Page 27 of Falling for the Maverick

“I’ve just about told him that, but you know how stubborn he can be once he latches on to something.”

“How does Lucas feel about this?”

“He feels the same as me. That we don’t want a Corey-­Brandt feud.”

“There wouldn’t be a problem if Aaron didn’t make it one.”

“I agree, Gram. Lucas and I plan to see each other whenever we can. If Aaron decides to interfere, then as much as I love my brother, I’m not going to hold back when I tell not too nicely not to interfere in my life.”

“A good tongue-lashing is probably what he needs to set him straight.”

“It won’t be a tongue-lashing, Gram. It’s going to be a straight-up cussing out.”

Angela laughed softly. “It looks as if my grandbaby girl has some fire in her.”

Michelle also laughed. “It’s a fire I should’ve had two years ago when I was humiliated in front of an entire school. At the time, I stayed quiet, waited for the school year to end and resigned with my dignity intact.”

“Good for you. I don’t believe women should ever fight each other over a man.” Standing and picking up the knife, Angela resumed peeling potatoes. “I want you to give me the recipe for your pumpkin squares. They were a big hit at the daycare center.”

“It’s not my recipe. I found it on a website.”

“It doesn’t matter where it came from, they were beyond deliciousness. Let’s make a deal. Share your recipe, and I’ll share my mac and cheese recipe.”

Michelle’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, Gram.”

“Do I look like I’m kidding? I know it’s time I share it with at least one of my granddaughters, and you just happen to be the first.”

Michelle put a hand over her mouth, unable to believe what she was hearing. Angela Corey was going to share her prize-winning recipe with her. “Thanks, Gram.”

“Thank me once you can make it as well as I can. And don’t worry about Aaron getting funky with you about Lucas. I’ll tell your father to deal with Aaron before, as you young folks like to say, he gets out of pocket.”

Michelle hoped the situation wouldn’t involve the whole family. Her father was strict about sibling conflicts. “I’m going to wash my hands and help you with the salad.”

Angela smiled. “I know you’re an incredible baker, but one of these days you’ll also become a very good cook.”

“That’s only going to happen once I’m able to duplicate my gram’s mac and cheese.”

Michelle thought about Lucas’s offer to cook for her when she came to his ranch. Maybe one day she could surprise him with a dish of her grandmother’s mac and cheese. Now that she and Lucas had agreed to see each other she hoped they would be able to enjoy spending time together without outside interference.

Chapter Seven

Michelle sent Lucas a text saying that she would see him late Tuesday afternoon and that she was bringing dessert. She shared breakfast with her family, then cleaned up the kitchen to bake a key lime pound cake in a large bundt pan and then another batch of cupcakes for Lucas.

After her conversation with her grandmother, she knew she had an ally. Angela Corey was all in for Michelle to date Lucas. Although she knew she didn’t need anyone’s permission to see him, she still thought it was best if they did not make it public. Once she knew for certain where her feelings were when it came to Lucas Brandt, then she would reveal those not only to him but also her family. For now, she wanted their relationship to stay secret.

Knowing she was going to Lucas’s ranch, she’d left a note on the door of the fridge telling her mother she would not be eating dinner with the family. She’d developed the habit as an indication of respect; after all, she was living under her parents’ roof. However, once her brothers moved into their own cabins on the ranch, Patty prepared a buffet dinner in lieu of a sit-down. Whatever wasn’t consumed was stored in containers for the next day’s lunch.

Following the directions Lucas had given her, Michelle shifted into four-wheel drive as she drove up the steep hill until the ground leveled out. She drove another mile before she saw a directional pointing the way to Big Doggo Ranch. She turned right and spotted a herd of horses in the distance. As she drove closer to the herd, she noticed three mares appeared to be pregnant. It appeared as if a stallion had been busy working to increase the herd’s population.

She soon spotted Lucas’s log-and-stone cabin on a rise overlooking distant mountains. Michelle could imagine waking up and looking through floor-to-ceiling windows with magnificent views of the landscape with meandering streams and lakes for fly-fishing.

She maneuvered behind a forested area, stopped and shut off the engine. She’d just reached for the cupcake carrier on the passenger seat when she heard a dog barking.

Seconds later, Lucas appeared along with a huge tan mastiff. He opened the driver’s door, extended his hand to help her down. “Welcome to Big Doggo Ranch.”

“Thank you.” She handed Lucas the carrier. “Enjoy.” Michelle then turned her attention to the beautiful dog at his side. She bent down. “And who are you?”

“This is Flash.”