Bossing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 4)

“I don’t blame ya, and I’m not even pregnant.” I snort, walking to the kitchen, covering my eyes. “I’m comin’ in. Hope y’all have your clothes on!”

Maize pulls me in for a hug. “Tell those slackers to get in here and start workin’.”

Gavin’s pulling pies out of the oven as I glance around, noticing the spread that’s ready.

“I can’t believe you aren’t sweatin’ in here.”

“Trust me, I am. Add the extra baby weight, and I’m a human sauna.” Maize groans. “But it’ll be okay. In a few years, I’ll have two extra little helpers.” She beams.

“Alright, enough about my sister’s uterus. Tell us the juicy gossip,” Kenzie says, barging through the kitchen doors.

“About what?” I play dumb, quickly looking for a way out of this.

“About Romeo from last weekend,” she clarifies with a knowing grin.

“And Dr. VetDreamy’s secret daughter,” Rowan adds.

Here we go.

“Stephen’s just a friend, and that’s how it’s stayin’,” I confirm. “Though he did send flowers to the clinic on Monday.”

“I didn’t get a good vibe from him,” Gavin states. I hadn’t realized he was even listening.

“Well you weren’t the only one, apparently.” I sigh.

“That means Connor said something.” Kenzie beams proudly.

I inhale a sharp breath and nod. “He claims Stephen isn’t my type and implied that I could do better.”

“Like him?” Rowan waggles her brows. “I mean, y’all tell me you didn’t see their connection at the party?”

“Yep, I’ve called it since day one,” Maize gloats.

“Anyway…” I drawl out. “He brought Olivia to the clinic on Monday, and I invited them to come today.”

“What?” They gasp simultaneously.

“Olivia overheard me talking about it and begged to go, but Connor was hesitant since they have plans with his parents,” I say. “So I told him to bring them too.”

“Oh my God.” Kenzie snorts.

“I repeat: called it!” Maize shouts.

“So are they comin’?” Rowan asks eagerly.

I shrug. “I don’t know. I reminded him yesterday that it starts around three. So I guess we’ll see.”

Now that I’ve said it aloud, my palms start sweating, and my heart races, which is ridiculous. Being around him today should be no different than any other day of the week.

Except it is. We’ll be around my family, with his family, with no work duties to distract us.

“I swear, y’all are better than reality TV,” Zoey chimes in, stuffing her face with a piece of caramel pecan bark. “This is why I moved here.”

We all laugh, knowing damn well she and Riley were too in love to be apart anyway.

“That means y’all better behave. Got it, Kenzie?” I say, specifically directing my attention toward her. “No blurting out the first thing that comes to mind.”

She puts a hand on her chest. “I take offense to that.”

I roll my eyes. “You too, Maize.”

“I’d never.” She grins.

“Well, at least you invited your guest. Mom keeps asking Grayson to join us, and it drives me crazy. I can’t even get away from him on holidays!” Kenzie complains.

“What’s wrong with Grayson?” Gavin finally asks. “I’ve never figured out what the beef is between you two.”

I snicker. “Join the club. No one knows.”

“There’s no beef,” Kenzie says, though I’m certain she’s lying. “He’s just annoying. Like an obnoxious brother who follows you around and takes every opportunity to poke fun.”

“Like a brother you wanna bang,” Rowan adds.

“Ew, oh my God!” Kenzie throws a piece of pie crust at her. “You’re seriously twisted.”

It’s comical how riled up Kenzie gets over Grayson, and I’m relieved the spotlight is off me.

Soon, more Bishops arrive, and the B&B fills up.

“I think I’ve died and gone to pie heaven!” Grayson walks up and gives Maize a hug. “You outdid yourself this year.”

“Just for you, Grayson,” Maize muses, knowing it bothers Kenzie when she’s nice to him.

“You should try the sweet pecan pie,” Kenzie tells him, narrowing her eyes.

“Oh yeah?” Grayson lifts a brow.

“Yep, I poisoned it just for you.” Kenzie gives him a mischievous grin.

Grayson turns to me. “Okay, you’re a doctor, so you’re like legally obligated to tell me which ones to avoid.”

“Don’t worry, Grayson. If she was gonna poison you, she would’ve done it a long time ago.” I pat his arm, then lean in closer and whisper, “But just to be safe, I’d stay away from anything on that table.”

I’m totally messing with him because watching a grown man fear a Bishop woman never gets old.

The front door opens, and my eyes light up when I see Olivia, who’s wearing a pretty pink dress. Her jaw drops as she looks around. When Olivia finally spots me, she runs toward me at a full sprint.

“Elle!”

I kneel and catch her in my arms as she gives me the biggest hug.

“Hi, sweetie. I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Grammy and Poppy came too!” she tells me, and when I stand, I see them with Connor.

I smile wide as they walk toward us. “Hi.”