getting what was so special about getting her a beer and making her favorite meal. But if it made her happy, he was glad for it. “You’re welcome. No big deal.”
“It is to me.” The sincerity in her voice drew him to her.
He kissed her softly. “I just wanted to have dinner with you tonight.”
She looked up at him, joy and gratitude in her eyes. “I know. It’s really nice.”
He brushed his fingers over her cheek. “Okay.”
“Let’s eat,” Declan announced, taking the bread from the oven, filling the kitchen with the smell of melted butter and garlic.
Tate took Liz’s hand and helped her stand. “Take a seat at the table. I’ll grab the lasagna while Declan grabs the salad.”
With dinner on the table, they passed plates so Tate could dish up the lasagna. Declan doled out salad, and Liz plopped bread on each plate. Family style. Everyone chipping in and around the table. Liz had eaten at the house too many times to count. She’d always fit in with the family, just like he’d always felt at home at her parents’ place.
Declan had no trouble starting the conversation with Liz. “How was the ride?”
“Beautiful. I love it out here. The ranch is so pretty this time of year.”
Tate agreed. The grass was as green as her eyes, blue skies, and miles of open country for them to explore. “Lots of hawks up today. We saw a few deer down by the cedars in the south pasture.”
“They’ve been moving around the property for a few weeks now,” Declan confirmed. “I saw them in the orchard the other morning.”
“That orchard needs some work. Especially if Trinity and Adria want to start harvesting fruit from it next year for the shop.”
Declan chewed and gave him a thoughtful look. “Those two are creating a lot of work for us.”
Tate nodded his agreement. “It’s business and we’re making money right along with them.” Though they did give their sisters a deep discount on the beef and he was sure the fruit, too. The ladies liked to advertise their products were produced with locally grown and sourced ingredients.
“What they’ve accomplished in such a short time with the shop is amazing,” Liz praised. “The line at the farmers market never let up. I was afraid we’d run out of products before the end of the day.”
Declan took a sip of his beer and set it down. “We’ve learned to expect a crowd. They’re talking about opening a few more stores in other locations. Adria’s already scouting for properties.”
“Wow.”
Declan stared at Liz. “How’s the spa gig?”
“Good.” She rolled her shoulders and squirmed in her chair. “I think I’m going to need a massage after that ride. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the saddle.”
“You know you’re welcome here anytime.” Declan’s words touched Tate and lit up Liz’s eyes.
He appreciated that Declan made it clear, though Liz knew she was always welcome here.
“I think you’ll be seeing a lot more of me now.” Liz’s careful tone didn’t match the smile she gave him, but he got that she was treading carefully because this was Declan’s house, too.
“Happy to hear it. I always thought the two of you would be good together.” Declan turned his gaze to Tate and pointed at him with his fork. “This one needed a huge wake-up call.”
Liz laughed. “He’s a tough one to crack.”
“Yeah, and now he’s oozing all kinds of happy because of you.”
Tate could take the teasing, but under Declan’s words he heard a deeper ring of . . . not jealousy, but something akin to it.
He draped his arm over Liz’s shoulders. “Timing is everything.” What else could he say about him and Liz? Also, maybe Declan needed to know that his time would come, too. Maybe when he least expected it, the way it hit Tate.
Declan eyed him, then finished off his dinner without comment.
Liz glanced at Tate, getting that Declan was in a mood. He’d been in that mood for a while now. Maybe like Tate, he’d seen Drake fall hard and fast for Adria and wanted something like it, too.
More than likely, it was their age. They were getting older and nights out at the bar didn’t seem quite so fulfilling and fun anymore. Not when they worked so hard and wanted to have someone to go home to instead of spinning the wheel on the dating scene and hoping your number came up and you won the prize. Declan, like Tate, had busted many times with