Page 26 of His Wilde Little (Saddle Up #2)

I didn’t know what to make for the big lunch I’d forced everyone to attend. Max was at school so he wasn’t going to be there for the announcement, and he definitely wouldn’t have care anyway, so it just removed his snarky comments from the equation.

After milking the goats, collecting chicken eggs, and feeding all the animals, I still had no clue what I was going to make.

It had to please everyone and help ease into the news that I was in a relationship with Lorenzo.

I used make family lunches and dinners when I was in my early twenties, back when my father took on most of the responsibility of the ranch work.

Everyone was busy, and I had my time in the family kitchen alone.

I knew Olivia had gone out to see the horses where Lorenzo trying to get them all used to the saddles and bridles.

I still didn’t know how to properly equip a horse, even if he had shown me.

I knew horse riding was not in my future, regardless of how much he loved it.

It wasn’t until I was in the kitchen when I knew what the perfect meal would be to break the news about the relationship.

And as much as I knew it wasn’t serious, it would definitely dampen some other people’s plans, and I wanted them all to know he was off the market, and even if he wasn’t, he didn’t bat for their team.

Chicken pie with a signature gravy of mine, the signature was using the butter that the chicken was cooked in, it was something my mom’s mom taught me, and it worked for a whole bunch of different meats as well.

I part-boiled carrots and potatoes, preparing them for the chicken stew portion of the pot pie itself.

Some of the potatoes would be kept behind to be roasted in the oven with some herbs to give them a fragrant taste.

“Smells amazing in here,” my mom said as she walked into the kitchen and sighed.

“Good, because I want to make sure we properly welcome Lorenzo in,” I said.

“You know, he’s welcome here, we’ve tried inviting him for dinners,” she said before a little gasp.

“Has he said something to you?” she asked, approaching me at the stove.

“Does he not feel welcome? Oh god, I knew this would happen. He probably thinks we’re some high and mighty family just pushing him aside at the help. ”

“No, no, it’s fine,” I said. “He’s just probably doing what he’s always done and turned down the invite to keep that divide. I think they do things vastly different in Texas.”

She hummed and nodded. “You’re probably right. I keep trying to extend the olive branch, and I hoped with yesterday, that conversation we had about things to get from town would’ve told him that we think of him as family.”

I could only nod and turn my head, trying not to show her the big grin on my face.

I didn’t want her to get any other ideas before I told her what was going on, and since everyone in this family enjoyed jumping to conclusions, myself included, it was best to wait until we were all together before I let anyone see just how happy I was.

“I best get back out, just needed to drop off some old folders for your sister to look through,” she said.

“What folders?”

“Just about getting a horse-riding school up off the ground. I don’t know what’s in them, but I’m hoping it’s a signal to having something profitable.”

I’d heard those words before, about every venture we tried, some stuck, and some faded. I was just glad the goats weren’t just a fad. I think if it weren’t for the goats, my father would’ve sold off the land to developers even if it went against all his father’s wishes.

“I think we need to get more alpacas,” I said. “People love them, and they’re social creatures, they deserve friends, plus, think about the wool each year. More alpacas, more of their gorgeous fibers we can use to make the best yarn.”

She nodded at me. “I know you’re passionate about that, sweetheart, but they’re expensive, and we’re trying to cut costs.”

Humming, I didn’t want to get into this argument again.

We went through it a lot. She left me alone after that.

I wished I’d said something else in the moment, but I didn’t.

I’d just let it stew, like always, and then burst at the most inopportune time.

I didn’t want anything to spoil or ruin the lunch, and I knew it was a big deal for Lorenzo as well.

It had to be special. We had a lot riding on this—somewhat literally.

With the savory portion of lunch in little pots in the oven with the pie crusts, I got to focus on dessert.

I had a lot of desserts in my repertoire, and I didn’t have long.

I whipped up some apple tartlets. Sitting apples on a slither of maple syrup, before applying some vanilla spice and a little cinnamon, then another drizzle of the maple before going over them with some of the flaky tartlet pastry.

They would go well with whatever vanilla bean ice cream we had in the freezer, unfortunately, we didn’t have an ice cream maker like they must’ve done at the new bakery in Pineberry.

I was still jealous that someone had beat me to it, even if it was only a pipe dream. I could never this place.

I set the table all nice for the five of us, and then mom appeared with Diane in tow.

“Hope you’ve made extra,” she said with a big smile. “It’s smells delish, Jace. As soon as your mom said you were making lunch, I knew I needed a plate.”

“Lucky for you, I did make extra.” It wasn’t because I planned on additional people, but in case any of them burned, I wanted alternates. “But are you sure you could stay?” I asked. “Aren’t you needed out there?”

She waved a hand at me. “Oh no, the giftshop is closed, we don’t have any guests in, and I’m waiting on one of the machines to finish processing the milk.”

“Mhmm. Ok. Well, take a seat then.”

“I want to sit beside Lolo,” she said. “That man is just—” She let out a slight moan.

And on cue, there was a knock at the front door. “That’s probably him, I’ll go—”

“No, no,” my mom said, “you finish setting up, I’ll go welcome him inside.”

Diane approached me, giggling. “I’m not making it too obvious, am I?” she asked, following me into the kitchen.

“To us, yes, to him, also yes, so I don’t think the two of you should sit next to each other,” I said.

At the breakfast bar and table, the pot pies were in their ramakins, cooling slightly before going on cool plates.

Besides them, the small casserole dish I’d filled with roasted potatoes, and a small serving dish of additional roasted veggies in case I hadn’t filled the pies enough.

“Are you going to give me a hand with these?”

She sighed. “I’ve been lonely since the divorce, Jace, just give me some hope, please. You know I’d love to have a little fling, especially with a rough and rugged cowboy from Texas.”

