A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy: an opposites attract, secrets uncovered Montana Ranches Christian Romance (Sweet River Ranch Romance Book 4) by Valerie Comer

Author:Valerie Comer [Comer, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: GreenWords Media
Published: 2024-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Fifteen

Maxwell?”

His name sounded sweet on Eryn’s lips, even if she asked it tentatively. “Yes?”

“I was wondering…” She twisted her hands together.

He waited, holding his smile in place. It took a moment.

“I want to talk to some of the artisans in Jewel Lake, but I’m not sure.”

“Certain about what?” he asked, when the silence had lingered too long.

“I don’t have the authority to speak on behalf of the ranch. Or of the gift shop.”

“You’re asking them questions about availability, right? Gathering information?”

“Right, but…”

Light trickled in. “Would you like me to come with you?”

She nodded, biting her lip and barely meeting his gaze. “I know you’re super busy, though.”

“My crew doesn’t need me hovering every minute. I could take a day off. How about Monday? You might want to call ahead and set up appointments. Not everyone has gallery hours in October.”

“I can do that, but it’s only a half day, since I work in the kitchen in the morning.”

“Ask Nadine for the entire day off. That would give us time to meet more artisans.”

“I shouldn’t ask.”

“I can, if you won’t. She’ll be happy to let you go, you know.” Especially if she suspected something was brewing between them. “Your pay won’t be docked for time off.”

Eryn blinked. “But it should be.”

“It’s all ranch business.”

“But…” She shook her head. “This is all new to me. I know I’ve been here over a week, but it’s so different.”

“I get that.” Working for Grandfather again after eight years on his own had been quite an adjustment for Maxwell, as well. He could see how Eryn might not be sure of her place. “You’re doing great with Echo, by the way.”

Eryn’s cheeks pinked. “She’s wonderful.”

“She follows you around like a puppy.” Maxwell chuckled. “But that’s not today’s topic, sorry. Will you ask Nadine, or shall I? Because I’d like to take you for lunch in town between appointments. And…” Was she ready? Only one way to find out. “And dinner. Maybe a movie, depending on what’s playing.”

Her gaze flew to meet his. “Like a…?”

“Not just like a date, but actually a date.”

“Oh.”

Not a resounding response, but better than he’d expected. “I meant what I’ve said before. I want to get to know you better, and I think — I hope — you might be a tiny bit interested in that, too?”

“Maybe?”

Maxwell touched her arm. “I’m not sure what I’ve done to make you so hesitant, but I’ll take the maybe. Because I’m in.”

“I thought you’d probably forgotten all that by now.”

He let his fingers trail down to her hand before tangling them with hers. “Not a chance. I just didn’t want to scare you and make you shy away.”

A tiny smile poked at her lips. “Like Echo.”

“Sort of like her, yes. But far more important than any horse could ever be.”

“Don’t let Weston hear you say that.”

Maxwell chuckled. “Pre-Paisley, you’d be right, but I think he’s come around to realizing human relationships supersede equine. At least one human relationship.”

“He and Paisley are cute. They’re so different from each other.

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