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“Have at it. If you need more supplies while I’m away, just ask Joseph. He’s the ranch manager, and he’ll take care of you. He’ll loan you a car, tell you where to go. Whatever you need.”
“That’s awesome. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve got to get home before my daughter convinces my mom to bake her cookies after stuffing her face with cinnamon rolls and chocolate milk.”
“Ah, a girl after my own heart.” With a grin, she tipped her head. “I’ve got a wicked sweet tooth.”
This woman had some weird power over him, because instead of walking out the door, he said, “I don’t know if you like getting dressed up, but I’ve got a charity event tonight.” No way could he leave her alone in this little house with no one to talk to and nowhere to go.
“I love getting dressed up. Are you asking me to go with you?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. Like he didn’t have this crazy energy zinging through him and didn’t care whether she joined him or not.
“Because I don’t want to be a third wheel if you’ve got a date.”
“No date. I didn’t think I’d be in town for it, but since I am, and it’s important to my mom, I’ll go.”
“What’s the charity?”
“It’s called Mercy. My mom started it after we turned our ranch around. It’s a fund for ranchers and farmers who’re hard hit by the economy, environmental issues, or injury.”
“That’s awesome. I would love to go, but of course, I didn’t bring anything to wear. Other than the wedding gown, I only have a few outfits for sightseeing in Paris.”
“Don’t worry about that. My mom’ll take care of everything.”
Happiness sparked in her eyes. “Really?” But it quickly dampened. “No, I don’t want to impose on anyone. It’s her big night. The last thing she needs is to waste time on some sad runaway bride.”
“My mom has five sons and one daughter. Ask her, and she’ll tell you she got screwed. Believe me, she’d like nothing more than to play fairy godmother. You in?”
“Well, then, yes. I’m totally in. Thank you so much.”
“No problem. Okay, I’ll let the singing baker get back to her therapy.”
She gave him a funny look.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just I’ve known you a total of twelve hours, and you know me better than Ian and my family. I mean, you nailed it in one sentence.”
“What do you mean? You don’t sing and bake around your family?”
“I mean, sometimes. But I think I’ve just become wallpaper.”
He cocked his head.
“You know how you’re so familiar with the wallpaper you’ve grown up with your whole life that you don’t even see it? And one day, you’re staring at it, lost in thought, and suddenly, you realize there’s a cow in it. And you’re like, Mom, why do you have cow wallpaper?”
He chuckled. “Uh, no. I can’t say I’ve had that experience.”
“I guess with such a big family, we’ve stopped seeing the details that make us different from each other.”
He only knew he’d reached for her when his hand fully circled her delicate wrist. “Trust me, Grace. You’d stand out in any crowd.” She had a light inside of her that glowed.
Her gaze focused on the point of contact. The scent of her—vanilla and sugar cookies—swirled around him, and he stood so close the heat of her body sank under his skin.
When she looked up at him, lightning struck his core, and electricity raced through his body. “I should go.”
“Yeah.” She sounded a little breathy.
