“I’ll take that as a yes. What can I get you to drink? Wine, water, soda?”
“A soda would be great.”
Boden moved to the refrigerator and pulled it open. “Coke or Sprite?”
“Coke, please. What can I do to help?”
“Grab some plates from the cabinet over there.” He inclined his head to the left.
We moved in a slightly awkward synchronicity. It worked but was unpracticed, my nerves making my movements jumpy.
When Boden opened the oven, my jaw dropped. “How many people are you planning on feeding?”
He shrugged a little sheepishly. “I wanted to make sure I had something you liked.”
“Anything that combines cheese and carbs makes me happy.”
“Then I’d say we’ve got you covered.”
The understatement of the century. There was garlic bread, salad, eggplant parmesan, chicken parmesan, ravioli, and fettuccini Alfredo. “You’ll be eating leftovers for a month.”
“That’s not exactly a hardship.”
I eased into a chair at the dining table where Boden had set us up. “I do love a good leftover.”
Boden’s gaze tracked over me as I sat. “Is that chair comfortable? Do you want another one? Or a pillow?”
Warmth lit in me at his words. His thoughtfulness. “This is good. I just need the back for support.”
He nodded but didn’t look altogether convinced.
“So, how was your day?” My cheeks heated at the question. It screamed:married couple. But Boden didn’t seem to think it odd.
“Good, even though I had to have cereal alone.”
I squirmed in my seat as I reached for a piece of garlic bread. “I’m sure you survived.”
“Barely. Spent the morning watching Ramsey with his new mare.”
“I still can’t get over the fact that he welcomed you into his world.”
Boden dished a few different pastas onto his plate. “Welcomedmight be too strong a word. Tolerate would be better.”
“It’s more than I’ve seen him give anyone else other than Lor.”
Boden was quiet for a moment, seeming to search for the words he wanted. “He actually said you could stay here for a while if you’d like.”
“Stay on his ranch?”
“In my cabin. I’ve got the extra bedroom, and this place is off the beaten path. Good security from what I can tell. And you wouldn’t be alone.”
“You want me to move in here? With you?” My voice came out more high-pitched than intended.
Boden sent me a devilish grin. “You already told me you’d marry me for whoopie pies. What’s being roommates on top of it?”
Such a bad idea. The worst. Yet a piece of me would’ve loved to hole up in this cozy cabin with Boden and shut out the world. “I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”