“You put it on like this,” the teenager said, crouching beside his daughter. She placed the tiara on Katey’s head and rose to admire the effect. “The blue stones are pretty with your hair.”
“Tyler, are you and Katey ready to leave?” Josie called. “Oh, Katey. You look pretty, just like a princess.”
Katey pulled a face. “Wanted a bracelet.”
Tyler shared a rueful glance with his mother-in-law. Their little princess was tired and about to have a tantrum. “Thanks,” he said to the teenager.
“Eric is going to stay and help with the cleanup,” Josie said.
Tyler nodded and scooped up his daughter. Five minutes later, they were on their way home, Katey almost asleep in her car seat.
“I think the principal was pleased with the takings,” Josie said. “Everyone was impressed with Nolan’s women. The three of them pitched in to help.”
“They did.” Tyler thoughts jumped to Susan. Not unusual since the track in his mind was well-trodden.
“I liked Susan.”
Tyler slowed to avoid a cow and calf on the road. The animals ambled over the seal to an unopened gate. “That’s one of Jim’s. Grab my phone and let him know.”
“I’ll run and open the gate,” Josie said. “It won’t take a minute.”
Tyler nodded and picked up his phone to ring their neighbor about his AWOL stock. With the call made, his mind drifted yet again. How was he going to swing some privacy with Susan? The cameraman kept appearing to film for the show, which made spontaneity tricky. He had their date up his sleeve, but that would need to be at a public place and there was no way he’d keep her for a sleepover.
“Stupid animal,” Josie muttered when she climbed back into the car, a whiff of cow manure coming with her. “My good boots. They’ll never be the same.”
“You volunteered.”
“Next time remind me,” Josie snapped. “When did you meet Susan?”
Tyler’s hands clenched on the wheel. “Today.” He forced himself to glance at Josie.
“Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes, Tyler Penrith. I saw you pinch that girl’s bottom, and since she grinned instead of smacking you, I figured you’d met before because despite what some people might say, Susan is a nice girl. She didn’t flirt with any of the other men who tried to chat her up. Besides, you practically blackmailed me into the egg-throwing contest. I wondered why you were so adamant.”
“I might have met her before,” Tyler said, turning his attention back to the country road.
“She’s your mystery woman,” Josie said.
“No,” he said quickly. Too quickly. He cursed under his breath. There was no question in her statement. Somehow, his mother-in-law had worked out everything after seeing them together once.
“She’s a lovely girl.”
“Yes,” he said.
“Yes, you’re admitting the truth or yes, you’re agreeing she’s attractive?”
“Yes to both,” he said, giving in to the inevitable.
“How did you manage to meet her?”
Tyler checked on Katey, but she was sound asleep, her tiara still sparkling on top of her head. “I emailed her after the show. We clicked and I asked if she wanted to meet in person.”
“Did you share a room?”
“Josie,” Tyler said.
She clapped her hands together. “Oh, that’s good. She likes you.”
Tyler pulled up in front of the farmhouse. “I like her too.”
