Reuniting with the Cowboy by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Author:Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“I think Ally’s just surprised.” Cody’s hand closed over hers under the table, gave her a gentle pat. “I mean, you’ve only been dating a few weeks.”

“We’ve worked together for two years, ate a lot of lunches together and officially started dating six months ago.” Mom blushed.

“Six months?” Ally almost swallowed her tongue. “You hid it from me?”

Mom’s face went a deeper shade of red. “Um... I haven’t exactly been going to book club meetings.”

How could she have been so naive? Book clubs didn’t meet on Saturday nights.

“Your mother didn’t want you to be upset.” Lance’s tone was cajoling.

“So you hide your relationship from me for six months and then spring a proposal on me out of the blue. What am I? A child?” The high-pitched panic in her voice made her sound like one. She gulped her sweet tea.

Something beeped in the kitchen.

“Ally, let’s go check on my pie.” Erin scooted her chair back. “I need a second opinion since I’m bad about underbaking the crust and there’s nothing worse than doughy pie.”

Saved by the buzzer. But the last thing Ally wanted to do was talk about pie. She wanted to grab Mom by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. Instead she pushed her chair back and followed Erin to the kitchen.

“I tried to get them to tell you. From the beginning.” Erin opened the oven and slid out the rack. Blueberries bubbled under the golden lattice crust. With mitt-covered hands, Erin pulled the pie from the oven and set it on a hot pad on the counter.

“So you knew they were dating from the beginning?”

“Yes. Dad told me he wanted to ask your mom out and I kind of coached him along.”

“Why did they tell you and not me?” Ally folded her arms over her chest as something heavy sank to the pit of her stomach.

“I guess they knew I was ready. I’d been trying to get Dad to date for at least a year.”

“But they thought I needed to be treated with kid gloves?”

“I’m married with a family of my own. Your mom didn’t want you to feel like she was abandoning you. But it doesn’t look like you’re alone. Are you sure you and Cody are only friends and neighbors?”

“Yes.” Sort of.

Her mom entered the kitchen then wearing a sheepish grin. “How’s the pie coming?”

“I think it turned out perfect. For the first time ever.” Erin grabbed a knife and the pie and headed for the dining room. “Will you bring the ice cream, Diane? No rush—this’ll need time to cool.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie.” Mom cupped Ally’s cheek when they were alone. “I know this must seem fast to you. And I handled it all wrong. I should have told you from the beginning. Lance tried to get me to.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“You were so crazy about your dad and I knew it would be hard on you to see me with another man.”

“I’m an adult.” She swallowed hard. “I’m trying to pull up my big-girl boots.

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