Tempting Love (Cowboys & Angels 3)

“Wade, how are things going with you and Amelia?”

The rest of my brothers and I breathed matching sighs of relief.

Poor Wade’s head snapped up like he had been called to attention. “Things are going amazing, Mrs…”

She tilted her head and held up a finger.

“Melanie. Things are going great.”

“Do y’all have the house where you want it yet? I haven’t been there in a few weeks, I’d love to stop by.”

Wade nodded. “Please do. I know Amelia would love that. Her office on the second floor is finished. The only things we really have left to do are the guest bedrooms and the kitchen.”

Wade shifted over to me to throw the conversation. Bastard. He was a quick learner. “How about you, Mitchell? Y’all getting your place fixed up?”

I took a bite of toast and nodded. “Yeah, it’s coming along. We didn’t have much to do. A little bit of painting. Corina has been focusing on her old place, getting it ready to make into a bed and breakfast.”

“I just love that idea!” Mom said. “Now, is her mother still coming down next week for Thanksgiving?”

“She sure is.”

“Good! I can’t wait to talk to her about the wedding.”

I flashed my mother a smile. Before I focused back on my food, I caught Cord giving me a shit-eating grin.

“What?” I asked.

“Dude, I still can’t believe you’re getting married. I mean, Tripp I can see getting married ‘cause the bastard is getting old and all.”

“Hey!” Tripp said. “You do know I’m only four years older than you, Cord.”

Cord ignored Tripp and kept talking. “But man, oh man, never imagined Mitchell would be settling down.”

“He’s found love,” Trevor said with a laugh.

Steed grinned widely as he took a drink of coffee. “Y’all wait until it happens to you. You’re gonna be knocked flat on your asses.”

“Language, boys,” Mom purred happily. She loved having us all together.

“I’m not afraid of love.” Cord stated. “I mean, I don’t want to walk around looking like a Smurf all the time.”

My mother wore a confused expression. Leaning over, I whispered, “Let it go, Mom. Trust me.”

She nodded.

“When love comes walking through my door I’ll let it in. But it ain’t happening anytime soon,” Cord announced.

Trevor lifted his glass of orange juice. “I’m with Cord. This cowboy plans on living it up for as long as he can.”

Mom cleared her throat. “And by living it up, what exactly do you mean, Trevor?”

His smile dropped. “Um. You know.”

She folded her hands in her lap, and I tried like hell not to laugh. “No, I don’t know. Why don’t you fill your mama in on this plan. Seems to me like it’s time you found yourself a nice girl to date.”

Dropping his fork to his plate, he sat back. “I’m not going out with her.”

“Why not? Trevor, she is a sweet girl!”

“Who are we talking about?” Tripp asked, looking between Mom and Trevor.

Trevor pointed to Mom, grimacing. “Our mother has been trying to fix me up with one of her friend’s daughters. She went to some fancy school in Austin for high school, then went off to Boston for college and is now back in Oak Springs.”

“Fresh meat,” Cord mumbled under his breath. Trevor nodded.

“You boys know her,” Mom said. “Scarlett Littlefield.”

Cord sat up straight. “Scarlett Littlefield? I remember her. She was spit and fire. Didn’t she set a trashcan ablaze behind the courthouse?”

“That was her?” Trevor asked with a chuckle. “Hell, I remember her now. She was always arguing that it’s cruel to slaughter cows. Wasn’t she a skinny, plain-looking girl?”

“Trevor Parker!” Mom gasped.

“What? She was, Mom! I’m just speaking the truth.”

I finished off my pancakes and pushed the plate away. “Mom, you’re wasting your time. Trevor doesn’t know the meaning of date.”

“That’s right. Mom, I’m only twenty-four. You’ve got three older sons yet to settle down.”

Her brow rose. “Mitchell is almost there. I have three left.”

Tripp held up his hands. “Don’t look at me, Mom. I’ve got a career to focus on, and the last thing I need is a woman to add drama to my life. No, thank you.”

Mom stared at Tripp. She had that look in her eyes like she was up to something—sort of like when she knew Paxton was Chloe’s teacher and kept it from Steed. This couldn’t be a good thing.

Chloe came rushing into the kitchen. “I got a show goat! Granddaddy got me a show goat! I don’t know what he’s got to show…but Patches is gonna have another friend! His name is Lincoln!”

Steed’s jaw fell, and he looked over at our dad who had walked into the kitchen behind a very excited Chloe. “Dad. You didn’t.”

Our father stood there with his chest puffed, looking as proud as could be. “I sure did. It will be good for her to raise him and learn the responsibility of taking care of him.”