The Rancher's Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn

Author:Jill Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-11-05T14:19:03+00:00

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“Pretty sure my tab is close to two million now.” A freshly showered Gage, dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved Copper Mountain T-shirt peeked over her shoulder at the simmering pasta sauce that Emma stirred. He smelled amazing. Fresh-from-the-shower looked good on him, the tips of his almost black hair shiny from the remaining moisture.

“Methinks you overestimate my value, Counselor.”

“And you underestimate.” His quirked eyebrow and playful grin ignited those pesky girlish hopes and dreams she’d attempted to dodge over the last few weeks. But they hung on to her like flies on cattle. Not ready to pack up and head out anytime soon.

Gage got out plates from the cupboard for the two of them, then a plastic bowl for Hudson that suction cupped to his high chair tray.

“I don’t know how I’m ever going to truly thank you for everything you’ve done for Hudson and me.”

“You just did.”

He added silverware to his stack and delivered the items to the table. “You’re way too easy on me, Emma. On everyone.”

“Oh, stop.” Some people made it easy to be easy. She used the wooden spoon to dig a square of ravioli from the boiling water, then tested the softness to see if it was done. Perfect.

Emma placed the stainless steel colander in the sink and dumped the water and pasta in, the steam rising to her face like a mini spa treatment. She closed her eyes and imagined she was in the Wilder hot spring, muscles unwinding, a good book in her hands. Not stuck with Gage and Hudson, even if that’s exactly where she wanted—and shouldn’t want—to be.

“My new goal is to get you to learn to take a compliment.” Gage’s voice came from very close by, and her eyes popped open to find him at the edge of the sink. He faced her, hip resting against the countertop. “Let’s start now. Dinner smells amazing, Emma.”

“It’s just a jar of marinara sauce and a frozen package of—”

His eyebrows shot to his hairline.

Um. “Thank you?”

He let loose with a deep laugh, the kind that filled the kitchen and had his head jutting back. He grabbed her hand and spun her in a circular dance move as Hudson joined in with a giggle from his play saucer in the living room, banging his sippy cup against the tray.

“Much better.” Gage dipped his head until their heights matched, his blue eyes doing that crinkly thing again, rendering Emma a willing victim. “Just don’t make it a question next time.”

He moved to the stove. “Sauce ready?”

Emma would answer him, but the man had completely messed with her voice box when he’d twirled her around as if them dancing in the kitchen was a normal, everyday occurrence. And suddenly Emma wanted exactly that—on repeat for the next handful of decades.

What was a casual gesture to Gage had taken her out like an amateur on a black diamond slope.

“Emma?”

“Sure.” Her answer came out as a croak. “It’s ready. We can just add the pasta to the sauce.

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