“My sister has become more than a little obsessed with the notion of adding the barn and property to a list of wedding venues. She seems to have forgotten that the Double B is a working ranch.”
“Thanks for letting us have the wedding there.” Ben hitched his chin in Malachi’s direction. “It means a lot to Molly and me.”
Malachi looked down at his plate. “No problem.”
“Speaking of Molly and the wedding…” Ben drilled his gaze across the table at me. “You know Molly considers her sewing club girls as her family. More sisters than just friends.”
The weight of Ben’s focus had my throat closing, and I swallowed down the bite I’d been chewing. He seemed to be waiting for a response from me, so I said, “Sure.”
“And since I’m marrying Molly, that makes Jocelyn, Nicole, Betsy, and Amanda my family too. Sisters, if you will.”
Malachi’s neck twisted back and forth, regarding Ben then me. The quiet cowboy didn’t say a word.
“So, as Nicole’s unofficial brother, I have to ask.”
“Please, don’t,” I muttered, seeing where this was heading.
“What are your intentions with Nicole?”
I groaned.
Malachi slid his tray over a foot and scooted down the bench.
Ben frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
“Getting out of the kill zone. When Nicole finds out you asked that question, she’s going to be madder than a charging bull.”
Doubt pressed furrowed lines into Ben’s brow. “Well, it needs to be said.” He turned back to me. “You’ve been playing around with her for months now. Are you just passing the time amusing yourself, or are you going to get serious soon?”
I dropped my fork. “I don’t see how Nicole or I are any of your business.”
Ben’s mouth firmed. “I consider you both friends, and I care about my friends. Especially if one of them plans to hurt the other.”
The muscles in my back bunched, pulling my shoulder blades toward my spine. “I’m not planning on hurting Nicole.”
“Maybe she’s not the one I’m mostly worried about.”
That didn’t settle right. “You think she’s going to hurt me?”
He balled up his napkin and tossed the paper product on his plate. “I think you’re more invested in her than you tell yourself, and since you aren’t being honest with yourself, you aren’t being honest with her.”
Malachi nodded in silent agreement.
I put the lid back on the Tupperware container. “You know, I liked it a lot better when we discussed the problems you two had with women.”
Ben leaned forward. “So, you admit there’s a problem”
I snagged his wadded napkin and threw it at him. “I won’t deny there’s an attraction to Nicole. At first, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to shake her or kiss her.”
“But now?” Malachi asked.
My lips curved up of their own accord as I imagined taking Nicole in my arms and putting her mouth to work on something other than a lecture…with her permission, of course.
“I think that says it all,” Ben crowed.
Almost made me regret giving him a hard time about Molly when he’d dithered around with his feelings for his daughter’s nanny. Almost, but not quite.
Malachi steepled his fingers. “Do you know how she feels about you?”
