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“Eugenia Burnett. She is one of the original founders of the Burnetts and she’s determined that the ranch continue.”
He laughed. “Well, I don’t think they have to worry.”
Shaking her head, she sighed. “I can’t help thinking about what she said to me. Told me I needed to forgive. I’m supposed to just let go and forgive my father.” Shaking her head, she laughed. “That’s not going to happen.”
Madison had every right to hate her father like she did, but he also knew from experience that it was better to just let go and forgive someone. That way you weren’t filled with hate and anger. Just like he’d had to forgive Laurie.
And that had been tough.
Still, that didn’t mean he wanted to remarry.
“A ghost. Sounds like a really good marketing idea. Tell people if they come to your cabins, you’ll be on a working ranch with a matchmaking ghost who will also find you your perfect mate,” he said with a flourish.
They both laughed and she sighed.
“I didn’t think it was real, either, but Desiree assured me Eugenia was not some machine that showed her picture on the wall. And she did respond to me.”
Maybe to the Burnetts, she was real, but not to Adrian. Why wouldn’t his parents have returned to guide him and give him directions when he needed them the most if there were ghosts?
“And the smell when she arrived,” she said almost to herself.
“If she’s been dead awhile, she must have stunk,” he said.
“No, she smelled like lavender,” she replied surprised.
“A ghost,” he said, twirling the thoughts in his head.
“A matchmaking ghost. So far five of the Burnetts have married because of her,” she said shaking her head. “She said you were a handsome cowboy.”
He grinned. “And she wanted to find me a wife?”
“Oh yes,” she said. “Me. I told her that was not happening.”
“I’d be a damn good catch,” he said grinning.
“We both understand what we’re doing here,” she said. “Only thing happening between us is fake dating with a fake engagement.”
For a moment, they were silent as they traveled down the road. It felt comfortable being with Madison. And if they hadn’t both been burned by life, there might have been something between them. So far, they were having fun, and there wasn’t an expectation between them.
And so far, kissing her had been enjoyable. As in way too much fun. When he had helped her out of the truck at the Burnetts, it just seemed natural to pull her in close and kiss her. At the last moment, he’d diverted his mouth from her lips to her forehead.
As they got near the edge of town, he glanced at her. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Want to go to the busiest restaurant in town on Saturday night?”
She grinned. “I’d love to. It’s been years since I ate there.”
As they reached the edge of the city limits, he pulled into a restaurant on the big lake. Catfish Cafe. It looked more like a dive, but the food was excellent.
After he parked the truck, he came around and helped her out. Taking her by the arm, they walked into the packed restaurant. Mostly it was filled with locals and he immediately recognized several ranchers and their families.
“If you wanted us to be seen together, this is the place to be,” he said, whispering low into her ear.
She smiled up at him and his heart skipped a beat. Making her happy filled him with joy.
“Good,” she said. “That way it won’t be a surprise when we announce our engagement.”
