Page 75 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Ford smiled slowly. "Yeah. I mean, I only said that about sharing my family like you'd say it about anything. Someone's not got something, and you've got more than enough, you'd be happy to share with them, right? It's just the decent thing to do. But as soon as the words were out, I realized how it sounded."

"And you're telling me she didn't lap that up? I thought women like that kind of thing."

Ford blew out a sigh. "I think some women would, but Amelia looked..." He closed his eyes briefly, remembering the look on her face. "It's weird – she didn't look freaked out, like I was trying to impose something on her that she didn't want. It was more that she looked..." He sighed again. "Disappointed."

"Disappointed? Are you sure? That seems like a weird reaction."

Ford shrugged. "Maybe I'm wrong. Like you said, what do I know about women?"

"Doesn't matter what you know about women, bud. If this is important to you as it seems it is, then the only woman you need to know about is Amelia. You need to talk to her. Explain what you meant and ask her how she feels. If you wanting to share your family with her in the biblical sense is enough to put her off, and it's something that you might want, then you guys should probably figure that out now rather than set yourselves up for disappointment down the road."

"I guess."

"You guess, but what?" asked Brody.

"But I don't want to bring things to a head too soon. I mean, if she's horrified at the thought of... you know, becoming part of my family, I don't think I want to hear that yet."

Brody smiled. "And you're thinking that even if she's not into the idea right now, if you can keep her around for a while, the idea might grow on her?"

"Yeah, I guess I am," said Ford. "I guess I am."

~ ~ ~

"Amelia, darlin', did you run that trace for me?"

Amelia turned to look up at Cash, feeling guilty. She hadn't been able to focus today at all, and that wasn't like her. Unfortunately, the look of concern on Cash's face told her that he'd noticed.

"What's going on? Something's wrong."

She waved a hand at him. "Nothing. I'm fine. Sorry. I'm just not on the ball today – we all have off days, you know. Even me."

"Maybe so, but... Want to tell me...?"

She shook her head rapidly. "There's nothing to tell. Honestly, I'm fine." She needed someone to talk to, but as much as she loved Cash, he was not the first person she would consult about Ford. Yes, he was his brother, but also ... he was his brother!

He narrowed his eyes at her. "What's going on?"

"Would you stop? I told you, I'm fine. Oh, and does the offer to go to San Francisco this weekend still stand? I..."

She knew she'd blown it when Cash leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest. When he narrowed his eyes, she knew she wouldn't be getting out of here until she'd confessed everything. She blew out a sigh and waited.

"No," was all he said at first.

She leaned back in her own chair. "No? Just no? Well, I think that's mean of you, Cash."

He chuckled. "Yeah, nice try. I'm not being mean, Amelia, darlin'. I'm doing this for your own good. When I asked you if you wanted to come with me, you said you were going to the bakery with Ford on Friday afternoon." His eyebrows drew together. "You've been off your game all day today, and now you want to come with me? What did he do?" he asked with a scowl.

"Oh, no. Don't you dare go getting mad at him. He didn't do anything wrong, and the last thing I need is for you to start interfering. Promise me you won't."

His jaw set.

"Cash! You have to promise me. Otherwise, this whole thing is just..."

"What whole thing?" he asked. "What did he do?"

She blew out a sigh. "He didn't do anything. Stop it."

Cash glowered at her for a long few moments before saying, "Okay, I'll let it drop for now, because if I don't, I might just have to go and kick his ass for him."