by Tessa Bailey
Last night when Riley dropped me off at the B&B, he reminded me about his grandma’s invite to church this morning and lunch at his parents’ house afterward. Luckily, I packed a few nice outfits and enjoyed sitting between him and Grandma Bishop at the service. We were both taken by surprise when the pastor asked us to stand as husband and wife so we could be introduced to the congregation as newlyweds. As soon as it was over, Riley apologized like crazy, but all I could do was laugh. However, the hard part isn’t over yet. I’m sure lunch with his parents will be interesting since it’ll be small and intimate with more questions.
“They don’t bite,” Riley reassures me as he leads me up the porch.
“I know. I just want them to like me,” I admit before we reach the front door.
“Just be yourself. You’re amazing.” He brings my hand to his mouth and presses a sweet kiss to my knuckles.
I roll my eyes and laugh. “How do you know? I could be a crazy chick who takes advantage of rowdy cowboys.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not arguing that. You’d almost have to be to accept one of Diesel’s dares, but look where it got us.” Before we walk in, he cups my cheeks in his rough palms and leans forward, painting my lips with his. I relax and melt into him until we’re lost in each other’s touch. When the front door swings open and Rowan clears her throat, we break apart.
“Get. A. Room,” she taunts, smirking as she leans against the doorframe with her arms crossed.
A blush covers my cheeks, and I tuck my hair behind my ears. Rowan is only a year younger than me, and just from chatting with her briefly at the party yesterday, I know we could be good friends. She gives no fucks about anything and speaks what’s on her mind, something I’ve quickly learned is a Bishop trait.
“Don’t be annoying,” Riley scolds, giving her a pointed look as we walk hand in hand into the house.
“Hey, Zoey, have fun at church this morning?” she asks.
“Yeah, it was fine. Kinda embarrassing, though,” I admit. I’m not used to so much attention, and it seems I’ve had a plethora of it since I arrived.
“You’ll get used to being called out. Privacy isn’t something any of us have around here. Considering the town is so small, everyone is in everyone’s business,” she explains with a groan. “Makes it pretty hard to do anything I shouldn’t because they all talk.”
“I can only imagine,” I say as Riley watches me intently. Damn, the man leaves me breathless with just one look. He sets my body on fire as he leads me into the dining room where his mother’s setting the table.
“Hey, Ma,” he says with a lazy grin.
“Oh, you kids made it.” She looks down at her watch. “And you’re actually on time. See, you’re already affecting him in a good way, Zoey,” she quips, and all I can do is smile.
Mr. Bishop walks in and gives River a sweet kiss on the cheek. I can’t get over how much Riley resembles his dad. They’re both so handsome, I’m tempted to ask if there’s something in the Texas water.
Rowan plops down at the table. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. But not Checkers. He’s a sweetie,” she says with a giggle.
I sit down next to her as Riley helps his mother bring out the food. My stomach growls as I look at the fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and green beans. Homemade dinner rolls that smell incredible are set right in front of me with a slab of butter. Riley shoots me a wink and asks me what I’d like to drink. Before we eat, Rowan says the blessing, and then we dig in.
“Oh, honey, you need to put more on your plate than that,” Mrs. Bishop orders.
“I’m going to gain twenty pounds being here.” I snicker but grab another chicken leg.
River smiles and nods. “I know what you mean. When I first moved here, the big dinners were an adjustment for me, especially since I didn’t come from a large family. However, we celebrate everything with a meal,” Riley’s mom explains.
“Mrs. Bishop,” I say, and she interrupts me before I can continue.
“There’s only room for one Mama Bishop on this ranch.” She chuckles. “But you can call me Ma just like everyone else.”
I grin. “Ma.” I try it out, and it feels surprisingly natural. “Where are you from?”
“Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” she answers and then talks about how she met Riley’s dad in Key West and how they fell madly in love. She left everything behind to move to Texas to be with him and start her new life here.
She grabs Alex’s hand. “It was the best decision I ever made.”
Riley places his hand on my lap, and I thread my fingers through his. It’s at that moment I recognize how similar our stories are, minus the being pregnant part.
“Mama Bishop was ready to kill Alex.” River chuckles.
“Yeah, Mama can be really scary. You should be glad this one’s your mom,” Alex tells Riley.
“Oh trust me, I am. Grandma doesn’t take no shit from anybody,” Riley replies.
“Language,” River warns.
“So you’re not pregnant…” Rowan says it as more of a statement than a question.
I chuckle, my cheeks heating. “No, I’m not.”
“You didn’t deny that you couldn’t be, so that means you two totally did it!” By the smirk on her face, I know she’s trying to get under Riley’s skin in front of their parents.
He picks up a dinner roll, then chucks it at her. “Shut the hell up!”
“Rowan, that’s enough,” River snaps, but Rowan’s more than amused with herself. The whole dynamic of their family is amazing. There are rules and a lot of work to be done, but just by spending this short amount of time with them, it’s easy to see how much they love each other. There are zero doubts about how close they are.
My family is on the other spectrum. First of all, I can name all of my cousins on one hand, and we don’t talk so freely around each other. The boundaries are high, but with the Bishops, they say what they mean and mean what they say. And damn, I already love them so much.
