her hormones needed to take a back seat and let her leave Morgantown without ruining Kaiden Miller’s life as well as her own. She snorted. Like she’d ruin his life. He’d be onto the next woman the second she left.
She paused in the doorway. But Kaiden had told her he’d play by her rules. So did that give her more opportunities than she thought? Her hormones perked up. Sometimes, her refusal to give up on finding a solution to every problem was a curse. Julia gave herself a firm stare in the mirror.
“Stop it, ladies, or I’ll have the coldest shower possible.”
* * *
By the time Kaiden pulled his truck up outside the fancy house his brother and sister-in-law had built on the Gomez Ranch everyone else had already arrived. He’d stayed late talking to May, the architect working with the Morgantown Historical Society on the movie theater. She’d shared her new plans for the space and he’d been so intrigued that time had escaped him. When he’d gotten back home, he’d popped in to see his dad, spoken to his mom and aunt, and taken a much-needed shower before he could get back out the door. Adam, who had also been invited, had gone into town to pick up Lizzie earlier bringing Roman back to stay with the Millers for the evening.
Ben’s house was all lit up, probably because he and Silver never had to worry about how to pay the electricity bill. Kaiden grinned as he climbed the steps up to the covered porch. Even though he knew Silver had insisted on every energy saving available in the construction, he still liked to tease her. The house suited the land it occupied, blending seamlessly in with the lush pastureland surrounding it.
He knocked on the door, which had a huge floral wreath Daisy had made on it. If he ever built himself a house, he’d probably go with something similar. Not that he’d ever actually do that. He was probably destined to live at home for the rest of his life.
“Hey!”
He composed his features into a smile as his hostess opened the door, and he offered her a large wrapped box.
“Hey! Happy late wedding day present.”
Silver eyed the box and held up her hands. “I’ll let you carry that in. I’d hate to drop whatever it is.”
“Yeah, you wouldn’t want to drop a little baby puppy, would you?”
She rolled her eyes as she set off back toward the kitchen. She wore leggings, a really long knitted sweater that reached her knees and looked suspiciously like one of Ben’s, and yet she still managed to look striking.
“Like you think I’d mind that? Ben’s dogs are working dogs so I’d quite like my own.”
“Then you’d better make sure I don’t drop this box.”
He paused on the threshold of the family room to check out who was there, his gaze immediately sticking on Julia, who was sitting on the couch with Lizzie and Adam.
“Hey.” Ben came over and punched him gently on the shoulder. “What’s up?”
“Ouch.” Kaiden set the box on the large pine kitchen table he’d made for the kitchen and pretended to rub his arm as Silver rushed to get a pair of scissors to cut the twine. The main kitchen cabinets were stained pine so he’d constructed the table to match.
“It’s your wedding present,” Kaiden said. “If I’d known you were eloping I would’ve had it ready sooner.”
Ben grimaced. “Don’t you start. I’m still getting heat from Mom and Dad about that.”
“Mom, too?” Kaiden watched as Silver peeled off the brown paper. “I thought her favorite son could do no wrong?”
“Obviously not.” Ben leaned in as Silver removed the last piece of paper and gasped. “Wow, that’s so cool!”
Aware that everyone had gotten up to take a look, Kaiden shrugged. “It’s just something I knocked together to keep your stuff in, okay? Nothing fancy.”
“It’s beautiful,” Silver whispered as she used the small key to open up the marquetry doors he’d labored over to reveal interior drawers of various sizes. “It must have taken you ages.”
She turned to Ben. “Look, he’s even carved our initials into this heart at the top.”
Ben nodded as he reached out to run his finger over the tiny turned wooden knobs on the drawers. He pulled one drawer out and examined the corner joints. “It’s absolutely beautiful, Bro.”
“Thanks.” Despite his father’s “nothing is ever good