“Not today, Dolly. Drove all the way from Denver, and we got a truckload of goods.”
“We?” The woman shoved her glasses down on her nose and peered at me. “He doesn’t look like too much of a ranch hand.”
Gray chuckled. “He’s not supposed to. He’s about to be my spanking-new son-in-law.”
“Matty is getting married?”
“No, Carter.”
“I see.” She beamed the whitest teeth I’d ever seen at me. “Welcome to Bristlecone Springs. I’m Dolly Mae, but just Dolly will do. You need someone to cater that wedding of yours, and I’m your gal.”
“Uh.” I was too stunned to give a proper reply. In the city, people didn’t make small talk in shops or restaurants. And definitely not something so personal.
“Dolly Mae, don’t put him on the spot,” Gray said. “He’s had a long trip. Let him at least taste your cooking before he decides on his wedding plans.”
“That makes sense.”
She convinced me to have some of everything on the menu. Gray, finding the whole thing humorous, laughed and paid like it was nothing.
“How are we supposed to eat all that?” I whispered to him.
“You can’t? When you work on a ranch, son, you put away a lot of food in one sitting to last through the day.”
“I guess.” Working on a ranch had to be hard work. I was so self-conscious about what I ate, especially around others, that the idea of wolfing down all we’d ordered felt foreign.
“They shouldn’t be long putting everything together. Let’s sit. They’ll bring it out.”
Gray pulled out a chair at a nearby table. “Thank you,” I said quietly and sat.
“Gray! Yoo-hoo!”
A woman wound her way through the tables toward us. Her high heels seemed extravagant for the low-key town but went well with her neon-pink dress and big hairdo. She clutched a little black purse in her hand as if it held all her secrets to getting by in this town wearing such an outfit.
Gray groaned. “Every single time I come to town,” he muttered, but his smile didn’t betray a thought when the woman stopped at our table. He got to his feet and accepted the air kisses he seemed to know were coming. “Hi, Miss Jessamine. Don’t you look pretty today?”
She preened, coiffing her hair with her hand. “Gray, you flirt.” She tugged at his shirt. “Why if you were divorced…” She batted her eyelashes. “I wanted to ensure you got the tickets to this weekend’s theater production ofAnnie Get Your Gun. It promises to be delightful, and as the main sponsor for the local theater, you simply must come.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Miss Jessamine,” Gray said. “In fact, why don’t you give me two extra tickets? I may bring guests.”
For the first time, the woman seemed to notice me. She looked familiar, but how would I have met her before? “Oh dear, I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.”
“This is my son’s fiancé, Ozzie,” Gray said. “Ozzie, Miss Jessamine is our town’s theater master. Her production makesuse of local talent and even draws in people from nearby towns and cities.”
“That’s impressive.” I stood and shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
“You simply must come too, my dear.” She handed Gray the three tickets he’d requested. “And maybe you and I can have a nightcap after the show has ended?” She’d ignored me once more and had her attention fixed solely on Gray, who glanced at me, his expression full of desperation. But how was I supposed to help him?
“Daddy, look, it’s Gray!” someone shouted.
A stunning blond guy with a slender figure steered the large man on his arm in our direction. He wore a tan suede fringe jacket over a crop top that showed off his flat stomach. His jeans shorts were cut so high I dreaded him turning around. He’d paired his outfit with cowboy boots that were even fancier than mine. He looked out of place in a town like this, but the whole picture was beautiful, and I might have stared a tad too long.
He grinned. “Hello!” He sounded so vibrant and happy. “Gray, who’s your friend?”
“Opie, don’t be rude,” the man who didn’t look at all like his father said. “Gray’s talking to Miss Jessamine.”
“Actually, we’re just about done,” Gray said. “We got tickets for the show this weekend. Are you coming?”
“Of course,” Opie said. “Last year’s show was a hoot. I wouldn’t miss it this year for the world.”
