Chapter ELEVEN-ARLISS

I’d just hung up with Gramps, who insisted, for the third time, that he could make his own damn toast.

“I’ve been feeding myself since long before you were even an idea,” he grumbled.

I already told him I was with Kian, or as Gramps knows him, the Romeo cowboy I met at the rodeo last month. We don’t have secrets from each other, and I am well over the age of consent.

“Don’t worry about me. Mrs. Stevens is coming at noon to play Bridge with her famous tuna casserole. You just go handle whatever hot mess you got going on over there, and when you’re done, bring the boy by. Gotta make sure he’s up to par for my grandbaby.”

My heart squeezed.

But I kept it light.

“Play nice, Gramps. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Truthfully?

I wasn’t sure I’d make it back today.

Because once Kian had finally managed to herd the last goat, duck, and chaotic Bear cub out of his cabin, he’d started picking up the wreckage like it was just a normal morning.

Meanwhile, I bolted for the shower like a coward.