Roping the Cowboy Billionaire - Emmy Eugene Page 0,63

salvation of his eternal soul, but he’d told her it was his decision to make.

“Beth,” he said. “Let’s just reschedule.”

He expected her to argue, so when she said, “Okay,” and braced herself against the countertop with her one good palm, Trey was equal parts disappointed and surprised.

“Okay,” he said.

“My dad’s not here anyway,” Beth said. “I’ll go call him right now.”

Trey wondered if a date with her would ever happen. Right now, it wasn’t looking good for him. She left him in the kitchen with TJ, who hadn’t moved or made a sound.

“Are you in time out or something?” Trey asked.

TJ nodded. “Mom was mad about the eggs.”

“You probably shouldn’t be using the stove.” Trey wasn’t even sure how the little boy had gotten the burners lit. He’d have to stand on a chair to twist the knobs at the back of the stove.

“Yeah, probably not,” TJ said. “Can I get down now?”

“I have no idea,” Trey said. “I’m not in charge here.”

TJ balanced on the barstool and brought his knees up to his chest. Trey wasn’t sure if he should stick around and wait for Beth to get off the phone, or just go. He hated the awkwardness between them tonight, though there’d been a little these past few weeks as he’d come to help her every two or three days.

He’d come every afternoon and evening if she’d let him, but Beth was a particularly stubborn woman who knew exactly what she wanted. Trey had felt more like a nuisance than a benefit every time he came to help her.

Trey finally wandered over to the couch and sat down. Several minutes later, Beth breezed back into the kitchen. “I changed my mind,” she said. “I want to go to dinner.” She wore a pair of short shorts and a blue, green, white, and brown striped shirt.

Trey’s mouth turned dry, and he stood. “You sure?”

“Yes,” she said, barely meeting his eye. “My dad will be here in five minutes.” She looked at TJ. “Come on down.”

The little boy practically jumped from the barstool and flew into his mother’s arms. Trey smiled at the familial gesture, and he listened as Beth told him he couldn’t use the stove without permission.

“Tell me what permission is, baby,” she said, stroking his hair off his forehead.

“It means you tellin’ me yes,” TJ said. “If you tell me yes, I can do something, I have your permission.”

“Good boy,” she said. “You have to ask to do things, TJ. Grandpa is bringing pizza. There was no reason for you to be making eggs.”

“I was hungry,” the little boy sad.

“Not hungry enough to starve to death.” She smiled at him and straightened. “Now, go say hi to Trey and then make sure the dogs have water in their bowls on the back patio.”

TJ came skipping over to Trey, and he bent down to scoop the wisp of a boy into his arms. “Hi, Trey,” he said.

“Hi yourself, TJ.” He smiled at the little boy. “I’m glad you’re not in trouble anymore.”

“Me too.”

Trey set him back down. “You better get those dogs watered, though. Animals need fresh water.”

“Do you water animals, Trey?”

“All the time.” He glanced at Beth, who was looking at her phone, and went with TJ as he walked outside to the patio. He brought up the first bowl and skipped back down to get another.

Trey held them for him, and when they had all four, he turned back to the house. Voices met his ears, and he slowed. “…I might not be ready.”

“It’s been almost three years, Beth,” a man said, and Trey assumed that to be her father.

“I know exactly how long it’s been since my husband died,” Beth said, her voice dripping with acid.

A sigh filled the air. “If you’re not ready, don’t go out with him,” her dad said.

“I can’t just blow him off.”

“Sure you can. You just say you aren’t feeling well. Your hand hurts. Whatever. You can’t go.”

Trey didn’t want to hear another word. He entered the house with the dog bowls, his pulse storming inside his chest. Did she not want to go out with him, because it was him asking? Was she really going to cancel because she wasn’t ready and not for some other reason?

Thankfully, Beth and her father had fallen silent the moment Trey had come inside.

“We just wash these out, or…?” He looked at TJ, and he would miss the little boy. He’d likely wander onto Bluegrass Ranch at some point in the future, and