Page 16 of A Cowboy's Trust
“Hippie hoppy Harper,” Tansy returned.
“Chloe says I’m too little to make a birthday present for Daddy, but I know how I can be big enough.”
At her side, Rose sat a little straighter, both of them paying complete attention to their youngest niece.
“Jiminy Cricket. Do you have an idea for a nice present?” Tansy asked.
Harper’s eyes widened and she nodded her head seriously. She glanced around the room to double-check where Walker was. He was safely far enough out of earshot, talking to someone out of sight who sat in a wide, upright chair.
She leaned in close and whispered to her aunties. “Daddy wants some afternoon delight.”
Tansy bit her lips to keep from laughing out loud.
Rose controlled herself enough to speak—thank goodness because Tansy was not capable. “That’s a very interesting present. Two questions for you, sweetie. How do you know that’s what your daddy wants, and what do you think that is?”
Tansy snickered, this time a little bit of it escaping. She smiled sweetly at Harper. “You can tell us so we can help you, right?”
Harper was all big eyes and secret whispers. “I was playing under the kitchen table and I heard Mommy and Daddy talking. We tried Turkish Delight one time after we read about it in a story, so I think it’s candy.” She met Tansy’s gaze straight on. “I saved my allowance. I can buy ingredients. Will you help me?”
All amusement got tucked aside because the kid was so stinking cute and earnest, and that needed to be rewarded. Tansy answered the request with a serious nod of her own. “Of course. I’ll check all of my cookbooks to find out exactly what we need, and the day before your daddy’s birthday, we can cook it up together.”
“Although it might have a different name in the cookbooks,” Rose pointed out helpfully. “Just so you know, but no matter what it’s called, it’ll be the perfect thing to give your daddy.”
“I love you, Aunties.” Harper handed out hugs and kisses as if they were pennies and she was a billionaire.
The instant she crawled off and returned to playing a game with Chloe, Rose and Tansy caught each other’s eyes then let themselves enjoy a good hearty laugh.
“God. I can’t wait to torment Ivy with this,” Tansy offered between snickers.
They were still wiping away tears when Rose nudged Tansy in the shoulder then pointed across the room. “Well, that’s rather adorable.”
Across the room, the mystery person in the hidden chair was now visible. Jake sat upright with Carter on his knee. A very avid conversation was going on between Walker, Chance, and Ashton Stewart, who had officially joined the family just over two years ago.
Jake was paying attention, but he wasn’t saying much. Instead, he rocked slightly as Carter rested his cheek on Jake’s chest and his eyes slowly drooped.
“Jake said he was good with kids,” Tansy offered. “That’s sweet.”
Another nudge hit her shoulder. “So. Are you and he…” Rose waggled her eyebrows.
A snort escaped before Tansy could stop it. “Nothing worse than a happily engaged woman. You want everybody to be lined up and tucked away. No, he and I are not…anything. Other than exasperating to each other.”
Because she was not about to mentionthe kiss. The one that every time she thought about, it ended up in italics or air quotes or all the things that made it more than a simple kiss.
The kisshad power. It had nearly knocked her socks off, and she really,reallywanted another.
But, since she couldn’t always get what she wanted, she smiled sweetly at her sister. “Have you made any decisions about your official wedding day?”
“Nice change of topic, but I’m not done. I could have sworn every time you talked about Jake Skye in the last six months you were telling me about how very annoying the man was.”
“Get your tenses right. How annoying the manis, and that hasn’t changed. Although I will confess that working in close contact at High Water means I’m immensely grateful that he’s easy on the eyes.”
“And yet you brought him home with you.” Rose lowered her voice and leaned in close. “There is no secret keeping from me. I know all your tells.Youwant to take a nice big bite of that man.”
“Maybe I’m on a diet.”
“Diet tomorrow, eat pie today. I pretty sure that’s your motto,” Rose said with a smile, but she brushed her lips over Tansy’s cheek and eased away. “Enough teasing. I’m glad you’re happy, and so far it seems Buns and Roses isn’t falling apart without you. Although for some strange reason I miss you and your mischief, but it is nice to be doing the next thing. Chance is amazing and I’m so very much in love.”
“I’m glad.” Tansy tapped her sister on the nose and got a laugh. “Now, get your sickeningly sweet engagement cooties away from here because I want none of them.”