“Mhmm, yeah, I can see the appeal, but I—”

“Then let me sit beside him, go on.”

“Diane,” I said in a hushed tone. I stood in front of her and took both of her hands. “I don’t want to break the news to you before everyone else, but Lorenzo isn’t interested.”

She scoffed. “It’s just wishful thinking anyway, let me entertain it,” she said, her brow quickly furrowing as she glanced at me again, this time her jaw slack. “Wait, break what news?”

“Auntie Diane, you can’t tell anyone.” Not my real aunt, but just as good as one. “Promise.”

Immediately, she hooked her pinky finger around my pinky. “I promise.”

“Lock it in,” I said, pressing my thumb to her thumb.

She giggled. “Go on.”

“We’re dating,” I whispered.

“Oh my god,” she let out with a squeal. “Jace! Oh my god.”

My mom called out, asking if everything was ok, and without another word, we started bringing the food through to the dining room.

Diane’s face was pinker now, becoming redder by the second, almost like someone had pinched her cheeks with full force.

Lorenzo was stood at one side of the table, giving us both nods as we walked in.

“We should get Olivia and dad in here and then we can have this nice lunch,” I said, nodding at Lorenzo. “If that’s ok with everyone.”

Olivia arrived on my father’s tail, asking him questions about whatever was inside the file she had clutched at her chest. Sighing and scoffing until she took a seat.

“Everything ok?” Mom asked, but it was like poking the bear, and I think she knew that.

“It’s fine,” she said, shuffling the place setting along so that the files would fit on the table.

She looked up and saw Lorenzo, that scowl immediately eased on her face, changing from anger to some sort of light embarrassment.

“I—I—I totally forgot you were coming to this,” she said across the table at him.

The set up had it so that I was sat beside Lorenzo, my dad at one end of the table and my mom at the other. She was originally supposed to be sat across from me, but when Diane decided she wanted to be part of this, things had to be adjusted.

Lorenzo looked to me, so uncomfortable, maybe because of the situation, but perhaps because he was in the house, and he’d taken such a firm stance on that first day about not wanting to cross the line into the home when he was just a worker.

“This looks delicious,” my dad said. “What’s the occasion?”

“Does there need to be an occasion, Tom?” my mom asked. “Jace loves to cook.”

“Actually,” I said, standing and pushing my chair out slightly.

“There is a reason, and there is an occasion for why I’ve brought you all here today.

And it’s something very important, so before anyone says anything, I’d like to remind everyone that this is good news, ok.

” I looked around at them all, nodding and trying to force them to nod back at me.

“You’re not trying to leave, are you?” my dad asked with a chuckle. His fork was at the ready, nearly scraping at the plate. “Because you know you can’t do that, this place would crumble with you—you and your sister, of course.”

“It’s not that,” I told him. “It’s something else, and I want everyone to give me their word that they won’t say anything. You’ve got to take a minute to think before you say a single word.”

Mom laughed this time. “Don’t be dramatic, Jace,” she said. “You’ve already come out of the closet.” She gasped, glancing at Lorenzo, using family humor on non-family. “I mean, you know what I mean.”

Diane had her lips sealed, almost like she was biting on them inside. Dad seemed far too focused on getting food, and Olivia was itching at the files, probably ready to begin the next big family argument.

“I’m in a relationship with Lorenzo,” I blurted. “ We’re in a relationship.”

He stood beside me and held my hand.

Everyone stared, even Daisy the dog raised her head from the little bed she’d settled in against. I kept hold of Lorenzo’s hand, feeling the light slip of sweat nearly forcing my hand to pop out of his.

“I thought you were going to tell us something awful,” my mom said. “You owe me twenty bucks, Tom.”

My father sighed. “I just thought you were enjoying spending time with the horses. And we share a bank account, hon, take it out of there.”

Olivia blinked wildly, her mouth opening and shutting, looking down the table and back again at both of our parents.

“You knew?” I asked.

“I mean, you’re not good at secrets,” she said. “And I might’ve seen the two of you a little close. I didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong, and that might’ve pushed Lorenzo back to Texas or something. I don’t know.”

Maybe I wanted the dramatics after all, the fireworks, the gasps and pearl clutching. I got none of it, only the eyeroll from Olivia who still hadn’t uttered a word.

“I guess we should eat then,” I said.

“Diane, don’t you have anything you want to say,” my mom nudged her arm.

Diane chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, Jace told me in the kitchen. But that doesn’t mean I can’t look.”

Lorenzo squeezed my hand a little harder, blushing. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Ma’am,” Diane let out a deflated groan. “You have any brothers? Or anyone single who might visit? I have a nice house, you know, not much in the way of land, but any cowboy will do, as long as he can tend to my garden.”

“Diane,” my mom laughed, swotting her arm. “Come on now, let’s not ruin the moment.”

“Thank you,” I said, as we both sat beside each other again.

I didn’t want to let go of his hand, and I don’t know if he would’ve let me even if I tried to let go.

“Let’s eat.” I’d been anxious all morning about giving the news, and now that I had, that pit where food went into my stomach opened and it was hungrier than ever.

Olivia stared me down from across the table, her eyes squinting. “What Diane said,” she grumbled. “If you have any friends, let me know we might have more positions open soon, and I’m doing the hiring.” She flicked back hair over her shoulder.

“Hiring?” my dad asked, dropping his knife on the plate.

And the argument began, on cue almost. It wouldn’t be a family meal without an argument. Thankfully, it was contained between the two of them, while my mom and Diane threw questions our way about this new relationship—and most importantly, if I was going to be moving into the guesthouse.

“Eventually.”