The Romeo Arrangement

I’ll fight the whole damn world to keep her as happy as she is right now, seeing her horses ready to come home.

It takes a few hours to get the horses back in the barn, including making sure Edison gets home to the Larkin ranch and his mare, Edna, safe and sound.

By the time Grace and I leave the barn, I can see how exhausted she is.

I also know she’s barely eaten today.

We walk straight to the guest cabin. Tobin throws the door open as soon as we step onto the porch, his expression actually readable this time. He’s full of concern.

I’d texted him when we’d left, told him to make sure Nelson never found out the horses ran off.

The old man doesn’t need a setback.

“All’s quiet on this front,” Tobin says to me, nodding politely at Grace.

She smiles softly while removing her coat.

I step up and help her out of it, and can’t resist running my hand down the small of her back.

Draping it over the back of the couch, I watch her walk straight to the bedroom to check on her father.

“Miss Owens and I were discussing sleeping arrangements,” Tobin tells me, a cautious note in his voice.

“Yeah?” I pull my eyes off Grace as she enters the bedroom and pushes the door shut. “What about them?”

“Well, she needs to stay here, in the cabin with Nelson considering the round-the-clock care we’ve agreed to. There are only two bedrooms,” Tobin says, glancing at the nurse. “She says she can sleep on the couch, however, I said there’s hardly any reason for that. We have spare rooms in the main house.”

He’s right. I nod, yet question why he’s looking at me expectantly.

“And?”

He lifts his chin in that haughty way he has, adjusting his spectacles. “I trust you’ll let Miss Sellers know gently, while I carry her suitcase over.”

Oh, shit.

It dawns on me why he’s dancing around and why he doesn’t want to be the messenger.

She’s not going to like being separated from her old man when he’s this sick, even by the short distance from house to cabin.

Still, he’s right.

The couch I’m leaning on with its cushions tucked in a rustic frame of solid cedar is made for looks, not comfort. Nobody would get any quality rest sleeping on this thing.

Nelson was only able to make it tolerable for naps with lots of blankets, extra pillows, and the fact that he’s utterly sleep deprived.

Nurse Owens and Grace both desperately need their beauty sleep.

“Okay, okay, I’ll tell her,” I bite off.

My quickening pulse and the tension in my jeans tells me I like the idea of Grace being in the house.

One unruly part of me with a mind of its own loves the idea, at least.

The knot in my stomach tells me to fucking behave.

It also reminds me I’d probably have an easier time wrestling a porcupine than convincing her to go along with this plan.

She walks out of the bedroom, relief written on her face. “Has he been asleep the whole time?”

“Not quite,” Owens says. “He was awake long enough to eat some soup and whine about me hovering over him.”

“Sounds like him, all right,” Grace says, a laugh slipping out of her.

I’m glad Nelson’s still in fighting spirits. Plus, it gives me a good idea of how to get Grace over to the house and convince her to stay put.

Hell, she’ll sleep on the floor in the cabin if I don’t.

I sweep her coat off the couch and look at my valet.

“Tobin, I’m going to take Grace over to the house. Fix us some sandwiches, please?” I give the order direct to him so she can’t refuse.

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m not that hungry,” she says.

“I am. And I don’t fancy eating alone,” I tell her firmly.

She shakes her head, shoulders bowed up. Her hand pushes her gold locks back behind her ear as those blue eyes flash a warning.

Aw, hell.

Here we go.

“We have some…urgent matters to discuss,” I growl, trying to put my inner caveman back in his box and channel Tobin’s diplomacy.

Yeah. Part of me feels bad saying that because she looks so worn out, but it’s in her best interest.

“If the sandwiches can wait, then I’ll stay here to keep Miss Owens company and ensure she’s set up properly,” Tobin says, giving me a knowing glance.

I grin internally and smother a laugh.

Can’t say he never goes out on a limb for me.

I’m pretty sure the list of people Tobin ever liked keeping company ends with me and Mother. He damn sure doesn’t want to be the one to get Grace to sleep in the house because he knows he’ll lose.

Not me.

“Sounds like a plan,” I tell him.

Walking over, I hold out her coat.

Grace gives me a slow, heavy look and sighs, turns around, and shoves her arms in the sleeves.