Kiss Me (Fool's Gold 17)

“Tits are interesting, boy,” Cookie growled. “Vegetarians are just plain stupid. If people want to eat leaves and grubs, then they should go live in the forest. Root around with those ugly truffle pigs and get away from my table.”

“What time is supper?” Zane asked.

Cookie snarled something under his breath, then walked to the back door and stuck his head out. “Billy, you got that there barbecue ready yet, boy?”

“Yes, sir. Coals are hot and gray. You wanted them gray, didn’t you, Cookie?”

“What color gray?”

There was a pause. “Sort of medium.”

“Huh.” Cookie closed the back door and grinned at Zane. “I screw with him because he makes it so easy. Dinner can be ready in half an hour.”

Zane glanced at his watch. “Okay. We’ll have everyone in the dining room by then.”

“What about those people?” Cookie practically spit the last two words.

Zane knew who he was talking about. What would Andrea and Martin be eating?

“Let them make do.”

He left the kitchen with Frank on his heels.

Zane had given his guests a couple of hours to settle in and had asked them to collect in the living room at five-thirty. He walked into the large room and found them talking with each other.

The old ladies were playing some kind of game with the two kids while the temporary foster parents looked on uneasily. The tree huggers were admiring pictures of the area, while Maya had helped herself to a drink from the bar. And Phoebe... He braced himself for his unexplainable but very real attraction to her. His brain might know that she was all wrong, but his dick kept pointing in her direction.

She sat next to Maya on the sofa. When he walked in with Frank, conversation gradually ceased. He did his best to offer a warm and welcoming smile, then wondered why he bothered. Charming people was Chase’s job. Zane was the mean-ass brother who worried about work schedules and getting the payroll out. His busy days didn’t leave much time for charm.

Still he wanted to put everyone at ease before he offered them a chance to back out on what might be the disaster of a lifetime.

“I have some announcements,” he said when he had their attention. “First,” he looked at the kids. “Our neighbors brought over a couple of saddles for the kids. They’re worn but serviceable. However, the plan was for a six-day ride. This is a tough pace for some seasoned riders. I’m concerned about the children being able to keep up.”

As he spoke, the boy looked a little worried, but his sister got a stubborn expression he recognized from dealing with Maya. The foster parents shifted uncomfortably, but didn’t say anything.

That seed planted, he turned to the next issue. Trying to appear apologetic, he smiled at Andrea and Martin.

“We weren’t aware we were going to have vegetarians on the cattle drive. At this point, we can’t offer you a special menu plan. Meals will be served family style, so you can take as much or as little as you want of any one dish, but there won’t be any vegetarian entrees.”

Martin seemed okay with the information, but Andrea—who Zane suspected wore the pants in the family—appeared outraged.

She took a step toward him. “Are you aware of the havoc your steers cause the environment? And what about pigs? Ninety percent of the corn grown in this country goes to feed pigs. If Americans cut down on their pork consumption by as little as fifty percent, we could send almost half our corn crop to other countries—”

Andrea stopped suddenly when her husband lightly touched her arm. She glanced around. Everyone was staring at her.

She pressed her lips together. “I’m not a meat eater.”

“I understand,” Zane told her. “But we’re not equipped to provide you with vegetarian meals. I’m more than willing to refund you the price of the vacation, including your airline tickets, and arrange for you to fly home in the morning.” He turned to the couple in charge of the children. “I would be happy to do the same for the four of you.”

He was hoping that with more than half the group gone, the old ladies would feel strange about staying by themselves. Not that they were known for a sense of appropriate behavior.

Maya stretched her legs out in front of her and swirled her glass. “Zane, how generous. And here I thought you were committed to the cattle drive.”

He ignored her. “Just let me know.”

Eddie stood up. “Now hold on, Zane,” she said with a smile. “There’s no reason to get all fired up because Andrea here won’t eat meat. I’m sure your cook can make some extra vegetable dishes for her and Martin. As for the kids—” She smiled at them fondly. “Gladys and I are happy to help out. We love kids.”

She crouched down in front of Lucy and Tommy. “You two live in the city, don’t you?”

Tommy still looked worried, but he nodded.

“Ever been on a horse?”

The boy shook his head.

“Ever want to be a cowboy?”

A slight smile pulled at the boy’s mouth.

Eddie rose and faced Zane. “See there? He wants to be a cowboy. This young man and his pretty sister need to spend a little time in the outdoors.”

Gladys slapped Zane on the back. “You’re a good man to be so concerned about everyone, but I say let’s have at it. We’re all here for an adventure, and you’re just the man to provide it.”

Andrea looked mollified. “We have wanted to try something new,” she said to her husband. “I guess we could work around the food choices.”