Page 40 of The Cattleman’s Unforgettable Love: Ford and Amelia (MacFarland Ranch #11)

As he walked back up to the big house, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and his stride faltered when he saw Amelia's name on the screen. Maybe she was calling to say she couldn't make it after all.

"Hey, Lil’ Bit," he answered.

He could hear the smile in her voice when she said, "Aw. I love the way you call me that."

"It suits you," he told her. "Is everything okay? Did you get held up?"

"No, I'm calling to say that I'm on my way back now. How are things going for you? Do you want me to meet you at the bakery?"

"No." He said it too abruptly. "I don't want to wait that long," he added to soften it.

"I mean, I know it's supposed to be a big secret wherever you're working with Cash, and I'm not asking – I don't need to know.

But I have noticed that when you come back from work, you come from the north – that means you'd have to pass here to get to the bakery. So..."

He was relieved when she laughed. He didn't want to sound like he was keeping tabs on her movements.

"Wow. And I thought I was the only one who observed little details like that. Well, maybe the military guys as well, but..."

"I guess it just goes with the territory around here," he said. "I'm used to keeping an eye on what's going on – and even if I wasn't, even if I didn't normally do that, I don't mind admitting that I keep a special eye out for you."

A stupid grin spread itself across his face when she said, "I really don't know why they call you dark and broody. You're the sweetest man I've ever known."

He rolled his eyes at himself as he carried on up to the house. "I'm really not, but like I've told you before, you bring out the best in me."

"Well, that's all I need to know. I don't need you to be sweet to anyone else."

She stopped abruptly, and when she didn't continue, he had to ask, "What's up? Is everything okay?"

"I'm not sure I should answer that."

"Why?"

She let out a short laugh. "Because I just got all... I don't know what the word is... but not happy at the thought of you being sweet to someone else – to some other woman."

That brought the stupid grin back to his face. "Well, I'm glad you told me. You just made my day, and for what it's worth, I feel the same way about you."

She was quiet for a few moments before she said, "We've got it bad, haven't we?"

"Yeah, Lil’ Bit. I think we do, but I don't think that's a problem, do you?"

"I don't. I kind of like it. In fact, I like it an awful lot, and as long as we can keep being honest with each other like this, it's all good, isn't it? I mean, you must tell me if it wears off. I want you to be honest about that, too."

"That's one thing you don't need to worry about with me – if it's on my mind, I have to say it. I won't hide anything from you, good or bad."

"Thanks. Anyway, sorry I took us off into deep and meaningful territory. I'm almost back to the ranch now. All I need to do is drop off my gear."

"Then I'll see you in a few minutes."

"Okay. See you soon."

~ ~ ~

When they arrived at the bakery, Amelia was surprised to see how crowded the parking lot was. She'd been in here a few times, and it had been busy, but she'd never seen it this busy. Ford took her hand as they walked toward the entrance, and she smiled up at him.

"You know how you said that I bring out the best in you? Well, you do the same for me, but..." She hurried on when she saw the panicked look on his face. "It's not that kind of but – what I mean is that you bring out something in me that I didn't know was there."

He stopped walking and cocked an eyebrow. "What kind of something?"

"You make me feel..." She didn't really want to continue, but now that she'd started, she knew that she had to. "Feminine," she said, making a face as she said it.

"And that's a bad thing?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"It isn't necessarily. It's just... not something I'm familiar with.

But around you..." She squeezed his hand.

"This kind of thing, you know? And the way you pick me up and carry me around and call me Lil’ Bit.

" She couldn't help smiling, even though she felt self-conscious saying it.

"I like it. I would have thought that I was the last woman on Earth who'd want, let alone need, a big, strong hero to ride in and save the day, but.

.." She shrugged again, feeling even more self-conscious – it sounded ridiculous even to her own ears.

And yet, when Ford leaned in close, the feeling intensified.

He really was a big, strong guy, and she was by no means tiny, but he made her feel small – at least in stature by comparison to him.

His eyes seemed to shine as they looked into hers, their noses only an inch apart.

He took his hat off and placed it on top of her head.

"I have to tell you, I always thought that kind of thing was bullshit myself.

I never understood why a man would want a weedy little woman who couldn't stand up for herself, and that's sure as hell not the way I see you.

But you just bring that out in me." He pursed his lips and she wondered if he was going to continue.

He had something else to say – it was obvious.

But she wouldn't blame him if he didn't share.

"You're being so honest, and I need to do the same. Just like you find it strange to feel all feminine, I'm finding it strange that I want to be..." She watched him search for words for a moment or two before she smiled and helped him out.

"You enjoy being the big, tough hero, don't you?"

