Page 21 of More Than a Little Spark (Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch #9)

Daphne

Daphne

A t Bailey’s request, Carson and I did not send the snake pictures to her parents. Now, she’s bouncing in her seat as we pull up in front of their place. Prim and Anderson step out onto the porch, and Bailey runs up to meet them.

Carson and I follow. He has the photos cued up.

“I want to show you something!” Bailey jumps up and down.

“What?” Prim looks at us, a mixture of curiosity and confusion in her gaze. “How’d it go?”

“We had fun. She was awesome.” Carson hands the phone to Bailey.

She holds it up. “I held a snake! I was brave like Miss Daphne.”

Anderson scoops her up. “I’m so proud of you for being brave.”

“That’s amazing, sweetheart. I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to hold a snake.” Prim takes the phone and hands it back to Carson. “Will you send me those pictures, please?”

“Absolutely.” He drapes an arm around me. “We really did have a great time. But please don’t blame me if she asks for a pet snake.”

Prim shakes her head. “We are not getting a snake for a pet. She has a pony.”

I laugh. “She held the snake longer than I did. And she looked happy about it.”

Prim gives me a hug, and then I hug Bailey. With Anderson in tow, she runs to the truck.

“Fred, thanks for inviting me. I had fun with you and Mason.” Bailey waves. “Bye.”

And off she runs into the house.

“Don’t wake up the baby, please.” Prim says to Bailey, then turns her attention back to me. “Thank you again. She was so excited to be invited. And I’m stunned she got near a snake, let alone held one. So thank you for inspiring her bravery.”

I lean close. “It was selfishly motivated. I was trying to show Fred I was cool enough to hold a snake. Not sure it worked though.”

She laughs. “Boys can be weird. Give him time.”

I’m not sure time is working, but Carson currently has his arm around me. And Fred hasn’t gotten out of the truck to pull Carson away from me, so that seems like progress.

After dropping off Mason, we drive back to Carson’s.

Fred slides out as soon as we’re stopped. “Thanks for taking me, Dad. Bye, Miss Emerson.”

“Thanks for letting me join y’all. I had a lot of fun.”

He nods, then trudges into the house. I’m getting mixed signals from him. He spoke to me, which hasn’t been the norm, but he looks sad. Of course, my brain twists it so that I’m the reason for the sadness. But what if I am for real?

Once the door closes, Carson pulls me close. “Finally, we get a moment to ourselves. Don’t get me wrong. I had fun today, but I’m also glad I’m getting a chance to do this.” He tugs me close as his lips meet mine.

Maybe holding the snake convinced Fred that I’m not cringey and it’s worth giving me a chance. Fingers crossed that’s the case.

Two weeks later, Carson and I are out to dinner. Since we’re not hiding, we opt for the barbecue place in town.

“We haven’t done this in a while. Dinner with just the two of us.” I pour sauce beside my brisket because I prefer dipping rather than slathering.

Carson nods. “He’s at Mason’s. I’m a little worried about him.

For a while, he wanted to do all the sleepovers at our place.

Which I’m ninety-nine percent sure that was so he could keep us from going on dates.

So I’m glad he’s not doing that, but something’s up with him.

When I dropped him off, he asked if I’d pick him up after my date. He didn’t want to spend the night.”

“Oh no. What’s wrong? I’d think that if he and Mason were on the outs, then he wouldn’t go over at all.”

“I asked him if there was a problem. He swore things were fine. He just wanted to sleep in his own bed.”

“It sounds like he went there just so we could go out.” I’m touched by how sweet that is.

“I think so.” Carson scoops up a bite of potato salad. “Have you had this?”

“I haven’t.”

He holds out the spoon, and I let him feed me. We’ve become this cutesy couple, and I’m so here for it. When Rose and Dallas were “faking” their relationship, I was jealous. Not in the I-wish-she-didn’t-have-that way, but in the I-want-that-too kind of way. And now I have it.

And Fred seems to be on board. The future is looking brighter.

We finish our barbecue, then devour a couple of banana pudding cups.

“I was thinking we could either drive out to a scenic spot and do some stargazing, or we could go back to that swing on Matchmaker Ranch.” Carson lifts his eyebrows, wanting me to choose.

“Stargazing.” I blow him a kiss. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days? Besides, Matchmaker Ranch currently has guests, and they might be using said swing.”

“Is Rose keeping you up to date on the happenings there?”

“Yep. So far, the ranch has a one hundred percent success rate.”

“That’s awesome. How many have they matched before the current guests?”

“Two.”

“Two couples?”

“Two people.” I grin. “Hopefully the streak continues.”

We drive out to a hillside and park.

He drops the tailgate, revealing blankets and throw pillows. “There is no rain in the forecast.”

I inch up on my toes. “But there is a one-hundred percent chance of kissing.”