His foster mom was a short, rounded lady who had decided to be a blond for the rest of her life. She was the kindest woman Austin had ever known, but tough enough to keep her foster boys in line. Most of the time there had been at least ten boys living in the log cabins down in the meadow. They’d all known that Rosie was the boss around here.
She’d already opened her door but he was able to take her shopping bags and give her a hand down. She was perfectly capable of doing all that herself, but she’d taught her boys to be gentlemen. They’d practiced their manners on her because usually she’d been the only available woman.
“Are you the sentry?” she asked as she stepped down from the truck’s running board.
“The sentry?”
“You know. The lookout. The person watching for us in case we got home before whatever was happening was still happening.”
“Oh. No, ma’am.” Then he realized he hadn’t contradicted her assumption that something secret was going on. “I mean, nothing’s happening. Nothing at all. Zeke’s inside talking to Cade and Lexi. That’s about the size of it.”
“I saw Zeke’s truck parked down by the barn.” Herb, a wiry man who’d finally surrendered to wearing glasses in his later years, chuckled as he walked around the truck to join them. “We dawdled in town as long as we could but finally ran out of things to do other than cruising Main Street. That looks a little strange for a couple of sixtysomethings.”
“Like I said.” Austin tried to blot out the image of Drew because she was part of the secret. “Not a single thing going on, except the sink’s fixed.”
“Thank you!” Rosie beamed at him. “By the way, now that some of my boys are back, they sometimes get together for poker. If they ask you to play, you might want to think twice.”
“Yes, ma’am, I already know I’m lousy at poker. Some of the guides got me into a game and ended up with all my tip money for the week.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But at least now you know it’s not your thing.”
“Nothing wrong with being a bad liar, son.” Herb clapped him on the shoulder. “So are you saying it’s okay for us to go in the house?”
“Absolutely. But now that you’re back, would it be possible for me to borrow the truck to run a few errands?”
“Sure thing.” Herb handed over the keys.
“And would it be okay if I used a Coleman stove for a little cookout on the back twenty tonight? I’ll get the food, but I’ll also need to borrow some tongs and a pan or two.”
Rosie smiled at him. “This sounds like it could be a date.”
“It is.” And now he was in the soup because she’d probably ask who he’d asked out and how he could possibly have met someone when he’d been in town exactly two days. He was saved when Zeke, Cade and Lexi came out the front door.
Amid much laughter and teasing, Rosie and Herb promised they wouldn’t try to uncover whatever surprise was in the works. Lexi wanted to see what they’d bought in town so Austin handed her the bags and excused himself to go put on a shirt. That finished, he grabbed his hat and wallet and headed out the door, his shirt still unbuttoned. He was eager to get away before he had to answer any more questions that would bring up the subject of Drew being here.
But Lexi had to call out to him. “Does this mean she said yes?”
“She did.”
Rosie lifted her eyebrows. “So who’s the lucky lady?”
“I’ll let Lexi explain it.” Touching his fingers to the brim of his hat, he hurried around the truck, hopped in and made his escape.
Drew pulled into the ranch’s circular gravel drive exactly at seven. The sun had dipped behind the Bighorn Mountains, but there was still plenty of light to see Austin sitting on the porch in one of the Adirondack chairs. The picture he made in his gray Stetson, yoked Western shirt, boots and faded jeans was exactly why so many women fantasized about cowboys.
That outfit, especially on a man built like Austin, made her feel safe. Like the knights of old, he would leap on his horse and ride to her rescue. Even though she didn’t need rescuing, she still loved the idea of a cowboy hero who’d protect her from the bad guys and look great doing it.
He left his chair as she shut off the motor. Anticipation thrummed through her veins as he came down the steps with the slightly bowlegged stride common to men who’d spent most of their lives on horseback. Oddly enough, she hadn’t dated cowboys while living in Montana.
In high school and college she’d hung out with the art students and at home her life had revolved around the family restaurant. She’d dated some artist types and a couple of chefs but no cowboys. Thunder Mountain, however, was chockablock with them.
She moved her purse to the floor of the passenger side out of habit. Nobody would break into her truck to steal it while she was parked here. She tossed the keys down there, too, and opened her door. She’d started to climb out when he rounded the front of the vehicle.
“Let me help you down.”
Amused, she waited. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had made that offer. He knew perfectly well she was capable of getting down by herself. But when he held out his hand, she was charmed.
“I like your hair like that.”
“Thanks.” Most of the summer she’d worn it in a braid or a ponytail but she’d decided to leave it down tonight. She was on a date, after all.
“I’m glad you could make it.”
“Me, too.” She put her hand in his and the controlled strength in his grip sent a shiver of pleasure up her arm. “Fortunately the editing went well and I had time to finish the video.” Then she glanced around, not sure who might be within hearing distance. “Did you have to dream up a story to explain to your folks how we ended up going out tonight?”
“I have Lexi to thank for that. She told them you came out today to check on some details for the wedding video.” He let go of her hand once she had both feet on the ground.
“That will give them another hint, though.” She breathed in the scent of his aftershave. “They know something’s going on.”
He sighed. “You’re right. Now they might think it involves a video. My mistake. If we’d met in town I could’ve snuck away without explaining I was meeting someone.”
“I didn’t think of that, either, so I’m as much at fault as you.” Something else occurred to her but when she gazed into his blue eyes she lost her train of thought.
He smiled. “Not letting you shoulder any of the blame, ma’am. I complicated things, case closed.”
Ah, that smile. And speaking of shoulders...
She remembered what she’d been about to say. “Actually, Lexi took a risk when she invited me in for a beer. When I pointed out that Rosie and Herb might come back and find me there, she came up with that cover story she used to help you out.”
“Yeah?” He brightened. “I didn’t know that.”
“And if she hadn’t invited me in for a beer, you and I wouldn’t have met.”
“So it’s all Lexi’s fault?”
She laughed. “Pretty much.”
“Now I don’t feel so guilty. I just thought a cookout would be more fun than a boring restaurant meal.”
“You’ve got that right. I was thrilled with the suggestion. I’ve spent so much time in Martinelli’s