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“Nothing’s wrong.” Her mom actually rolled her eyes. “I wanted to talk to Paxton.”
He was already out of his truck and circling the front of his truck to where they stood. That same smile adorned his face. “What can I do for you?”
“I was hoping you might stay for dinner? I got a little carried away in the kitchen and made enough food for my boarders and a small army. Since I don’t have a lot of freezer space, I’ll settle for a man with a healthy appetite.”
Paxton looked from one woman to the other. “That’s mighty thoughtful of you.”
“Mom.” Sandra turned to face Paxton. “I know you’ve had a long day. If it’s not convenient, I’m sure my mother will take a rain check.” She didn’t know about him but after a hard days work, she would kill for a long hot shower. Especially if she was going to be sitting across from Paxton at the dinner table.
“What better after a long day than a good home-cooked meal.” Her mother’s eyes suddenly sprang open wide. “Not that your Aunt Eileen isn’t a good cook. She certainly knows her way around a kitchen, but it is a long drive back to the ranch.” As her mom often did, she spoke first and her brain engaged later and now was trying very hard to backpedal. “What do you say?”
She flashed her mother a cross-eyed look, but her mother just smiled back.
“I’d love to stay for dinner. That would be great.” He followed the two women up the porch steps and paused by the doormat, stomping his feet, and brushing a days work off his boots. “I’m afraid I’m a bit dusty.”
“No worries.” Her mom waved him inside. “We all track in this Texas dust anyway.”
Sandra had no idea how this happened, but thanks to her mom, Paxton was staying for dinner.
“Did you ask him?” David stood just inside the foyer, his contained nervous energy obvious to anyone with eyes.
“I did.” Her mother winked at her grandson.
“Then he’s staying?”
There was little doubt in Sandra’s mind that her mother was not so subtly trying her hand at matchmaking, but it was also clear that her son very much wanted to spend time with Paxton.
“Yes, he’s staying.” Her mother spun around and pausing just long enough to gently run her hand down David’s cheek in a tender gesture, she marched back to the kitchen.
David whooped and Sandra turned to Paxton. “I think you have a fan.”
A chuckle rumbled out of him as he motioned for her to lead the way. “I hope he’s not my only fan.”
His words almost had her tripping over her own feet. What did he mean by that? Was he referring to her, or someone else? And why did it even matter.
From the kitchen, her mother called out, “David, why don’t you go play outside until supper is ready?”
There was no need to ask her son twice. As she’d suspected was true of all little boys, he loved being outside and discovering all sorts of mischief. A moment later, the screen door slammed shut behind David.
Shaking her head at the noise, she turned to Paxton, ready to give him one last out. “If you have somewhere else to be, I’m sure my mother will understand.”
“Nope. Nowhere else to be. I was planning on popping into O’Faredeigh’s for dinner anyhow. But, if you don’t mind, I’d love to at least wash my hands before supper.”
“Oh, of course.” She extended her arm to the opposite end of the foyer. “Powder room is that way.”
Having left his hat in the truck, he bobbed his head and disappeared through the doorway.
While she waited, her mind began turning. If he had nowhere to go, did that mean there was no woman in his life? Could it be someone as handsome and nice as Paxton Farraday didn’t have a girlfriend? Why did that thought make her heart leap? She didn’t want anything to make her heart leap. She’d already had one man in her life. She did not need another. Not even Paxton Farraday.
The aroma of something awfully delicious smacked Paxton in the face as he stepped into the kitchen. “Oh, that really does smell wonderful.”
“Hope you like meat loaf, mac and cheese, and fresh baked corn bread.”
The woman really wasn’t kidding when she said that she’d cooked enough for an army. “I love corn bread.”
“Good.” Alice Baker wiped her hands on her apron and reached for a stack of dishes.
“Here.” He reached forward. “Let me?”
