Aiden paused his scribbling. “Do you want us to win this round?” His eyebrow arched in Ruth’s direction. “Yeah? I need to hear more of the questions and less of this.” His hand waved at the space between the two gossips.
Ruth’s dark eyes narrowed. She didn’t appreciate being told what to do by Aiden. But one longing glance at the trophy and oversized gift hampers crowding the bar swayed her—to keep her voice down, at least.
She bent over and whispered to Brooke, “Did you watch the new episode last night?”
Aiden’s pencil hovered over the answer sheet. His finger twitched, ready to croak at them.
Brooke arched forward, excited whispers tumbling out as if she were sharing the juiciest story in the world. “Did you almost die when they revealed the plastic surgeon was cheating with the nanny?”
“I never saw it coming! I thought for sure he was fooling around with his assistant.” Ruth chittered with evil delight. “But the showdown when his wife pushed him into the pool was epic!”
Ryan joined the mix. “What about when his toupee fell off and bobbed along the water?” His shoulders shook with laughter. “I totally lost it. The nanny started screaming because she thought it was a rat. No rat isthatugly.”
Every pair of eyes at the table snapped to the farmer—even Harry’s, and he hadn’t said a word all night.
Ryan gulped. “It’s, uh… a fun show.” A sheepish smile flashed.
“YouwatchSoccer Mum Socialites?” Ruth’s jaw was still on the floor.
Ryan shrugged. “I don’t mind reality shows. I’ve lived on the farm since the day my mama brought me into this world. I’ve learned a lot about different cities and people.” He gulped and flitted nervous eyes around the table. “I, um,well—I auditioned for a show a few months back.”
Squeals erupted in every direction. Aiden’s disapproving scowl wouldn’t stop them this time.
Ruth grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. “Which one? Which one?”
Brooke grinned. “I cantotallysee Ryan dancing up a storm onIt’s All Ballroom.”
“Only if they have a new category for two left feet.” Ryan spun his empty beer glass in nervous hands. “There’s that show where they, um… help match farmers with, you know… a nice lady.”
Disappointment etched on Ruth’s face. “Are you…?” Her shoulders slumped.
He shook his head. “The producer and some crew flew down from Sydney. They liked my story. Pa thought I was completely bonkers, but he gave me his blessing. He thought it might be good for the farm… Good for me… But…” He shrugged. “After they left that night, I stood in the field, looking out over the valley, and something didn’t feel right.” His eyes dropped back to his empty glass. “Maybe my mama was looking down on me… telling me to wait because the right girl was waiting just around the corner.”
His throat bobbed as he shifted his gaze to Ruth. She offered a shy smile in return before glancing over her shoulder at Aiden. An unspoken question passed between them—maybe asking for his approval—and he clasped her shoulder. Yes. Growing bolderwith the blessing of her best friend, Ruth’s gold bangles jingled when she touched her hand on Ryan’s knee. The farmer looked like he’d just about died and gone to heaven.
But the first blossoms of the budding romance didn’t thrill everyone at the table.
Brooke slumped in her chair, silent devastation in her eyes when she snuck a sideways glance at Harry. His gaze stayed fixed on the beer sitting untouched in front of him, and he continued to sit hunched in his seat, silent, until trivia ended.
The Games Night master announced us as the winners before calling the next event.
“Musical chairs?” I groaned. “Count me out. I’ve got more left feet than Ryan.”
Ruth flashed a hopeful smile at Aiden.
He grunted a firm no. “And you can withhold the powers of your wobbly chin for another night, Ruth. This old dog doesn’t need to learn any new tricks.” He jerked his head at the two sitting across the table. “Get the young ones up there.”
Harry jumped out of the chair. He didn’t need convincing from Ruth’s puppy-dog eyes. And if Brooke was upset to see him scrambling across the bar, desperate to escape being so close to her, she didn’t show it.
Determination shone in her eyes. She hiked up her chest, way too much cleavage spilling out. “This dress is about to pay for itself,” she declared before charging off to win her prize.
Harry and Brooke were the perfect choices to get Ruth one step closer to her trophy. They cruised through the early rounds. Harry charmed an old lady from her seat with one of his dimpled smiles. Brooke dazzled another of the old-timers by bending over ever so slightly to check the heel of her shoe. Ruth’s cheers only encouraged them to play dirtier. And, in the end, despite their questionable tactics, Harry and Brooke were the final two.
Only one chair sat in the middle of the bar.
The music started.
Harry’s eyes narrowed on the seat. Brooke paid it no attention, another prize clearly on her mind. She circled the final hurdle to her victory with a wicked smile dancing on her lips and her fingers crossed behind her back.
