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Tossing all the trash into the paper sack, she set the bag at her feet and reached for the radio, flipping through stations. “Ooh. This song is great.” She turned up the sound. A few moments later, she was rapping along to an Eminem tune. Though most people might not call her misguided efforts rapping.
“You like Eminem?”
“I do this song.”
“That song came out eons ago. I don’t think you were even born yet.”
She blinked at him. “Not that it matters but I was most definitely already born when this song first came out. But the reason I know the song is because it’s one of my mother’s favorites.”
It took him a moment to process that the kid was not a kid at all, but a fully legal adult by more than a few years. When the heck had that happened?
Rap was not his favorite form of music, but as cute as Siobhan looked bobbing her head to the song, she was truly and rightfully butchering the tune. That unbridled exuberance was the kid he remembered. He could probably watch her for hours. There was no worry over how she appeared to others. Definitely a Baron through and through. But right now he had precious cargo to get home to her family.
For the rest of the ride to the ranch, she flipped from station to station and head bobbing, sang along to different tunes. Disappointment actually made itself at home in the pit of his stomach when he reached the family ranch and pulled into the long driveway.
“We’re here.” Siobhan sat up straight. As soon as the car came to a stop, she hopped out before he could come around and open her door. “You have a long drive back to your condo. You don’t need to stick around.”
“Sorry, kid. I always see a lady to her door.” The ranch was most likely the safest place for miles, but driving away with a woman standing on her doorstep was not an option for him, never mind when the woman in question was the baby sister of his best friend.
A light burned in the front window and he saw movement. A moment later, the front door swung open. Siobhan’s grandmother smiled. “Jack Preston. What a nice surprise.” Her gazed drifted over his shoulder to his car and then narrowing slightly, she looked at Siobhan. “What happened to your car?”
“It wouldn’t start and Jack was there so he offered a ride.”
“In that case.” She stepped back from the door. “Thank you, Jack, for driving Siobhan. Please come in.”
The thought of politely refusing crossed his mind, but he’d been a part of the Baron household long enough to know when Lila Baron gave instructions, it was best to do as you were told. “Thank you, but only a moment, I have a long drive still.”
“Nonsense.” Lila closed the door behind them. “You’re staying with us. As you’ve already pointed out, it’s late and you have a long drive.”
“Grams is right. You know we have more spare rooms than a Baron hotel.”
Jack’s gaze bounded from Siobhan to her grandmother. He knew when he was outnumbered. “I guess I’m staying.” The question at hand now was why did the idea of waking up with the Barons—especially one Baron—hold so much appeal? More so, how much trouble would that appeal get him into?
Chapter Five
Anyone would think after eating as much as Siobhan had before going to bed that she’d still be stuffed to the gills. Nope, she was ravenous as usual. One bite of Hazel’s from scratch blueberry pancakes and her eyes closed in sheer delightful appreciation. By the time the three of them last night had chatted a bit about the wedding and car rescue and her grandmother had set Jack up with a bed and a change of clothing for the morning, she was now running on only four hours of sleep and in desperate need of a gallon of coffee.
“Didn’t they feed you last night?” The Governor sat at one end of the table. “Slow down, girl. Breakfast isn’t a race.”
Siobhan wiped her mouth and put down her napkin. “Yes, sir.”
“I hear Jack had to bring you home.” Mitch stood at the buffet pouring himself a glass of orange juice.
“My car broke down.” She turned to her grandfather. “Which reminds me. We’re going to have to get the car fixed or towed before the hall notices it’s still there.”
“Already taken care of.” The Governor looked to the doorway where Hazel carried a full pot of hot coffee.
“Bless you.” Siobhan smiled up at the family housekeeper who circled the table, filling the empty coffee cups before setting the pot down on the warmer on the buffet.
“So where is our knight in shining armor?” Mitch took a sip of his hot brew.
“Ready for one of Hazel’s scrumptious breakfasts.” Jack appeared in the dining room freshly showered and dressed. For as long as Siobhan could remember, her brothers and Jack swapped clothes like a couple of teenage girls. Having them all the same size had made impromptu sleepovers a piece of cake.
A well-raised Texas boy, Jack stopped first to shake the Governor’s hand, then circled to the other side and kissed Grams on the cheek the same way any of the family would have.
“It was our good fortune you were at the wedding to rescue our girl.” Grams grinned up at Jack as if he were one of her own precious grandchildren. The scene brought a smile to her face.
He chose the seat next to her and swiftly unfolded the cloth napkin across his lap. “I was a last-minute plus-one. Glad I was there. I hate to think how long she’d have been stuck there.” His gaze met hers and she recognized the silent reproof in his eyes. She could read this man as well as any of her brothers and knew as sure as her name was Siobhan Pegeen Baron that the momentary stern glare was in reference to her dead cell phone.
