Page 33 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

"It might be busy," he told her, "but there are some tables outside if you want to stay for a drink."

"I'd like that, if it's not too busy. And after I run to the bathroom."

He chuckled. "I'll drop you by the front door if you like. The restrooms are just off to the left from there."

"Thanks. You're an angel."

She glanced over at him when he didn't reply. He didn't turn to look at her but shrugged. "Before you ask," he said, "I don't have a problem with you saying it. It's just that I hope you won't be disappointed when you discover that I'm more of a devil than an angel."

She touched his arm. "I don't believe that for a moment."

When he pulled up in front of the main entrance at Chico, he cut the engine and reached for his door handle, but she shook her head. "I love when you open the door for me, but I can't wait that long. I have to run."

The sound of his laughter followed her as she jumped out of the truck and hurried toward the ladies' room.

He rolled his window down and called after her, "I'll be around the back outside. I'll check if there are any tables free."

She gave him a thumbs up without even breaking stride.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she wandered down the hallway, hoping that she was going in the right direction. She'd only been here once, and she hadn't even finished her drink before Trip's girlfriend, Shelley, had gone missing.

It was easy enough to find her way outside, and she stopped in the doorway, scanning the tables for Ford.

She frowned when she spotted him. There were some empty tables, but he hadn't claimed one of them. Instead, he was standing next to a table occupied by four women. The sight, or rather, her reaction to it, caught her off guard. If anyone had asked her, she would have said that she didn't have a jealous bone in her body.

But the sight of him standing there, chatting and laughing with those girls, gave her pause. There was no reason she should feel that way. Okay, so he might have just given her the best kiss of her life so far, but she had no claim on him.

He seemed relaxed around the women. He chatted easily with them. It looked as though they were teasing him. She should probably lower her expectations of what might happen between them. He was a real catch, no doubt about it, and from the look of them, those girls had more in common with him than she ever would. Three of them wore cowboy hats, and the fourth was a pretty, smiling brunette, probably around Amelia's age, if not a bit younger.

She narrowed her eyes and looked more closely. Oh. She recognized two of them as his sisters – Laney, the blonde and Janey, the darker haired one. Both were wearing cowboy hats. She couldn't help feeling relieved, even though she knew that she was being ridiculous.

Laney turned and spotted her and said something to Ford.

Amelia didn't like the way he scowled at his sister before turning to her and raising his hand in greeting.

She was tempted to turn around and go back inside, but she could hardly do that. Instead, she set out toward their table, hoping that she could get away with just saying a quick hello. She didn't do well with groups of women – she never had.

When she reached them, Ford greeted her with a smile and came to stand close by her side. "I'm not sure who you've met before and who you haven't," he told her, but he pointed around the table as he spoke. "These are my sisters, Laney, and Janey, my cousin Frankie, and our good friend, Brooke."

Amelia smiled and gave them all a little wave, feeling self-conscious. "It's good to see you again," she told Laney and Janey. She thought she recognized Frankie from last weekend and knew that she was Mav's younger sister, which made her Ford's cousin.

She looked at Brooke, who laughed; she was one of those people who just seemed so friendly and outgoing that even if she were competition for Ford's affection, Amelia wouldn't be able to dislike her if she tried. "It's lovely to meet you."

Brooke smiled brightly. "You too." She glanced at Ford, and it was obvious that she was wondering if he and Amelia were together.

Laney laughed out loud before addressing Amelia. "I don't want this to get uncomfortable, but I can tell you that we're all wondering how you managed to get this guy off the ranch for the day. And..." She glanced up at Ford, looking more serious as she added, "what your intentions are with him."

Ford scowled at Laney, but she shrugged. "You can't give me any shit, big brother," she told him. "Do you really think that we wouldn't be as protective of you as you were of us?"

Amelia looked around at them, wondering what she could say that might diffuse the situation.

Janey smiled at her. "There's nothing to worry about. It's just that we're not used to seeing him out on a date. And he went all protective big brother on us when we started relationships, so..." She looked up at Ford again.

He turned to Amelia, and she felt herself relax when he smiled. "I want to apologize for this, but I can't. I'd be doing the same in their position."

"You did the same and worse," Frankie chimed in.

"It's true," Ford said, his gaze never leaving Amelia's.