Page 23 of The Maverick

Nick nodded. “Yes. We’ll go down to the arena. Smitty already has Buttercup and Daisy saddled. You’ll ride Daisy.” He put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “She’s a very gentle mare and one of my best for learning how to ride.”

Everybody stood.

Rachel picked up her plate. “I’ll help Sarah with the dishes and be out after a bit.”

Sarah took the plate. “You’ll do no such thing. This is my job, and I take it very seriously. After you cook, you can do the dishes. Until then, I will.”

Rachel raised her brows. “Okay. Thank you for a wonderful meal.”

After stacking the plates on top of each other, Sarah winked at Rachel. “You’re very welcome. I like cooking and I love my job here with Nick and Bailey. They are the child and grandchild I was never blessed with.” She carried the stack to the kitchen.

Rachel followed Nick and the children out of the back door. The kids were talking to Smitty and running to keep up with his long strides.

Nick waited with hands in his jeans back pockets. He waggled his eyebrows. “Did you get scolded for helping her?”

Chuckling, Rachel nodded. “When I cook, I can do the dishes and not before. I’m a decent cook. Does Sarah get any days off where you would do the cooking?”

“She does, but she never takes them. She says her work is just what anyone would do, and she doesn’t need days off.” His mouth turned down. “Bailey and I are the only family she has left. Her husband passed on four years ago, and they were never blessed with children.”

“That’s so sad.” Rachel remembered Mrs. Bradley, who took care of Jake for her. She’d only been a widow for two years and she said keeping Jake made those years easier.

“It is, but having her stay on after Paul’s death has been great for Bailey. Living with Sarah is like living with your grandma and she spoils her like a grandma, too. But she can lay down the law when she wants to.” He took her hand in his. “Let’s head to the barn.”

Rachel looked down at their linked hands.Are we back to being just friends, or is this related to last night’s kiss?

As they walked, swinging their hands like they did as teenagers, Rachel felt something change between them. This was more than two friends holding hands. This was a man and a woman holding hands.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she was afraid her palms were sweating.

“I want to go on a date.”

Cold water couldn’t have frozen her hopes any better. “You can date anyone you want.” She tried to pull her hand away.

He wouldn’t let her. “You misunderstand. I want us to go on a date. You and me, Rach, and not as friends. I want us to be more than friends.”

“I...I...don’t know what to say.” Her heart eased and she smiled, from the inside out.

He stopped walking and looked at her. “Sayyes.I promise it will be fun, and you’ll never have been on a date like this one.”

She glanced over to where the children were about to enter the arena. “What about the kids?”

“They’ll stay here with Sarah. She’ll love it. Popcorn and movies. She’s great with the kids and would do anything to protect them. They couldn’t be in safer hands.”

“What if Greg?—”

“Greg can’t get onto the ranch. I have tight security. He’d have to be Houdini to get on this ranch.”

Rachel thought about it. She knew she wanted to go out with Nick, but what would Jake think? Would he think she’s a bad mother? And what about Bailey? How does she feel about Nick dating?

She sighed. “I’ll go out with you on one condition.”

“What’s your condition?” Nick brought the hand he was holding to his lips and kissed the back.

“The kids have to approve. If they don’t want us dating then we won’t...at least for now. Agreed.”

Nick appeared to ponder the restriction for a moment, then he grinned. “You’ve got a deal, Rach.” He put out his right hand. “Shake on it.”

She took his hand, and he gave her two good shakes before wrapping his arm around her shoulders.