She shooed him back until his toes were at the edge of the tile. “Out of my kitchen or there’ll be hell to pay.”
He obediently watched as she fluttered around the kitchen, pausing every so often at an appliance or by a cutting board, never in one place for long. Like a bee moving from flower to flower, constantly in motion.
“Is everything going to be ready?”
Emma shook her head. “The boy brings a girl home and acts like suddenly I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I’m sorry, Emma.” He chanced losing a limb and stepped behind her to kiss her cheek. She scowled, but leaned into the gesture. “I’m nervous, okay?”
“I know. Which is why you’re still breathing while you stand in my kitchen. Out.”
He gave her a grateful smile and headed out, pausing at the doorway to ask, “You sure you won’t eat dinner with us?”
“Buncha young people talking too loud and constantly using those i-whatevers you have attached to your hand all through dinner? I think not.” She wiped a strand of hair back with her wrist, never losing her grip on the butcher’s knife she wielded with expert care. “Besides, who would keep Seth occupied upstairs?”
Good point. “Seth will probably sleep through dinner anyway.” It was one of the main reasons he’d asked Jo to dinner so late in the evening. He wanted a chance to spend time with her on his turf, but knew having a typical family dinner would scare her off. There was nothing like a teething ten-month-old who currently hated his high chair and drooled like he was paid by the ounce to dampen the mood. So it would just be the five of them: Peyton and Red, him and Jo, and Bea.
Bea, of course, had no problem being a fifth wheel. As far as she was concerned, it meant she got more attention. Always a win with little sis.
“If he gets to be too much, just let me know.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “I had you three how many years ago? I know what I’m doing. Now if you want dinner to actually start on time—which is hours too late, if you ask me—you need to go and leave me in peace.”
“Thanks, Emma,” he said and left her to finish up.
He found Red at the dining room table, setting placemats down.
“How’d you end up setting the table?” Trace inched a candlestick to the left, then stepped back. Too far. He inched it the other way.
Red watched him, one brow cocked. “You need a ruler?”
“Do you have—bite me.” He flipped Red off and stepped away from the table before he started rotating all the placemats a quarter turn or some equally ridiculous shit. “Sorry for wanting things to be nice. Not all of us can woo our women in the barn.”
“Takes real skill,” Red agreed. “Maybe someday you’ll be man enough.”
Trace kicked at him, but Red was already out the door and heading toward the living room, laughing.
“What could he possibly have to laugh at?” Peyton strolled in, looking like a hot mess.
“Why haven’t you showered? Jesus, Peyton.” He checked his watch. “She’s going to be here in like ten minutes.”
“Jo’s not stuck up. She won’t care what I look like. It’s just us at home. We’re not carpooling to the Ritz or anything.” She sat down in her usual chair and reached for a carrot from the plate Emma had set out.
He debated slapping her hand away and knew that was too much. “I give up. I’m going to go watch for her… .” He listened a moment. “That’s her. Do not embarrass me, or I’ll be forced to break out The Pictures.” The ones from her Rodeo Princess days. Oh, yeah. That was a real threat.
Peyton smiled smugly. “I burned them.”
“Not the copies I hid in my room before I ever left home.” He had the pleasure of watching her face drain of color before he headed to the front door.
He stepped out on the porch and waited for Jo to climb out of her car. She did, a simple skirt flowing around her knees. She adjusted one strap of her tank as she straightened and ran a hand over her hair. Down again, the way he liked it. A river of black silk just begging for his fingers to play with. When she looked up and saw him, she smiled. But the gesture held a hint of wariness that he wanted to erase.
“Hey.” Trace held out a hand and led her up the last two steps. “Welcome to the ranch.”
She glanced around, taking in what little she could see in the last light of day. “I’ve never been here before. Looks huge.”
“It’s a good size, though not the largest in the state by far. Definitely not what we might call huge.” He led her through the front door and waited while she took in the house. He tried to see it through her eyes.