Roping the Cowboy Billionaire - Emmy Eugene Page 0,53

over the saddle tree, making sure every inch was smooth and exactly where it needed to be. She strapped it in place and said, “I’m ready.”

“I’ll call for pizza,” he said. “Trey said they need food at Beth’s place. Are you okay if we eat there with everyone?”

“Of course.” Tam moved over to the sink and washed up.

Blaine drove them to Beth’s, and Tam enjoyed the silence between them. They’d been getting along really well since the incident at The Old Red Barn. They hadn’t spoken of Hayes either, and she hadn’t heard from him or seen him any of the times she’d been to town.

At Beth’s farm, a dozen trucks had crammed into the driveway, and Tam’s heart warmed at the way the community had come together to help her. She and Blaine got out of the truck, and she saw cowboys working in the front fields, cowboys mowing the lawn, and cowboys up on the roof. There were people working the fences out front, and people sweeping the porch, and even people way out in the pasture trimming the trees.

“This is amazing,” she said.

“Come see the swing,” he said, and Blaine reached for her hand. She put hers solidly in his and let him lead her up the steps. The swing with the amazing wagon-wheel back appeared, and Tam’s whole soul lit up.

“I love this.” She practically skipped over to it and sat down, letting it swing back. Blaine joined her, taking off a couple of the pillows so he had room. She snuggled into his side, though they should go find Trey and have him direct them to what else needed to be done around the ranch.

Blaine didn’t seem to be in a hurry though, so Tam stayed right where she was. He used the toe of one foot to keep them gently swaying, and Tam said, “You’re right, Blaine. I want a swing like this at my house.”

“It’s nice, right?”

“So nice.”

His arm around her tightened, and she let her eyes drift closed. They snapped back open when she heard a man say, “It’s okay, Beth.”

She found Trey and Beth Dixon standing just outside the front door. Beth reached up with her good hand and ran it through her hair. Tam could see Trey’s face, but not Beth’s.

“This is not charity,” he said. “Can you please not argue with me about everything?”

Beside her, Blaine tensed, which caused Tam to do so as well. He stopped toeing them back and forth too, and the farmhouse seemed to hold its breath.

“I’m trying,” Beth said. “This is very hard for me.”

“I know.” Trey’s eyes stormed as he looked at Beth. “It was hard for me to come here too, Beth.” He looked past her and saw Blaine. His eyes widened, but Blaine put one finger to his lips.

“I meant to say yes yesterday,” Beth said, and that took Trey’s attention straight back to her. “I was so surprised when you asked me out, and I was saying no, I didn’t need you to help with a babysitter for TJ. My dad can take him anytime.” She reached up, her hand hovering between her and Trey.

“You said no twice,” he said, his back straight but his head down. It was clear Beth wanted him to take her hand, but he didn’t.

“The second one was that it wasn’t okay for you to leave.”

Trey looked so hopeful, and Tam wanted to yell at him to take the woman’s hand. He finally did, and he lifted it to his lips, where he pressed a kiss to her wrist. He said something else to her that wasn’t loud enough for Tam to hear, and he gathered Beth into his arms.

A soft smile touched his lips as his eyes drifted closed, and Blaine leaned his head down. “He’s been telling me about this woman he’s liked for months. Guess I know who it is now.”

“He likes her so much,” Tam said, finding the scene in front of her so sweet. “They’re so cute. Look at them.”

“I’m lookin’ at ‘em,” Blaine said, pushing against the deck with his foot again. “Tam, I think we should go look at rings.”

She looked up at him, shock traveling through her body. “Really?”

“Really.” He smiled at her. “What are we waiting for?”

Tam didn’t know what he was waiting for; she was waiting for him to ask her. She kissed him, but it only lasted a few seconds, because Trey said, “Stop kissing, you two. You’re not here for a romantic interlude