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“What did Chase say?” Ruth sat down at the table, her blue gaze fixed on Billy’s face.
Billy shrugged. “He was fine about the idea.”
“How big is this party going to be?”
“Just Erin and Jay’s family, and a few locals. You’d only need to offer accommodation if the Hayes family can’t put guests up at the hotel.”
“Gustav’s on vacation.”
“So I’ll take over the kitchen.” Billy held Ruth’s gaze. “You won’t have to do a thing.”
Ruth snorted. “Like I’d ever sit back and let that happen.”
“You could, you know,” Billy encouraged her.
“Sit back?” Ruth smiled at him. “And then what? Stay on the couch and watch TV all day? I’ll rest when I’m dead.” She sipped her coffee. “I have no objection to Bella hosting a party for her only son and his bride at our ranch.”
“Great. I’ll give her a call, and then we can hash out the details.” Billy smiled at his mother. “Thanks so much.”
“Bella didn’t mention she had been to Vegas for the wedding when I saw her at church last week,” Ruth murmured.
“That’s because she didn’t know there was going to be a wedding until it was just about to happen,” Billy said. “And then she only got to watch it on a screen.”
“If anyone in my immediate family did that to me, I wouldn’t be very happy at all,” Ruth observed.
“Bella was quite upset, but she doesn’t want Jay to know that. It wasn’t about her. From what she said, it had something to do with Erin’s family being overprotective, and wanting to take charge of the arrangements.”
“So you have been exchanging confidences with Bella Williams after all.” Ruth chuckled. “Chase was right.” She waved a hand at Billy. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to say anything; you’re a grown man who can take care of himself.”
“Exactly.” Billy blew his mother a kiss. “Not that there is anything for you to worry about anyway.”
“Get along with you. I’m not worried.” Ruth winked at him. “I’m enjoying the show.”
Chapter Three
Bella wiped a hand across her brow and studied the mountain of plates, pots, pans, and silverware she’d left to pile up while she made sure every diner got fed. She’d originally had one of her servers to help out in the kitchen, but they’d had an unexpected rush of tourists, and she’d had to send him back out front. To make sure she got the food out, she’d decided not to clean up as she went, which was her normal practice.
The thought of doing it all over again in the evening was almost making her weep.
A knock at the back door had her spinning around to see Billy Morgan peering through the glass. She let him in and walked back into the kitchen proper as he took in the chaos.
“Are you okay, Bella?” Billy asked.
She let out her breath as he came toward her. “Barely.”
“So I can see.” He took off his thick denim jacket and hung it on the back of the door. “I’ll start loading the dishwasher.”
With a calm efficiency that startled her, he managed to help her bring order to her kitchen in a remarkably short period. By the time the dishwasher was humming and the pots were put back in their places, she’d regained her composure and they were working happily alongside each other.
“What do you need to prep for tonight?” Billy asked as he cleaned down her work surfaces.
She waved a hand at the refrigerator. “Just fruit and veg mainly. The bread’s here, the patties are made, and everything else comes out of the freezer.”
“So the same as we did the other day?”
“Yes, exactly,” she said, smiling at him. “But I’m good now, really. Jay will be in soon. He just had to take Erin to pick up her new car in Bridgeport.”
Billy put his hands on her shoulders. “How about we do this? You go upstairs, get yourself some lunch, and I’ll come find you when Jay gets here?”
“I’m fine,” Bella immediately protested.
“Have you eaten anything substantial today?” His blue gaze captured her attention.
