Page 58 of A Cowboy's Bride
Jinx still had her moments of panic, and she eased closer to Declan every chance she got, especially when Petra wasn’t around. But after only a week, none of them expected things to have gone as well as they had.
Aiden marched out to the kitchen, eager to join the ladies.
“You guys are having way too much fun,” he complained jokingly.
Jinx whirled on him. She held forward a cookie sheet where a pizza crust rested on a layer of cornmeal. “I made this one. It’s rising.”
He stopped and took a closer look. Lopsided instead of circle, it was clearly a fine pizza crust. “It's amazing. Although I hope we’re not on a raw food diet.”
Jinx smiled then ducked her head. A second later, she lifted her chin. “Nope. But there will be goat cheese.”
“Okay. Hopefully pepperoni as well.”
He wasn’t sure why that made Jinx snicker so hard, but he didn’t care. Snickering was great. Aiden made his way to Petra’s side, slipped a hand around her waist and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I hope you’re making my pizza extra-large.”
She snickered. “Why? Overcompensating?”
She offered the tease quietly enough Jinx couldn’t overhear, but Tansy did. Her friend snorted so hard she choked.
Tansy waved away help. “Nothing. It's nothing.” She shook a finger at Aiden. “I like you.”
“We’ve already established there’s so much to love.”
“Ego much?” But Petra smiled even as she pushed a tray with ingredients into his hands. “Okay, Mr. Everybody Loves Me. Carry this to the table beside the fire pit. We're setting up a cooking station.”
Obediently following directions and acting as a delivery boy, Aiden spotted Jake already settled by the fire. “Aren’t we missing some people?”
“Sydney will be here when she can,” Petra promised. “I have no idea where Declan is, though.”
“Hey, Jake,” Aiden called. “Know where Declan is?”
His brother shrugged. “I didn’t send him off. He must have gotten tied up chatting with someone, but I’m sure he’ll be here.”
“Text him a reminder. After that, more pizza for us,” Aiden declared happily to Jinx.
The first pizza was just about ready to come out of the oven when Declan’s truck roared past, stopping in the parking area on the far side of the building.
On the opposite side of the house, a second door slammed shut.
Less than a minute later, the small, very determined redhead who was Sydney came striding into view.
She went straight to Petra and gave her a hug. “Hello, all. Sorry I’m late.” She raised a hand and saluted Jinx. “I’ll save the hugs for down the road. Hi, Jinx. I’m Sydney.”
Jinx waved. “Hi.”
Sydney examined the area with a critical eye. “Jake and Aiden. Nice to meet you again.” She accepted the beer that Tansy gave her and raised it in the air. “Here’s to the truth that no good-deed goes unpunished.”
A worried noise escaped Petra, which set Aiden on high alert. “You had trouble at old man Talita’s place?” she asked.
Sydney shook her head then made a face. “I had no trouble with Talita.” She paused, waiting until Declan fully emerged from behind the barn and joined them at the fire. She tilted her beer bottle at him. “He, on the other hand, was a royal pain in the butt.”
What the hell? Aiden eyed his brother. He’d gone and interrupted Sydney’s work? Declan was protective, and both he and Jake knew their big brother tended to go big when it came to watching out for others, but how in the world had he gotten involved this time?
Declan stared down Sydney’s finger as if she were holding a daisy instead of a potential weapon. “I didn't say anything Talita didn’t need to hear.”
Jake made a rude noise. He folded his arms where he stood on the other side of the food table. “What were you doing dropping in at Sydney’s house call?”
“Yes, Declan, I'm curious too. Whatwereyou doing dropping in while I was on a house call?” Sydney’s tone went saccharinely sweet.