After I’m so full that I’m ready to burst, River brings out a homemade apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I don’t think I can take another bite, but after she hands me a plate, I shove down a spoonful. As soon as it hits my mouth, I release a moan because I’ve never tasted anything so good.
“Wow,” I say when it’s half gone.
“I know, right?” Riley smirks. “You’ll never go hungry ’round here.”
“I hope you don’t expect me to know how to bake,” I tell him, and everyone laughs.
“You’ll learn real quick, honey. Trust me, the extent of my meals were frozen pizzas and microwavable dinners. Mama Bishop taught me everything I know about Southern cooking. Her recipes are to die for. You’ll have to come over and write some of them down. Riley’s a great cook, though,” his mama brags. “When he wants to be, that is.”
“Ma, you can’t tell Zoey my secrets,” he jokes, but I do want to know them all.
“So you gonna tell us about this dare?” Rowan asks, looking at him and then glancing over at me.
I snort, wondering when someone was going to bring it up. “Well…” I turn and look at Riley, not sure how much he really wants them to know, considering it was a payback dare, but he doesn’t seem to care. He lays it all out from the strip club, to meeting at brunch, to Diesel being an idiot and daring us to get married.
“Oh, so you’re responsible for this, too?” Alex asks me with a cocky grin. “You agreed to this on purpose?”
I shrug, though I know he’s only teasing. “I’m often known for my bad decisions.” I glance at Riley with a smirk. “But this time, I think it was the right one.”
“When you know, you know,” his dad says, looking at his wife with so much admiration you’d think they just met yesterday. Their love is undeniable.
“That’s true,” Riley pipes in. “The moment I saw Zoey, I knew.”
“At the strip club?” I ask, searching his face, and he nods.
“So it was like divine intervent
ion?” Rowan asks, giggling.
“We all can’t have crushes on people who live in town.” Riley cackles, and her face distorts.
“Who? I don’t know who you’re even talking about.” Rowan stands and picks up the pile of dirty plates. She tries to hide her reaction, but I see a hint of blush on her cheeks. Riley doesn’t name-drop who he’s referring to, which I find cute, but I’m certain it’s someone they all know.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” Alex asks.
I glance over at Riley, who shrugs.
“I was gonna paint the barn before Grandma has a hissy fit. I know she can’t stand things to be out of place, especially since the B&B guests can see it,” he says.
“You’re right,” Alex agrees. “Not a bad idea, and it’s not supposed to be as hot this afternoon.”
“What about you?” River asks me. “Do you like gardening?”
“Love getting my hands dirty,” I admit, smiling.
“Mila’s been working at the school all week, so she hasn’t had any free time, but she mentioned planting veggies this afternoon if you wanna help,” she suggests. “I’m sure she’d love and appreciate the company.”
Riley glances at me. “Only if you want to. Don’t feel obligated.”
“I’d love that, actually. I just need to change first.” I’m so damn excited to be involved. I’ve always wanted a garden but never could have one due to the subdivision we live in, plus our backyard isn’t big enough. One time, I planted some herbs, but my mother was annoyed it didn’t match her décor, so after we used everything, I didn’t continue with it. Most of the time, I try not to get in her way.
After the dining room table is cleared and the dishes are washed, Riley says goodbye, and his mom pulls me into a big hug.
“You come back anytime. Our home is yours,” River tells me.
“Lunch was amazing. The pie was to die for,” I admit. “Thank you for the invite.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. Glad you’re a part of the family. Keep this one under control,” she tells me, pointing at Riley as we walk out the door.
Guilt surfaces as we walk to the truck. Riley’s introducing me to everyone as if I’ve already moved here permanently. After we climb in, my thoughts take over, and he senses my mood change.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, giving me his full attention.
I don’t even know how to say what I’m thinking without ruining everything. I blow out a breath and sigh. “I don’t want anyone to get too attached to the idea of us,” I admit as hard as it is.
He stares intently at me. “Why not?”
I tilt my head. “Because we’re in test mode, and nothing is set in stone right now.”
Riley grabs my hand and interlocks his fingers with mine, then kisses my knuckles. “I don’t want you to leave, Zoey. I know everything is still new, and eloping in Vegas is one of the most insane things I’ve ever done in my life, but I think what we have is special. The forever kind.”
I suck in a deep breath, and while I don’t disagree, it doesn’t stop me from worrying that we’re jumping the gun. “But what if it’s just the excitement of it all? What happens when the newness wears off? That’s the type of thing I think about.”
He searches my face, then grins. “Did you notice how my dad still looks at my mom after twenty-three years?”
I think about them and how their love seems to only exist in books. “I did.”
“That’s going to be us,” he says matter-of-factly, then leans over and kisses me. “See?”
“You’re presumptuous.” I laugh against his lips, enjoying the way he can’t seem to stop touching me.
“It’s one of my best qualities, baby.” Riley winks before starting the truck. He drives to the B&B and waits for me to change. Once I’m ready to go, he guides me to the garden where we find Mila bent over with buckets and small shovels surrounding her.
“Aunt Mila,” Riley calls out.
