“Granddad loves lasagna and he doesn’t get it very often, but where would you make it?”
“I’m going to ask Eliza if I could use the kitchen here at Bramble House. She might say no, but she might say yes. If she says no, I’ll just pick up something at Rocco’s that I can bring with me.”
“Sounds great. I’ll be here tomorrow at five.”
*
The next morning Sophie walked to the grocery store to buy the groceries needed to make dinner, and then returned to Bramble to make her homemade red sauce. She ended up making two large lasagnas, one to be eaten tonight, and the other to be put in the Wyatts’ freezer for another night. As she layered the red sauce and noodles and cheese, she kept glancing down at her diamond ring, distracted by the sparkling stone on her finger.
She was officially engaged. They’d be marrying tomorrow. Things were moving fast now.
Joe was there a few minutes before five to pick her up, and he helped her carry all the dinner items to his truck, where the lasagnas went on the floor of the back of his cab.
At the ranch house, she turned on the oven and put one lasagna in to reheat, and then halfway through, added the loaf of garlic bread. She tossed the salad as everything warmed.
“You look pretty cute in my kitchen,” Joe said, entering through the back door. He’d been in the barn checking on the horses and as he hung up his coat and set his hat upside down on the narrow table, Sophie’s heart turned over. It was suddenly so very domestic, and it crossed her mind that this was what it’d be like when she lived here. She’d be busy prepping dinner and he’d come in and hopefully he’d always smile at her as if she was rather irresistible.
She smiled at him, pleased and yet also shy. “Do I?”
“You do.” He went to the sink and washed his hands. “You make me hungry.”
“Must be the garlic bread.”
“Hmmm. No, it’s you. Hard to explain, but it feels right seeing you in here. You kind of light everything up and make the room feel good.”
It was probably one of the nicest things she’d ever heard and for a split second her eyes burned and a lump filled her throat. “You just made my day, Joe Wyatt.”
He reached for a dish towel and dried his hands. “Granddad told me that Mom is hoping to talk to you. Do we have time before dinner?”
“We’re probably ten minutes away from eating. But I could also let everything sit a bit. It won’t hurt the lasagna if it sits awhile before we serve.” Sophie hesitated. “Do you know what she wants to talk to me about?”
Joe shook his head.
“Do you think she knows about the engagement?” Sophie asked.
“I haven’t told her, and you’re not wearing the ring,” he said.
She patted the pocket of her jeans. “It’s right here. I was going to put it on when we share the news. Should I put it on now?”
“No.” He put his hands on his lean hips and looked toward the dining room and family room beyond. “I don’t know what she’s going to say. I’m kind of worried.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll survive.”
He growled his displeasure. “I hate this.”
“It’s just a phase, right?”
“I admire you, Sophie. You look delicate but you’re pretty dang tough.”
“I told you, I’m a farmer’s daughter.” She went to him, put her hands on his chest, and stood up on tiptoe. “Kiss me for luck.”
He did. He kissed her as if she was his, and only his, his tongue teasing the seam of her lips, before stroking inside her mouth, making her body warm and melt. Kissing him always made her want more, and the more promised to be unbearably good.
She was breathing hard when she stepped back. “Wow. Kissing you is like the Fourth of July. Fireworks every single time.”
He laughed, softly, appreciatively, and gave her butt a pat as she headed for the family room. “Shout if you need me.”
“Ha. Just don’t let the lasagna burn. It needs to come out in ten. I’ve already taken the foil off.”
“Setting the timer now,” he answered. “But brace yourself; I have a feeling she’s going to ask you a million questions.”
“That’s okay.”
“They might be uncomfortable questions,” he added as she reached the swinging door.
Sophie turned, glanced back at him. “What makes you say that?”
“Because she spent the morning asking me a lot of uncomfortable questions.”
“Ah.”
“Want to put off the interrogation?”
She squared her shoulders, shook her head. “Nope. Let’s do this.”
A million uncomfortable questions, Sophie repeated to herself, as she made her way down the hall and into the small paneled family room where the TV had already been muted in anticipation of Sophie’s arrival. “Hi,” Sophie said, as she entered the room. “Am I interrupting anything?”
Mrs. Wyatt gestured for her to sit, her hand waving to the upholstered sofa opposite her armchair. “Joe said you’d made dinner tonight.”
“Yes, lasagna. I hope you like lasagna.”
“Haven’t had it in years.”
“It’s my mom’s recipe.” Sophie sat down, and smoothed her emerald-green blouse over her hips. “She’s a good cook. At least, we all think so.”
“She’s still alive?”
Sophie nodded. “She lives on our dairy farm in Tulare.”
“Is that where you still live? Tulare?”
“Actually, I was an hour north. Just outside of Kingsburg.”
“Why there?”
“I worked for Brazer Farms and they were headquartered there.”
“What did you do?”
“Import and exports.”
“You met Joe online,” Mrs. Wyatt said, abruptly changing the direction of the conversation.
Sophie refused to let herself be rattled. “Yes.”
“Why go online to meet a man?”
“I work long hours, and I’m not the type to go hang out in bars.”
“Why Joe? What made him the one?”
Joe’s mom would need a good answer. “Joe is solid,” she said, choosing her words with care. “He’s honest. I admire his integrity.”
“That’s it? Nothing about his body or his good looks?”
Sophie’s face heated. “Do you want me to tell you he’s hot? That I think he’s gorgeous and has an incredible body?”
“I’d find it more believable. Integrity and honesty are hard to measure over the internet.”
“I liked his photo. He has a great face, a strong face. I found his profile appealing.”
“What did he say in his profile? I asked him to show me this dating app but he said you have to be a member. That made me suspicious. And so I’m trying to figure out why someone like you, would be here.”
“You mentioned Joe’s looks, and yes, he’s easy on the eyes, but I liked that he was a rancher. I liked that he made it clear that he was committed to his Montana ranch and his family. I liked that he was upfront about what he wanted—he wants to marry and have a family, and he plans to raise his kids here on his property. He made it clear that he’s not looking to move, and he’s not wanting a city lifestyle. He wants his children where he was raised.”