Page 20 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

When she reached him, she gave him a worried look. “What’s that frown for?” she asked. “You’re not one of those guys who thinks that a woman should know her place and… her place is in the kitchen, are you? Because if so…”

He chuckled. “Hell, no. Far from it. If I was frowning, it was because I was trying to figure out why I felt relieved.”

She laughed. “I’d guess that you’ve probably had more than a few domestic goddesses try to snare you into their plans for settling down and having a family – and you’re relieved that I’m not yet another one of them who you’ll have to fend off.”

He pursed his lips. She was kind of right. There had been a few girls who’d tried to rope him over the years – but they weren’t really interested in him. They’d seen him as a ticket to a good life as a rancher’s wife.

“Sorry,” said Amelia. “Did I touch a nerve?”

“Far from it. I just didn’t know how to tell you that even the husband-hunters aren’t interested in me. You have no competition whatsoever.”

He didn’t even know why he’d said that – and was relieved when she grinned rather than asking him what the hell he was talking about.

“Good,” she said. “I’d compete for you if I had to – but I’d rather not have to.”

He smiled at her as he gestured for her to go ahead of him to the kitchen.

“You’d never have to compete,” he said in a low voice as he followed her down the hallway. “I’d choose you. Every time.”

Chapter Five

On Saturday morning, Ford stood in the kitchen, staring at the picnic bag he'd packed. He hadn't been nervous about a date in years. Not that he'd been on many. But he really shouldn't be second-guessing himself about the picnic.

He didn't know her all that well, but as different as she may be from most of the folks around here, Amelia was still a human. And most humans he'd ever known ate sandwiches. If she didn't like the coffee cake he'd had one of the hands pick up from the bakery yesterday, he wouldn't have a problem eating it all. If she didn't like beer, he'd packed soda and water, too. And fruit, just in case she was... just in case fruit was her thing.

He ran a hand through his hair and went to pour himself a coffee. He didn't even know if she was an early riser when she wasn't working. For that matter, he didn’t know what time she got up even when she was working; he'd been out of the house before her every morning since she'd come to stay.

He leaned back against the cabinets and sipped his coffee. Caffeine was supposed to make you antsy, but he found it settled his nerves. Maybe it was just the habit of a familiar routine that calmed him – while faced with the very unfamiliar position he found himself in this morning.

He reached for his phone when it buzzed on the counter and frowned when he saw Boone's name on the screen. Surely the foreman could take care of things by himself for just one day.

Boone: Ignore me if you're already on your way out. Just wanted to check if you want me to turn the Morgan out with the rest this morning.

Ford frowned as he stared at the message, not knowing why the Morgan would be with the ranch horses. He'd thought that Tanner was keeping him over at the barn with his horses so he could train him.

Ford: What's he doing with you?

Boone: Tanner asked last night if he could leave him in one of our stalls. I thought you wanted him.

Ford: I do. But I thought Tanner was going to work with him first.

Boone: Sorry, boss. I can take him back over there if you like. I'll figure it out with Tanner. Didn't mean to create problems for you on your day off.

Ford: It's not a problem. I'll stop by before we leave.

Boone: Shit. You don't need to do that. I can figure it out.

Ford: I don't mind. It'll give me the chance to introduce Amelia to him. But yeah, I'll let you figure it out with Tanner after we leave.

Boone: OK. I'll brush him down, so she gets a good first impression of him.

Ford: Don't worry about it. You've got enough to do. I'm hoping she'll be happy to meet him even with straw in his mane.

Boone: Yeah, but still. He'll want to make a good first impression. We all will.

Ford stared at his phone for a moment, wondering what exactly Boone meant. Whatever it was, he wasn't about to ask.

Ford: See you soon.