The Cowboy's Perfect Match--A Clean Romance by Cathy McDavid

Author:Cathy McDavid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-02-06T13:50:17+00:00

* * *

RYAN FOUND A like mind in young Cody. Or, should he say a like stomach? As Bridget distributed the plates, both Ryan and Cody filled theirs to overflowing.

The girls were fussy eaters and needed a bit of encouragement. Willa, it turned out, detested baked beans. Her older sister, Marisa, didn’t want any potato salad because of the “red stuff” in it, which was actually diced red peppers.

“That’s the best part,” Ryan exclaimed.

Nobody’s fool, she narrowed her gaze at him.

“Haven’t you ever heard that peppers make your hair curly? Just look at Bridget’s. She got her curly hair from peppers.”

He’d heard his sister use this fabrication with her daughters, only the food they didn’t want to eat was bread crust.

“And her hair’s red ’cause she ate red peppers.” Grinning, Cody took a big bite of potato salad, only to stop in midswallow. “Will mine turn red?”

Ryan reached over and patted the boy’s head. “Only works on girls.”

“Whew!” He shoveled another forkful into his mouth.

Marisa showed that she was considerably smarter than her brother. At least, she was less gullible. “That’s not true. You made it up.” Turning to Bridget for confirmation, she asked, “Didn’t he?”

“Well...even if it’s not true, peppers are pretty delicious.”

“They’re hot.”

“These are sweet peppers. Try one.”

“Sweet peppers give little girls curls and make them sweet,” Ryan said. “Everyone knows that.”

Marisa frowned, but she tried a bite of the potato salad, anyway. After she swallowed, she held out a strand of her hair for inspection in an apparent attempt to detect any curls or change in color.

Willa was too busy stuffing herself with deviled eggs to contribute to the conversation. Bridget fussed and fretted over her, trying to get the little girl to eat something else. Ryan didn’t suppose one meal of nothing more than deviled eggs would hurt Willa but kept his opinion to himself.

He reached for another piece of chicken. “This is really good, Bridget. Hats off to the chef.”

He felt Cody’s stare on him. “What’s up, pal?”

“You didn’t take your hat off.”

“Got me there.” Ryan tsked, removed his hat and set it on the seat beside him.

Copying him, Willa tugged off her cap and dropped it in her lap. She then reached out with her chubby hand and snatched a chicken leg from the platter.

Bridget scrunched her pretty mouth in consternation. “Huh.”

“Kids are funny,” Ryan said between bites. “You push, they push back.”

“I think a lot of adults are like that, too.”

Was she referring to him? He could dig his heels in when inclined.

“You learn about children from your nieces and nephews?” she asked.

“I do have a lot of them. Sixteen at last count.”

“All in Texas?”

“Most. My oldest brother and his family live in Louisiana. I have a sister who teaches elementary school in Ohio. Other than that, the rest are still fairly close to the folks. No more than a couple hours away.”

“Didn’t you say one of your sisters and her children live with your parents?”

“Off them is more like it.” Ryan softened his tone.

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