Cowboy All Night

ARIA PRESENTED THE meal in the traditional way, placing the skillet in the middle of the table on a hot pad. Once she’d served everyone, Rosie raised her glass. “To Aria.”

“To Aria!” everyone chorused.

She believed it was good, but their expectations were high thanks to Herb’s extravagant comments. “Maybe you should taste it first.”

“Don’t have to,” Herb said. “It looks and smells exactly like what we had on our honeymoon.”

“Must have been quite a meal,” Brant said. “I can’t remember what I ate yesterday, let alone years ago.”

“Because you don’t seek out gourmet food.” Cade waved a hand toward his plate. “Aria’s cooking classes are gonna turn Lexi and me into adventurous eaters. We’ll set stuff on fire and everything.”

“Sometimes even on purpose,” Lexi said.

“You’re all welcome to talk about food for as long as you like, but I’m ready to eat it.” Herb took a bite of his chicken.

Aria held her breath as Herb closed his eyes and made a little sound of pleasure deep in his throat. At least she hoped it was pleasure and not distress. Come to think of it, those sounds might be similar.

He chewed and swallowed. Then he looked at her and smiled. “Absolutely delicious, even better than I remembered. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She relaxed and picked up her fork. As everyone else dug in, she was bombarded with praise. The meal was a hit.

When Ringo sat expectantly beside his bowl, Cade put a small bite of chicken in it. After a curious sniff, the cat polished it off and fixed Cade with a demanding stare. “That’s all you get, buddy,” Cade said. “I’m being selfish tonight.”

Aria considered that high praise. During the months she’d been visiting her mare and sharing meals with the family she’d noticed that Cade normally shared generously with his cat.

Herb glanced over at Rosie. “This tastes so much like the meal we had in Jackson Hole that I feel as if I’m on my honeymoon again.”

“Uh-oh.” Brant looked at Cade and lifted his eyebrows. “Maybe we should all clear out of here after dinner, hmm?”

“Sounds like it to me.”

Rosie blushed bright red. “Oh, for pity’s sake. Nobody has to run off.”

“It’s fine with me if they go home early.” Herb’s eyes twinkled.

“Herbert!” Rosie hid her face in her napkin.

Aria had never seen anything so adorable. “I should make this for you two more often.”

“Just warn me when you do,” Cade said, “so I don’t accidentally drop by some evening and find them making out on the sofa.”

“Stop!” Rosie waved her napkin in the air. “Just stop!”

“Speaking of interrupting things,” Brant said. “I should probably sleep in my old cabin tonight. I figured Rosie would put me in one of the guest rooms, but under the circumstances...”

Rosie groaned. “This has gotten so out of hand.” She turned to her husband. “And it’s your fault.”

He looked unrepentant. “I know.”

“Ellison, you don’t have to settle for your old cabin,” Cade said. “I’ve decided to offer you my new one.”

“You have a new one?”

“Yes,” Lexi said, “because he’s very important.”

Cade grinned at her. “Yes, I am. Because I’m the guy supervising the students after hours, I now have my own cabin on the property within walking distance of what are now the student cabins. You can have my place while you’re here and I’ll stay at Lexi’s.”

Brant folded his arms across his chest. “And who’s supposed to ride herd on these teenagers while you’re kicking back in Lexi’s apartment?”

Cade pretended surprise. “You know, I hadn’t thought of that!”

“Uh-huh.”

“I guess it would be you.” Cade’s attempt to look innocent failed completely when he started to laugh. “Is that a problem?”

“Hell, no. I can sleep through anything. Enjoy your mini-vacation.”

“They won’t act up,” Rosie said. “You’ve never quite understood how much your size intimidates people who don’t know you.”

Brant laughed. “Are you saying I’m scary?”

“Don’t knock it,” Cade said. “Last semester’s kids were pretty good, but they tested me. You look like a nightclub bouncer. Once they meet you, they’ll behave.”

“I’m not crazy about playing the role of enforcer, but if it helps you out, brother of mine, I’ll do it. Is this cabin within walking distance of the bathhouse?”

“No need. It has plumbing.”

“Why didn’t you say that in the first place? For a cabin with plumbing I’ll gladly flex my muscles and look forbidding.”

“Thought so.”

“But I trust you didn’t mess with tradition and install plumbing in the old cabins.”

“Of course they didn’t,” Lexi said. “I think it’s ridiculous, but the guys all insist that walking to the bathhouse in the dead of winter builds character.”

Aria made a face. “And did all sixteen students from last semester agree?”

“Most did,” Cade said. “We had a couple of whiney pants in the beginning, but peer pressure is a wonderful thing. After the first week the spoiled babies realized they were losing points with the others and shut up about it.”

Lexi skewered him with a glance. “If trudging to the bathhouse is such a character-builder, how come you have a full bath with a tub and shower, plus a towel warmer and a heat lamp?”

“Oh, man.” Brant shook his head. “You’re getting soft, Gallagher. I’ll take the high road and not use those particular amenities while I’m here.”

“It’s almost June, bozo. You don’t need them in the summer. Besides, those extras aren’t for me. They’re for Lexi when she stays over.”

“Oh, no, they’re for him,” Lexi said. “I made some surprise visits this past winter and if I happened to catch him in the shower, he’d have them both cooking.”

“Just testing them out to make sure they were up and running for you, sweetheart.” Cade pushed back his chair. “And now that we’ve taken that subject and stomped it to death, let’s clean up these dishes so I can escort Brant over to the cabin he’ll call home.”