Liam leans over to glance at my phone, and for a second, his face is unreadable. Then he leans back in his chair, easy and casual again, like we didn’t just almost burn the kitchen down with one look.
“Guess we better make it convincing, huh?” he says lightly, twirling his fork between his fingers.
I nod, shoving another bite of cobbler into my mouth to keep from saying something reckless. Because if I’m not careful I’m going to forget where the pretending ends and the wanting begins.
7
After we finish our cobbler, we migrate to Liam’s office, falling into the easy rhythm we’ve built without even thinking about it. Even though it’s Saturday, there’s always work to be done on the ranch, which means I’m clocking a full day whether I like it or not. That’s the deal when your life is tangled up in Stonewater Rodeo Stock.
I grab my tablet from his desk and log in, settling into the worn leather chair opposite his.
“Okay,” I say, skimming through the task list. “We’ve already talked about the fence issue. I’ll email Sam and Phern, let them know when we’re heading out of town.”
Liam nods, lounging back in his chair, watching me.
I keep scrolling. “Eddie’s ready for ten straws from Bullet, and he already paid the deposit.”
Liam whistles low. “Ten? Damn, honey. You’re gonna get a bonus for that one.”
A grin spreads across my face before I can stop it. Pride flutters in my chest. Each straw of semen from Bullet sells for ten thousand dollars. He’s one of our top sires, the kind of legendranchers dream about having in their bloodlines. So, yeah, securing that sale was no small thing.
“I accept payment in Louis Vuitton bags,” I tease, pretending to check my watch like I’m very busy and important.
Liam chuckles, the sound low and rich. “I was thinking more along the lines of a trip to Norway. See the Northern Lights.”
I blink, surprised by the softness of the offer. Because I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights from Norway. Sure, I’ve seen them here, on the ranch, but I feel like there would be something even more magical seeing them from a cabin in the middle of the woods with a glass ceiling.
My voice comes out quieter. “Oh. That works too.”
We share a smile. One of those slow, lingering ones that feels dangerous if I look at it too closely.
Liam clears his throat, shifting like he’s trying to reset the room.
“So, I’ve been thinking about this dinner,” he says.
“Oh?”
He taps a pen against his thigh, casual but focused. “Maybe we should have Teddy and his wife come out here instead of meeting them somewhere else. Keep it on our turf. We’ll be more comfortable. Easier to sell the story. And fair, since he wants us to come to his place for two weeks.”
I narrow my eyes at him, already suspicious. “Let me guess. You want me to cook.”
He lifts his hands innocently. “Hey, I’m just saying. I’d never say no to your meatloaf, honey. You know it’s my favorite.”
I snort. “Fine. But I’m charging you overtime.”
“Deal.” He grins, wide and boyish. “Worth every penny.”
I shake my head, pretending to refocus on my tablet. But inside? It’s getting harder and harder to pretend this is just about business. Because the way he looks at me when I’m not watching… the way he sayshomeandusandcomfortablelikeit’s second nature? Feels a lot less like a job. And a lot more like a life I’m scared to admit I want.
“I’ll need to run into town and grab a few things,” I say, adding mental notes to my growing list of meatloaf ingredients, salad fixings, and maybe some wine.
Liam leans back in his chair, lazy and pleased. “It’s a date.”
I snort, rolling my eyes. “How romantic of you.”
He grins like I just set a ball on a tee for him. “Speaking of dates…” His tone shifts, a little too casual, a little too deliberate. “I’ve been thinking.”
I narrow my eyes. “Uh oh.”