He shook his head rapidly. "I don't need to be a hero. I won't deny that I've had to be tough my whole life, but more than that..." He curled his arm around her waist and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "I feel like a dick saying it, but you make me feel masculine."

She laughed out loud. "Okay, and that just proves what a man you are." She pressed a kiss to his lips, and they both spun around when someone called Ford's name.

Amelia recognized Sheriff Deacon and relaxed against Ford's side when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and called, "Hey, Deacon, how's it going?"

Deacon hurried over to join them. "I'm doing fine. Hey, Amelia. It's good to see you again." He grinned at them. "Especially to see the two of you together like this." He raised his eyebrows. "I take it I shouldn't mention what I just witnessed when we go inside?"

Amelia glanced up at Ford, and he smiled. "I don't think we have a problem, do we?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Everyone knows we're together, I think." She smiled at Deacon. "And Cash has been playing Cupid at every chance he gets, so..."

Deacon grinned, then glanced at Ford, looking a little more serious as he said, "I'm glad to hear that."

As Amelia watched the look the two men exchanged, she had to wonder if she'd ever learn the full history between Ford and Cash.

On the one hand, she'd told them both that she didn't need to know – whatever it was, it was in the past, and it seemed that they were putting it behind them.

At the same time, she couldn't help being curious.

~ ~ ~

They'd been in the bakery for an hour and a half already.

Ford excused himself to go to the bathroom – not that he needed to go, just that he wanted a break.

He enjoyed hanging out with his family, and most of them were here this afternoon.

Then there were the older guys – Deacon, Ace, Travis, and Trip – and their women.

They were all good people, and it was good to catch up with them, but he was getting close to his limit now on people time.

He deliberately took the long route around the tables so that he didn't pass by where Amelia was now sitting with Sierra and Cassidy.

He was glad for her that she had this chance to catch up with her friends.

She'd sat with him for the first half an hour, and everyone had gotten the point, even if he hadn't at first – that their coming to the bakery like this was kind of their official coming out as a couple.

But he didn't think either of them wanted to be the kind of couple who sat there holding hands the whole time.

He'd rather she hung out with her friends, and.

.. He frowned. Personally, he'd rather go back to the ranch, but he didn't mind being here for her.

As he passed the counter, he turned when someone reached out to punch his arm and smiled when he saw his old friend, Mason Remington.

"We don't often see you in here," said Mason.

"Whoa, and you're trying to say that you're a regular these days?" Ford asked.

Mason chuckled. "Not when I can help it, no.

But Gina wanted to come this afternoon, and then Cassidy decided that she did too, and somehow that meant that I ended up here.

" He shrugged, but he didn't look too unhappy about it.

"Shane's around somewhere, but anyway, my point was.

.." He jerked his chin toward where Amelia was sitting with Sierra and Cassidy. "What's the deal?" he asked.

Ford tried to keep the smile off his face but didn't succeed.

Mason smirked. "I thought as much. Not only is she enough to bring you in here to endure the masses on a Friday afternoon, but she's got you smiling about it, too. From what G tells me, she's quite a lady."

Ford frowned. "How does Gina know her?"

"I don't think she does – only secondhand through Cassidy. Sounds like Cassidy, Sierra, and Amelia were big buddies back in San Francisco."

"I guess they were." It occurred to Ford for the first time that he could ask Sierra, or maybe even Cassidy, about Amelia's family.

Not that he wanted to go snooping around behind her back, but if his theory about the Rootless2 person on the forum were right, maybe one of them might be able to help him out.

"What's the problem?" asked Mason. "It looks like I pissed you off, but I know you better than that."

"Yeah, I forget that you're one of the few people who understands that just because I'm not talking or smiling, it doesn't mean I'm mad about something."

Mason chuckled. "Yeah, they give me the broody cowboy label too, but I play it to my advantage. You might want to do the same thing."

Ford nodded. "I think you know damn well that I've been playing it that way for years."

Mason grasped his shoulder. "Yeah, and what I’m saying is that you don't have to give it up now that you've met your lady. Everyone else can think what they want as long as she knows that you're as soft as she needs you to be. That's all that matters."

Ford glanced over to the table where Gina had now joined Amelia, Sierra, and Cassidy. "But G doesn't need you to be soft, does she? She's not that kind of woman."

Mason shook his head. "No, and we wouldn't work if she were. No way could you call her a girly girl, but that doesn't mean she doesn't need me to step up and be her man. I don't know Amelia, but I’m guessing she might be the same way."

Ford nodded. He wasn't about to start explaining the conversation they'd just had outside, but Mason was confirming for him that he and Amelia could bring out different sides of each other while still being who they were fundamentally.