Page 18 of A Cowboy's Bride
Scratch that. Declan was calm as usual, but Jake blustered as he tucked his notebook under his arm. “She still going to do it?”
“Said she would,” Aiden offered dryly. “I didn’t scare her off in the past hour.”
“Told you everything was fine, Jake. You need to relax and trust my instincts more.” Declan tilted his chin at Aiden. “We’ve figured out living quarters for now. You’re still in the house—security for the ladies. Take the room I was going to use.”
“Makes sense.” Although it was close enough that the temptation of Petra down the hall was going to be a thorn in his side. “I’m going to Red Boot ranch tonight to meet her brother. She insists that he know the real situation, and I agree.”
“He’s solid.” Declan nodded slowly. “Jake, stop scowling. You did a background search and cleared everyone at Red Boot ranch when we first checked out Heart Falls.”
“The more people who know what we’re up to, the more loose ends,” Jake growled. “That’s my complaint.”
“Then the sooner you get in touch with some of your military and RCMP contacts who want to spend time here, the better. Plus, contact the therapist and see if Kevin can move up his arrival. Layers of people we trust in place will help calm you down if nothing else.” Aiden pulled the notebook from under his brother’s arm and glanced at the detailed checklist for the day still to be completed. “I can deal with items seven and eight before I head out. As soon as I get a feel for Petra’s brother, I’ll text confirmation so we make sure Danielle keeps rolling on that new ranch hand.”
“Deal.” Declan raised a brow at Jake. “You got that stick worked out yet?”
“Fuck you.” Jake sighed. “Fine. Use your gut, Aiden. We’ll back whatever play you make.”
Aiden wanted to show up early, but in the end, it was past five when he rolled up the drive into Red Boot ranch. Straight-as-an-arrow fence lines ran from the nearby buildings into the distant west. Neat rustic rental cabins were strategically placed in a jagged line so each faced in a slightly different direction toward the gorgeous scenery of the Rocky Mountains to the west, the rolling foothills painted with fall sunshine.
Petra had informed him the last in the row was Zach and Julia’s place. As Aiden hurried from his truck, with Petra’s purse that he’d found on the bench by the front door tucked under his arm, a solidly built man stepped to the front of the porch and folded his arms across his chest. His expression and body language screamed disapproval.
To hell with it. Aiden went for passive aggressive and waved cheerily as he took the stairs two at a time. “You must be Zach. Great to finally meet you. Petra’s told me so much about you.”
The man’s lips twitched. “Really.”
Aiden thrust out his free hand. “Of course. Also, your charitable work with Sorenson Enterprises is noteworthy. You didn’t also inherit your father’s inventor’s gene as well, did you?”
Zach raised a brow. “You’ve done your homework.”
“I figured you’d be researching me and mine within minutes of hearing the mess we sucked Petra into.” Aiden lifted his shoulders in an easy shrug. “We get it.”
“I want to hate you, but between Petra warning me off and my curiosity, you get to live a little longer.”
Aiden let his grin shine out. “Always my favourite option. If you need to try to hit me or something, we can do that later. I’m hungry.”
“Tryto hit you?” Zach shook his head disapprovingly. “Please.”
“Youngest of three boys,” Aiden informed him. “I’m fast.”
“So you’ll run away?”
“Duck, if nothing else. Yup,” Aiden agreed.
Even as Zach grinned in response, a heavy sigh sounded from behind him where Petra had stepped into the doorway.
Pushing past her was a second woman with deep-red hair, a wide smile, and curiosity in her bright eyes. She motioned them forward. “If you’ve finished the obligatorythreat exchangeportion of the evening, get inside. Dinner is ready.”
It should have been awkward,or at least uncomfortable, but from the minute they hit the table, it was as if Aiden had been a family friend for years instead of a newcomer.
“I can’t share all the details,” he said at the start, meeting their eyes in turn. “In some ways, the less you know, the better it is, but Petra says you’re trustworthy. Which means you’ll understand that when I don’t answer a question, it’s for your safety and the safety of others.”
“I only want to know two things.” Julia eyed them both. “How long does this deception need to last? And what happens when it’s over?”
Good questions. Petra faced Aiden. “Don’t know the first part, but I figure it’s possible to have a friendly breakup. Neither of us will have to leave town or anything drastic like that.”
“Absolutely. Mutual decision to go back to being friends. It would be best for both of us to have no villain in calling it off. High Water plans to be here for years.”
“Red Boot ranch isn’t going anywhere, and as long as Petra wants to be in town, this is her home.” Zach offered him the potatoes.
