Page 11 of Second Chance with the Rancher

“It’s amazing.”

“Raul was a fantastic cook.”

Was Raul more than just a fantastic cook, but also a fantastic lover? How friendly did they get?

“He was like a father to me,” she went on. “He said I reminded him a lot of his daughter Katerina who’s roughly my age.” She glanced at Triss. “Though, he was nothing like dad. Way cooler.”

A father figure. Phew. Nate swallowed down the masticated chunk of meat in his mouth and exhaled in relief. Not that he had any claim to Mieka, and he’d certainly been with other women since their one night together, but that didn’t stop the idea of her being with another man from making the blood in his veins begin to simmer.

He sawed into his steak and put another bite into his mouth. “Well, my thanks to Raul, this is delicious. And you cooked it perfectly.”

Her cheeks turned a sweet shade of pink before she put her head down and speared a broccoli floret with her fork. “Thank you.”

Every bite of dinner was amazing, not that Nate expected anything less. But he could tell that despite her lack of time spent in a kitchen recently, Mieka knew her way around a spatula and frying pan—or in this case a barbecue and some tongs. Everyone chatted as they ate, though it seemed like Triss and Asher occupied the majority of the air time, with Mieka eating happily in silence just listening, and Nate too caught up in his food to do more than just add a sentence here or there to the conversation.

He and Asher cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher, while Triss pulled a fresh pie from the oven where it was warming and Mieka grabbed a tub of vanilla ice cream out of the freezer.

“Where’d we get the blackberries?” Asher asked, taking down four plates from the cupboard. “They’re not in season yet. Too early for them.”

“I found a bag of them in the bottom of the chest freezer,” Mieka replied. “Asked Triss if I could bake a pie.”

“You baked it?” Nate asked, instantly regretting how surprised he sounded.

But she didn’t seem offended and just laughed and nodded. “I did. Raul was also a master pie baker and taught me all of his secrets. Though, he refused to tell me what goes into his steak rub and just told me to message him when I’m out and he’ll mail me more. Said that recipe he’s taking to the grave. Won’t even give it to his kids.”

“Raul sounds like quite the character,” Nate said, grabbing another beer for both him and Asher from the fridge.

Mieka was still chuckling and nodded again. “He is.”

She and Triss worked like a well-oiled machine as they served up the pie and ice cream. Nate had to hand it to Mieka, besides the visual reminder of her cast, she didn’t let it hold her back from much. It also helped that she was right-handed and broke her left arm, so at least she wasn’t struggling as much as she could have been.

He dove into the pie with the same level of gusto he had the steak. Even though his stomach was no longer trying to digest him from the inside out, he was always hungry. He would never turn down food, least of all fresh, homemade pie.

“Raul’s recipe?” he asked, wiping a bit of ice cream from his scruffy chin.

“The man knows how to make a pie,” she said, putting a forkful of pastry into her mouth. “Though, to be fair, he taught me how to make a blackberry and rosemary galette, but I just used the same principles and made it into a pie. The trick is to overstuff the pie and make sure your dough is cold. But I really like the savory component of the pie with the rosemary.”

Triss nodded. “Gives it a real earthy and almost fall-like feel. It’s delicious, Mieks.”

Asher reached for another slice, then scooped himself more ice cream. “Well, you can tell I like it.”

Mieka’s cheeks turned that sweet shade of pink again. “Thanks, guys.”

“You could always open up a pie stand,” Triss offered. “Pregnant and non-pregnant me will definitely be some of your best customers. Though, I expect the sister discount.”

Mieka dropped her gaze to her plate and pushed her fork into a plump blackberry. “Thanks, but I think if I turned my hobby into a job, I wouldn’t enjoy it as much. And I’m not even sure baking is a hobby since this is the first time I’ve baked in nearly two years.”

“Yeah, but it’s like riding a bike. It’s not something you forget.” Triss reached for the ice cream and scooped a big white ball onto her plate before adding another slice of pie.

Nate went back for seconds, too, as did Mieka and between the four of them they finished the pie.

Asher leaned back in his chair and rested his hand on his belly, giving it a rub. “Wife?”

“Hmm?” Triss said sleepily, leaning back in her own chair and smiling serenely.

“I’m bagged. I’m going to head to bed. You staying up to chat with your sister for a bit?”

Triss shook her head. “Unfortunately, I don’t think I can. I can’t keep my eyes open. I’m making a brain and a spinal column and stuff and it’s kicking my ass.”

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