A small smile curved my mouth. “Can’t keep Noah waiting.”
“No, we can’t.”
Liam and I got into his SUV. I had to adjust the seat and mirrors to fit my much shorter height, but in a minute or two, we were off.
Liam tapped his finger in a staccato beat on the armrest. “So. Cake or pie?”
I burst out laughing. It was just the question I needed. “Cake. Definitely.”
He made a humming sound at the back of his throat. “What’s your favorite kind?”
I pulled onto the main road out of town. “I’m kind of a purist when it comes to cake. Vanilla butter cake with vanilla buttercream icing.”
Liam’s brows inched up. “I thought every girl loved chocolate more than anything.”
Paved roads turned to gravel. “Not this girl. I mean, I like chocolate, but vanilla cake is my favorite.” I stole a quick glance at the passenger seat. “What about you?”
Liam grinned. “Pie. Chocolate cream or pecan.”
I made a mental note to include those in baking plans for the shop in the coming weeks. “Both solid choices.”
He grunted. “I know my desserts.”
“I’m sure you do.” I turned off the road, punching in the code that would open the gate to the Cole Ranch. “Have you ridden before?” It had just dawned on me that Liam might have no idea what he was doing when it came to horses.
“My grandfather had me riding before I could walk.”
“Really?” Surprise laced my tone.
“Really. I grew up in a small town in Georgia. He had a ranch there, and I spent a lot of time with him.” Liam’s drumming had stopped, and his voice had taken on a wistful quality.
“He doesn’t have the ranch anymore?” I knew it was unfair of me to ask questions about Liam’s past when I wouldn’t answer any about my own, but I was so hungry to know more about this man.
“He passed away years ago. My parents didn’t have time to run a ranch with their jobs, and my career was just getting going, so we sold it.”
I could hear sadness and regret in his words. “I’m sorry.”
Liam shook his head as if clearing the cobwebs of reminiscence. “I’ll always have the memories. And it just makes the times I get to spend on land like this”—he gestured to the rolling pastures surrounding us—“that much more special.”
I liked the way Liam looked at life. It wasn’t overly Pollyanna, but it always put things in perspective. “That’s a good way to think about it.”
Liam sent me a grin. “Glad you think so.”
I pulled the SUV into an empty spot in front of the ranch house. Before the vehicle was even turned off, Noah dashed out the front door and bounded down the steps. “I’m ready! I’m ready!”
I couldn’t help but laugh, a smile stretching my cheeks tight. “I think someone’s excited for our ride.”
Liam chuckled. “I’d say so.”
We hopped down from the SUV, and Noah’s arms immediately encircled me. I didn’t get hugged often. The adults in my life had quickly caught on to the vibes I sent out about not going overboard in that area. The only people who even touched me were Sarah and Jensen. But Noah held nothing back. And I soaked up his easy affection.
The boy’s little head tipped back. “I’m going to ride Stargazer.”
I brushed the hair back from his face. “I think that’s a great pick. What about me? Who am I going to ride?”
Noah’s arms squeezed me tighter. “You’re going to ride Lightning, and Liam’s going to ride Bob.”
Liam chuckled. “I’m riding a horse named Bob?”
