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West froze.
She turned to Cole. “What do you think?”
He was the last person that she should ask. The words on his tongue hovered between a congratulations and a warning, but it really didn’t matter what he said, did it? There would be no talking sense into either her or West. Eva reallywasoneof those girls—the kind who made every guy fall all over her, but only wanted the one whose heart was the farthest away.
She could possibly be the best or worst thing that ever happened to his brother.
And he wanted nothing to do with it. He knew it the instant he saw her dimples.
This was trouble.
He cleared his throat. “Sure,” he said. “Tell Momma. Tell everyone. The whole family will be thrilled to know what West is up to.”
She laughed. “Hey, I know you hate this, but that offer is still on the table. I reallydoknow the perfect girl for you. I won’t rest until you’re as happy as I am. You know I won’t.”
He grimaced, not sure how long her happiness would last. “No, I…” His gaze went to West, who watched him steadily. “There’s a girl in town.” Her eyes brightened in anticipation, like he was going to spill his guts to her. “I’ll let you know how it goes, but do me a favor, will you, Eva?”
“Anything.”
“If West gets out of line, let me know. I’ll rearrange his face for you.”
She laughed like she thought he was joking. “I happen to like his face the way it is, but I’ll let you know if you need to break any thumbs.” She winked.
West’s arm went around her, giving him a look to get lost.
Cole wasn’t sure how long he could remain there and stay civil, so he muttered his excuses and left. The usual congratulations that he gave his brothers when they found love died a miserable death in his dry throat, to go unuttered like every lie that he couldn’t bring himself to say.
West was a worm.
Chapter Seven
Three months later—
“Thanksgiving?” Eva asked West. “Who hates Thanksgiving?”
“I do. I don’t like turkey and I don’t like all the weird casseroles and side dishes, and then all the time that goes into making everything for one meal that leaves you bloated and tired, then the dishes that everyone makes Momma do.”
Eva shoved her hands into the deep pockets of her flannel jacket—she was going for the rustic look now that she’d arrived in Harvest Ranch. Everything was about the “outfit,” and a trip to the country was no exception. “Yeah, but… we can help your momma out with the dishes.”
He grumbled out a laugh. “Just you try to take that away from her. And don’t get me started on the fights at the table over politics and everyone’s past grievances. Turkey just brings that out in everybody, I think. Oh, and I hate football.”
Eva burst out laughing. She was going to try to get West to like the holidays if it killed her. He didn’t want to celebrate his birthday—“What’s so good about getting a year closer to death?”He refused to even consider dressing up as Han and Leia for Halloween.
She scooped up Lizardman, who poked around her knees, and hugged the sweet little labradoodle close. Eva kissed the pup’s fluffy head before lifting her eyes to find West in that rainstorm that he lived in. “How about we make up some spicy wings for Thanksgiving instead?” Those were his favorite.
He made a face.
Someone was in a mood. She’d been bursting with excitement at the thought of feasting on all of Lily’s best recipes during the holiday, and Eva couldn’t even get West to crack a smile.
The Slades’ family home in Harvest Ranch was silent when they’d walked in after their short trip over from Nashville. Lily wasn’t back from shopping yet. Hudson was spending Thanksgiving with his in-laws. Nash and Porter were both celebrating their belated honeymoons in the Caribbean with their amazing wives. And Cole? Poor guy must be out taking care of cattle with the other ranch hands.
West looked relieved to be alone. She stifled her disappointment and set down the wriggling Lizardman. The puppy sniffed the living room like the little investigator that he was while Eva’s gaze slid over the pictures of the family set on the wall.
This would beherfamily, too. Her children’s history. She sighed out in happiness. Like every “only child,” she’d craved having a tightknit clan like this. Studying every framed memory, her attention caught on a picture of Cole riding a bull in a rodeo.
Hilarious.
Cowboys had always intrigued her. In fact, she’d always dreamed of roping one of her own. And though she hadn’t quite imagined the magnitude of being tied to a family like West’s, she was intrigued by everything that they did. Her eyes traveled over Cole’s strong shoulders, and she smiled in response to that genuinely happy grin he gave the camera when he did what he loved best.
