The Rancher's Fake Girlfriend - Leslie North Page 0,33

start cooking.”

“What’s the latest on the campaign?” Shane asked as he unloaded more ice into the machine.

Chad sighed. “Getting tougher every day. Tripp entered the race.”

A wave of groans rippled through the kitchen.

“You can’t catch a break, kid,” Shane replied.

“We’re going to be fine,” Hannah said in a confident voice as she washed another basin full of berries. “Tripp is all about big, flashy moves. That’ll get him attention, but the surefire way to win this thing is through consistent work. Showing up, giving it your all, and doing it with heart.”

“Well, that’s definitely Chad,” Noelle said as she pulled ingredients from the cupboard. “How’s everyone reacting to the two of you?” She phrased the question carefully in case little ears were listening.

Hannah shot Chad a look and he met her eyes briefly. She felt heat flood her cheeks and she looked back down at the berries. “So far so good.”

“That’s it? That’s all the information you have for the brainchild of this whole thing?” Noelle asked incredulously.

Hannah looked at Chad again and caught the little grin he tried to hide.

“That’s all the news that’s fit to print. We’ll just leave it at that,” he answered.

Another wave of laughs and groans echoed through the room.

Hannah placed another colander of clean berries on the counter next to Matilda and noticed that the other woman was staring off into space.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked softly.

Matilda snapped out of her trance, and her mouth downturned. “I’m, uh, not feeling the greatest today.”

It was impossible to miss her green-tinged pallor. “Do you want to take a break? Are you getting sick?”

Matilda shook her head. “No, not sick. Just not myself these days. But I’m okay, thanks.” She resumed cutting the berries, albeit at a slower pace.

They exchanged a knowing look. “Got it. Take your time, I’m happy to take over if you need to sit down.”

Chad pulled the bucket from the vintage machine. “People, we have our first batch. And guess what?”

“What?” Aria shouted, her eyes shining.

He leaned down so that he was even with her. “I lied before. This one is all for us! Family tradition. Shane, grab the bowls and spoons please.”

“None for me, thanks,” Matilda said, easing herself into a chair.

“I’ll eat her share!” Drew piped up.

Everyone filled their bowls with the perfectly pink ice cream and the room went quiet except for clinking spoons and the occasional “yumm!” Chad made his way to where Hannah was eating, leaning up against the counter.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi.” She held up her bowl. “It’s amazing. But we’re eating all the profits.”

“Like I said, it’s a tradition that the first batch is for the family. And I think you can tell how we Radfords are about tradition.”

Hannah nodded. “It’s nice. I’m not used to it.”

She noticed that Chad’s hip was resting against hers, and that he was watching her lick her spoon. She flicked her tongue off the end of it with a wicked smile, hoping no one else in the room caught the move. He groaned softly and bumped his hip against hers.

“Don’t do that,” he whispered.

“What?” she whispered back with an innocent expression. “You don’t want me to enjoy my ice cream?” She took the spoon in her mouth then drew it out slowly, her eyes locked on his.

“Stop,” Chad pleaded, his brow furrowed in an expression that made him look like he was in pain. “That tongue of yours gets me crazy.”

She grinned at him. “Is that a fact?”

He nodded and shifted uncomfortably. “You keep that up and I might get into trouble.”

Hannah looked around the room to make sure no one was watching them then leaned in and whispered into Chad’s ear. “I love trouble.”

Chad carried a sleeping Aria into one of the ranch’s guest bedrooms.

“Thanks for suggesting this,” Hannah said softly as she gazed at her sleeping daughter. “She’s going to love waking up here.”

“No problem. We’ve got all of these rooms that never get used. I’m sure the old ranch is happy to have some extra guests for the night.”

Hannah smoothed Aria’s hair. “She’s exhausted. She worked hard!”

“I noticed that.” Chad laughed softly. “She took her job really seriously. Just like her momma.”

Hannah met his eyes in the darkness and saw tenderness as well as the hunger that always seemed to be there any time he looked at her. It was a potent mix that made it way too easy to forget everything but him and how he made her feel. The way he kissed her, touched her, made