Tempted by the Texan

“Now that I know what the problem is, I’m feeling a lot better,” her sister said, smiling. Mariah watched Bria glance at Sam before announcing, “Sam and I are going to have another baby in the fall.”

“That’s wonderful!” Summer McClain said from across the table. She smiled at her husband, Ryder. “We can go to doctor appointments together.”

“It looks as if the family is having a baby boom,” Nate said, putting his arm around his very pregnant wife, Jessie. “We’re due in a month, Heather and T.J. are due this summer and both of you are due in the fall.”

Mariah felt Jaron lightly squeeze her hand where it still rested on his thigh. “I’m betting you’ll both have boys.”

Taking her cue from him, she shook her head. “Both of them are going to have girls,” she said adamantly.

She really didn’t care and she knew Jaron didn’t, either. They were both going to love the babies no matter what. But she knew what he was doing. They had argued about the child’s gender every time one of the sisters-in-law got pregnant. The family might realize there was more going on between them than a working relationship if they didn’t continue the good-natured feud.

“They’re at it again,” T.J. said, laughing. “How do you two work together when you can’t agree on much of anything?”

“I work inside the house and he works outside the house,” Mariah said, thinking quickly.

Jaron shrugged. “I’ve always been happier working outside.”

“I can’t fault you there,” Ryder said, nodding. “I think if I had to be stuck inside all day I’d end up climbing the walls.”

All of the men seemed to agree and Mariah relaxed when the conversation turned to talk of the calving season and plans for improvements around their ranches. By the time dinner was over and she was helping clear the table before cake and ice cream was served for Sam’s birthday, she couldn’t help but be a bit envious of the happy couples. They all had what she wanted—homes and families of their own.

She hoped that was in her future with Jaron. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that if he could reconcile his past it was a possibility. But what if he couldn’t? What did that mean for her?

“How are things really going with you and Jaron?” Bria asked when they reached the kitchen with bowls of leftover food.

“Just fine,” Mariah answered. “He works outside and I—”

“I heard you before,” Bria said. “I also noticed that you two were holding hands during dinner.”

“We’re—” She stopped herself when she realized she really didn’t know what they were. They weren’t a couple and they weren’t just friends.

“I don’t claim to be an expert on matters of the heart,” Taylor said from the other side of the kitchen island, “but ever since I became part of this family, I’ve seen Jaron watch you. And let me tell you, something has changed. He looks at you now as though you’re the treasure at the end of the rainbow.”

Setting a platter of fried chicken on the counter, Summer nodded. “That man is crazy in love with you, Mariah.”

“Summer’s right,” Jessie said, placing containers of leftovers in the refrigerator. “He can’t keep his eyes off you.”

Mariah shook her head. “I know he has feelings for me, but I’m not sure I’d call it love.”

“I would,” Heather interjected as she dipped ice cream into dessert cups. “He looks at you the same way our husbands look at us.”

Bria put her arm around Mariah. “And you’ve loved him since the day you met him.”

“So when should we start planning your bridal shower?” Taylor asked, smiling.

Mariah shook her head. “I’m not sure it will ever come to that.”

“Why not?” Bria asked.

“I’m not really sure,” Mariah answered. “There’s something that happened in his past that’s holding him back.”

“He won’t talk about it because he doesn’t think you’ll understand?” Summer guessed.

“How did you know?” she asked, surprised.

“I had the same problem with Ryder,” Summer answered.

“Even Sam waited until it almost ended our marriage before he opened up and finally told me why he got into trouble with the law when he was a teenager and how that caused him to become so driven to succeed,” Bria agreed.