He glanced up and smiled. “Since this is your first time here, you get the chair on the end facing the view.”
“I’ll happily take it, but can I help with anything?”
“We have it under control.” Raquel ladled soup into colorful pottery bowls sitting on matching plates.
“Your dishes are beautiful.”
“I love them, too. Tia Carmen got them in Mexico.” She tucked half a sandwich on either side of the bowl and handed Zinnia the plate. “Here you go.”
“Thank you so much. I’m starving.”
“I’ll bet.”
“How’d it go?” Monty pulled back her chair.
“Great.” She flicked a glance in his direction as she sat down. “Patient is such a sweetheart.”
“Yeah, he is.” His breath brushed the side of her face as he neatly slid the chair up to the table.
Awareness fizzed in her stomach. She managed a breathy thanks.
He responded with a soft welcome.
Oh, yeah, she felt completely welcome. He might not want to want her, but clearly he couldn’t help himself. He likely couldn’t bluff worth a damn at the poker table, either.
Uncle Graham took the chair on her left. At first she thought Monty would be within knee-bumping distance on the bench to her right. Then he scooted down one place and Raquel took that spot.
Just as well. Playing footsie with the guy, either accidentally or intentionally was not in her best interests.
Once they were all seated, he brought up the birthday party. “Your sister’s invited, too. I didn’t think to say that when we were down at the barn.”
“That’s very kind, and I’m sure Marigold would enjoy coming, but she’s bartending at the Raccoon and she’s got the Saturday night shift.”
“She’s working at the Raccoon? How does she like it?”
“She loves it. And since she just started last week, I doubt she’d want to ask for a different shift.”
“We’ll give her more notice for the next party,” Raquel said. “It’s been many years since I was the new girl in town, but I remember what that feels like. You both are welcome here anytime. And Tex, of course.”
Graham flashed her a smile. “How about me?”
“You know you don’t need an invitation.”
“Don’t I?”
“Of course not. You and Spence….” Then she met his gaze. “I see your point, amigo. You two used to do things together, but since he….” She trailed off. “You’re welcome anytime, too.”
“Good to know.”
Something in his voice made Zinnia wonder if… nah. She was projecting.
“Tell us about your little guy,” Raquel said. “What’s he like? What’s he into?”
“He’s into cowboys, maybe because Mari and I have country music on all the time. He already thinks of himself as a cowboy, which is why he insists we call him Tex.”
“That’s not his name?”
“Oh, no. His name’s Sebastian. But once he settled on being a cowboy, he wanted a cowboy name. He chose Tex.”
