Page 27 of Blue Moon Cowboy
“Well, they were just fun, nothing serious. Of course, Shaun didn’t know that. Jason vetted all the guys and set up the dates. Everyone called it dial-a-date, and my father-in-law has helped more than one boot-dragging cowboy get the push he needed to decide if he was going to get serious about a relationship or not.”
“Wow! I had no idea. Playing matchmaker seems … odd for a man who himself doesn’t date and seems to prefer to be alone.”
“I know, right? But Jason is really good at it. Too bad he hasn’t used those skills for his own happiness.” Brylee rinsed the platter she’d scrubbed and dried it on a boldly striped dish towel that seemed fitting for a house where three single men lived. “Then again, maybe everything has happened just exactly like it is supposed to.”
Lainey hoped Brylee didn’t mean Jason meeting her. Although she was fascinated with Jason and was enjoying getting to know his family, she didn’t want anyone getting any ideas about her being a permanent part of Jason’s life.
After all, she’d only met the man last month.
They’d had a few lunches and dinners together. And the unexpected doughnuts and coffee breakfast that had been followed by a series of kisses that had left Lainey so rattled, she’d driven ten miles in the wrong direction before she’d realized her mistake.
Jason Price might be a lot of things, but an excellent kisser was definitely up at the top of his impressive list.
“I’ll go get the rest of the dishes,” Lainey said, almost colliding with Dani when she carried in a stack of plates.
Later, after the family had raved about the brownies Lainey had brought and they’d enjoyed them with bowls of vanilla ice cream, it was time for everyone to leave.
Lainey had felt like crowing in victory when Caitlyn let her pick her up and carry her outside to the SUV, where Brylee set her in her car seat.
“You have a way with kids, Lainey,” Brylee observed as she helped Carter climb into the back seat. He got into his car seat and fastened it without any help. “Dad didn’t mention you having any.”
“I don’t,” Lainey said, unwilling to go any further down that painful road.
Brylee closed the door, then gave Lainey a hug. “Thank you for making time to meet us. If we haven’t completely scared you off, I hope we’ll get to see more of you. Starting next week, we’ll be traveling with Shaun and Dad most of the summer.”
“That’s wonderful. Do the kids get bored?”
Brylee shook her head. “Not at all. They love going to the rodeos and seeing their friends. Carter’s best friend lives in Hermiston, and he gets to see her almost every weekend from the first of August until the Pendleton Round-Up in September. After that, it will be back to school for them.”
“Thank you for making me feel so welcome, Brylee. It was lovely to meet all of you.”
“Take Pops up on his offer to sleep in the guest room. It has a big clawfoot tub that is the best for soaking I’ve ever been in.” Brylee waved, then hopped in her SUV and left.
Lainey turned around and found herself engulfed in another hug by Dani.
“You’re even prettier than Papa said,” Dani said, smiling at Lainey when she stepped back. “I’m glad you had dinner with us.”
“I’m glad as well, Dani. It was wonderful to meet you all. I know you’re going to be a marvelous big sister.”
“Thanks, Lainey. Bye.” Dani hustled to get into the back seat of the SUV.
Lainey bid both Lisa and Tyler good night, thanking them for the warm welcome, then returned inside, where Mike sat at the table in the kitchen, eating another brownie.
“These are top-notch, darlin’. Does Jason know you can cook?”
“I don’t know if he does or not. We’ve eaten out when I’ve been around him, except for a potluck we attended after a rodeo in Arizona.”
“Are you the one who made the strawberry lemon something or other?” Mike asked, wiping his mouth on a napkin.
“Guilty as charged.”
“That boy raved about the dessert for a week. He has a thing for strawberries. Once, when he was just a little tyke, his mother was frantic, searching everywhere for him. She finally went out to the garden, and there he was, plopped down in the middle of a row, stuffing strawberries in his mouth as fast as he could pick them.”
“I bet he was a handful.”
“And then some,” Mike said, motioning for Lainey to take a seat. “Pour yourself a glass of iced tea or lemonade, or if you want hot tea, there’s a canister of tea there in the corner. I can’t drink coffee in the evening anymore. It keeps me awake all night.”
Lainey filled her glass with lemonade and topped off the glass in front of Mike before she sat beside him at the table.
