Page 77 of Owned By The Cowboy

“So what now?” Jaylen asks. “Do we tell Grandma and Grandpa? Because I think they already know too.”

“Everyone knows,” Annalise says with authority. I shake my head. With her small, sassy self. “Mrs. Patterson asked me yesterday if my mom was dating the handsome construction boss.”

“She did not,” I gasp.

“She did! And I said yes, and she said it was about time.”

“About time?”

“Uh-huh. She said you and Blayne have been making googly eyes at each other for years.”

“Oh, my God! We have not been making googly eyes for years.”

“Mom,” Nia says patiently, “you used to get all flustered whenever he came to Grandpa’s house. It was pretty obvious.”

“Child, I did not get flustered.”

“You totally did,” Jaylen agrees. “Remember that time he helped us move the couch, and you couldn’t figure out how to work the coffee maker?”

“That was… that was just a coincidence.”

“Uh-huh. You’ve made coffee the same way for years,” Nia points out.

Blayne, the traitor, is trying not to laugh, but I can see his shoulders shaking. “Something funny?”

“Just thinking about you being flustered. It’s cute, babe.”

“I was not flustered. I was being polite.”

“Right. Polite.”

Before I can defend myself further, my phone rings. I glance at the screen and see Mama’s name.

I answer the call. “Hi, Mama.”

“Regina, honey, are you busy today?”

“Not particularly, Ma. Why?”

“Well, your father and I were thinking about having a little barbecue this afternoon. Nothing fancy, just family. Maybe invite a few neighbors.”

“That sounds nice.”

“Oh, and honey? Tell Blayne.”

I palm my forehead, then look across the table at him, and he raises an eyebrow in question.

“Mama, why would I be the one telling Blayne? Why don’t you call him to invite him?”

It’s like I can feel her eye-roll through the phone. “Sweetheart, half the town saw you at that family center the other day. Ms. Nancy called me this morning to tell me what a lovely family you all make.”

“Ms. Nancy called you?”

“She did. Oh, and Mrs. Henderson. And Rosie from the diner. Apparently, you guys have fans.” She laughs warmly.

“We don’t have fans, Ma. We just… existed in public.”

“With a very handsome cowboy who is clearly smitten with you and your children. In a small town like this, that’s big news, baby.”