Page 65 of Roping Her In

Colt arrived at the bistro and found Elaine’s SUV there, so he wasn’t surprised when she rose from it as he killed the engine and got off the machine. He wore what he usually did: jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, a cowboy hat and boots. He spent a lot of time outside, and didn’t need to be scratched on bare arms, or sunburnt, or bitten by any number of insects in the orchard.

Elaine likewise looked about how he expected her to—wearing a pink, blue, orange, and white floral dress, her hair pinned back on the sides, and her makeup done to perfection.

He smiled and reached for her hand, pulling her close and kissing her. “Do we really have to wait until May to get married?”

Elaine only giggled, as this wasn’t the first time Colt had asked this question. “Hailey texted to say that she was very nervous about this date.”

Colt led them up the steps and into the farm store. “Why’s that?” he asked.

“She didn’t say,” Elaine said. “But I did manage to find out that she and Jake started dating about the middle of January, so after her internship started.”

Colt hummed, because he didn’t much care when Hailey and Jake had started dating. If they were happy together, he was happy. And if they weren’t and broke up, he didn’t see how it would affect his life all that much.

They went through the store and made a right near the back, as Colt had connected the farm store to the bistro over the winter. He’d also combined the parking areas, though that lot needed to be leveled again after the rough winter.

Trap sat on a bench with his wife’s hand in his, and they both rose when they saw Colt and Elaine approach.

“Hey, brother.” Colt laughed and pulled Trap into a hug. He swept a kiss across both of Lila Mae’s cheeks, and looked down at her barely-there belly. “I think you’re starting to show.”

“Just a little bit,” Lila Mae said, but she rested one hand protectively on her stomach.

“How’s the house coming?” Elaine asked as she leaned in for hugs and kisses too. Trap was her cousin, and they’d grown up together, and Colt had learned from Elaine to have room in his heart for countless others. He’d guarded it for so long that this was still new to him.

But as he stood there chit-chatting with Trap and Lila Mae, he realized that if they broke up, he would be sad. He cared about Trap a lot, and through him, Lila Mae. And he wanted nothing but for them to be happy, healthy, whole, and have all of their hopes and dreams come true.

He wondered if God felt like this about him but didn’t have time to determine the answer before Jake said, “Hey, they’re right there.” He approached with a smile as well, and his hand in Hailey’s.

“They are so cute together,” Elaine said, and then she pushed out of the group to go greet them. She hugged Hailey hard for a long moment, and then shook Jake’s hand cordially.

Colt knew they hadn’t always seen eye-to-eye, but he found Jake amicable and downright personable.

“Is everyone here, Colt?”

He turned his attention away from his friends to the hostess. Today, it was Malta, and he said, “Yeah, I should have a reservation for six at one of our more private tables.”

“Yes, I’ve actually got you out on one of the extended terraces.” She already held the menus, and she nodded to him and then the others. “If y’all will just come with me.”

“We’re headed out, guys,” Colt said, and he followed Malta first, with Elaine coming quickly to his side. They wove through the outdoor tables on the deck, and Colt had added three extensions this year, with walkways that went out to private patios. They could host a party of eight at a single table on two of the terraces, while the other held three tables for only two, and offered semi-privacy for a more romantic experience.

Even in the winter, Colt hadn’t had an empty table for any service, and he continually polled his customers to find out what they liked and what they wished the bistro offered. He pulled out Elaine’s chair and let her get settled before he took the one next to her.

Trap and Lila Mae sat across from them, with Hailey next to Elaine and Jake across from her and next to Lila Mae. Jake seemed isolated, cornered on all sides by the women.

“I’ll switch you, Jake.” Elaine said after everyone had chosen a seat. “Wouldn’t you rather sit by Hailey?”

She got up, and while Jake wore a blank look for a moment, he quickly got to his feet and took Elaine’s seat, while she slid into his. Colt had no doubt she’d carry the conversation on that end of the table, and she threw him a glance that told him as much.

“How are things at Three Rivers?” he asked Jake. “Are you guys drying out the way we are?”

“Yeah, it’s cleaning up nice,” he said. “Finally.” He reached for his glass of water and took a long drink, though a waitress hadn’t appeared and given them any straws. Colt actually glanced down the walkway, as he’d expected the waitstaff to be there already.

Sure enough, Faris bustled their way, a pitcher of sweet tea in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other. “Good afternoon, y’all,” he drawled. “Does anyone want any tea or coffee to drink?”

He glanced around, and no one seemed to want to be the first to speak. “I can also take any other orders you want. We’ve got a variety of lemonades, and we just added Italian sodas to our menu.”

“Oooh, did you?” Elaine asked, and she flipped her menu over. “Will you do a peach one for me?”

“I sure will.” Faris smiled around at the table and took their soda pop and specialty drink orders without pouring a single drop of tea or coffee. “We’ll get those drinks right out. I did want to just let you know about a special we’re having today. We have a new lunch chef, and he’s included an apple and sage stuffed rolled pork loin for our lunch menu this week.”