I shake my head. "No, I just had some eggs and bacon."

"You didn't try these?"

"Well, I sampled them while cooking them. So I guess I have had pancakes this morning."

"They really are great. Thanks," he restates. Zings fill me until they get replaced with nerves. He asks, "Where's your ring?"

I pick the flashy diamond up off the counter. "Right here. It's hard to wear while baking. The diamond's so big it gets dirty, so I took it off," I state, then slide it on my finger.

His face falls at that.

I try to concentrate on cleaning, but I can't get how wrong the ring is for me off my mind. I need to work better at pretending to love it.

"Have a seat," Sebastian orders when I finish cleaning. He pulls a chair out next to him. Something about his gesture makes my heart pitter-patter. I wish it didn't, but it does.

I sit down, and he continues to eat while Ruby announces, "We need to talk about this wedding. Where are we going to have it?"

"Yeah, time's ticking," Evelyn adds.

"What about the country club?" Ruby asks.

Sebastian groans. "That's so cliche, Mom. Plus, you know I avoid that place like the plague."

Ava scoffs. "I never understood why you don't like it. I love the country club."

He snaps, "It's a gossip haven. Even the men's locker room is, but of course, you would like it."

"Hey, be nice," Ruby chastises.

My gut dives. I feel bad for Sebastian. He seems to get upset about gossip, and I assume it's because he's been the center of it. So I assert, "Let's cross the country club off. It doesn't feel right."

He places his palm on my thigh, and tingles race down my spine, right to my core. I challenge myself not to shift on my seat and squeeze my thighs tighter.

His mom suggests, "What about the cattle museum?"

I blurt out, "You have a cattle museum?"

Sebastian grunts. "Yep."

"Like a shrine to cattle?" I tease.

"Exactly. How ridiculous is that?" Sebastian answers.

"Tsk. It's more for the children to study parts of cattle. You know this, Sebastian," Evelyn reprimands.

"Still stupid," he mutters, shrugs, then shoves more pancakes in his mouth.

"Not really. I think the kids love it," Ruby claims.

"I used to love it," Paisley admits.

Willow complains, "I hated going there. It's all bones and cattle parts and ... Ugh." She makes a face and then adds, "There are enough cattle on this ranch."

"Agreed," Sebastian says, turning toward me.

I exchange an amused glance with him.

He scoots closer and slides his arm around my shoulder.

Everything in me goes hot, making me feel flustered. Flashbacks of last night when he had his body over mine haunt me. I stiffen, scolding myself for wanting to feel that again. I almost pull away from him, but he leans closer.