“Over here.” She stands and waves. I don’t know how it’s possible that all these Bishop women are so damn beautiful. I hope when I’m in my late forties, I look half as good as them. She takes off her gloves and goes to the wagon she has with supplies and grabs a jug of water.
“You two coming to help today?” she asks after she takes a long drink and wipes the sweat from her forehead.
“I am!” I say, and it’s hard for me to even hold back my excitement.
“Yeah, I’m gonna finish painting the barn before Grandma flips her shit.”
Mila gives him a look and grins. “I’m telling your mother you’re cursing in front of a lady, mister.”
“Aunt Mila. You know you’re my favorite aunt for a reason,” he tells her, and she laughs.
“True.” She hands me an extra set of gloves and a small shovel. “Imma put you to work, Zoey.”
“I’m so ready,” I admit, excited to play in the dirt.
Riley leans over and gives me a smack on the lips. “See you soon, sweetheart. Mila’s gonna kick that city girl right outta you.”
“Har, har.” I roll my eyes at his dig.
When we pull away, I look at him longingly. It’s hard to watch him leave, but damn, the view of him in those tight jeans is nice.
Mila clears her throat, bringing the attention back to her. “Ready?”
I nod, and she gives me instructions on what she’s doing, then puts her gloves back on.
“I’ve already added fertilizer to these two rows here, but now I need to plant seeds all the way down. If you want to start on this side, then I’ll start here, and we’ll get it done in half the time. Boy, am I happy you’re here.” She shows me how deep to dig, then sends me on my way.
We’re essentially working back to back, and I try to keep up with her as she plants.
“So how do you like it here so far?” she asks.
“Love it. It’s hot like Phoenix, but the people here are much nicer,” I say.
She chuckles. “Yeah, it is hot as hell here. The winters are nice, though. Still gets cold, and we sometimes get snow, but not often. Gotta love Texas. You’ll see what I mean.” She scoots down farther on the row. I swear she could run circles around me.
“Yeah,” I say, and the guilt comes rushing in again. If the time comes for me to leave, I know it’ll be difficult, but I won’t go until I know for sure what Riley’s and my future holds. I have a feeling I already know the answer to that, but it doesn’t make it less scary.
I love the smell of fresh earth and being able to plant something that will grow into food that everyone can enjoy. Plus, it’s so peaceful out here. In Arizona, it’s so busy, and there’s barely any downtime. I need this more than she even knows.
Mila stands and looks at what I’ve done so far. “You’re a natural. I’d totally be okay with you being my official helper if you like gardening.”
I nod and can’t help the obnoxious smile on my face. “I really do love it. It’s relaxing.”
“I agree. A decade or so ago, I suggested the ranch start a garden for fresh veggies, and now it’s grown into a full greenhouse with several side gardens. I wanted to do something more besides changing dirty diapers and running after toddlers, and the idea came to life. Though sometimes it’s hard to grow in this soil because of the rocks, I figured out it’s not difficult if you build the ground up with fertilizer first. It’s been a great addition, and there’s nothing better than fresh tomatoes, squash, and zucchini. Over there, I have tons of different herbs too. Basil, rosemary, cilantro. You name it, we have it,” she tells me proudly.
After we finish planting our rows of tomato seeds, we spread more fertilizer and potting soil and continue planting other types of vegetables. Mila asks me questions about my job and home life, and I actually feel comfortable answering.
“Yeah, my dad’s a doctor, and I’m the daughter who decided not to go that route.” The conversation flows easily, and I can see why Riley says she’s his favorite aunt. She actually listens.
Mila lets out a small laugh. “It’s almost funny in a way. You know, Riley’s Uncle Evan and Aunt Emily are doctors too. I’ve heard it was a big deal that Evan wanted to go to med school instead of working on the ranch. All the other brothers stayed here, which is what makes this family so special. They’ll accept you how you are and only want you to be happy.”
I look at her and feel tears well in my eyes. Acceptance is everything to me, considering my own family appears to have lost that ability. The fact that they’ve known me for two days and have already made me feel at home is almost too much to handle. My emotions threaten to bubble over at the thought of what reaction my parents will have when I’m forced to tell them.
When I came to the ranch, I never expected to fall in love with Riley’s family too, yet I am.
Chapter Eleven
Riley
Yesterday went better than I could’ve ever imagined. Since Zoey’s arrived, I haven’t been able to think about doing anything other than spending all my free time with her. Knowing she’s here to give us a real shot means everything to me. Not that I’m trying to convince her to stay, because it’s a choice she’ll have to make, but I want to show her what she’d be missing if she left for good.
I know my family’s shocked, but they’re the most supportive people I know. Zoey going to church with us yesterday meant a lot to my grandparents. It shows she’s trying, and that her reason for being here is legit.
When she’s the first thing on my mind when I wake up each morning, I know I have it bad. Hell, I won’t even deny it. I just wish she were in my bed with me so I could see her before work, but I don’t want to rush this either. Instead, I opt to text her.
Riley: I’ll be at the B&B at 9. Eat breakfast with me?
Zoey: That depends. Which cowboy is this?
I smirk, knowing damn well she’s messing with me.