Bringing a hand to my chin, I scrub my fingers over my beard as I remember a similar conversation we had at the bar. “Marry you off, huh? To who? What happened to becoming a nun?”

Maize blinks hard, then shakes her head as if she has to remind herself not to react. “What? No, not like an arranged marriage or anything. But when you work on the ranch, it doesn’t make sense to move away. Especially when I work as much as I do,” she explains, leading me back toward the staircase. It’s amusing she ignored the nun part and is still playing her little game.

“Doesn’t hurt that it’s cheap rent.”

“That’s definitely a perk,” she says as we enter the kitchen, and when she checks the time on the wall, she adds, “Crap, I gotta go to the B&B and set up the desserts.”

“Let me help. It’ll go faster,” I offer, not giving her room to argue.

She sighs. “Alright, fine.”

After Maize announces we’re leaving, they tell us they’ll meet us there in twenty minutes. It will give me more alone time with her.

Since the B&B is only half a mile from her house, she leads me to a side by side, and we climb in. The silence slices through the air on the way over, and once we enter the kitchen, she gives me orders, and I quickly step into action.

“Pies over there, cakes and cookie bars on the other table, then fruit on the third one.” She pulls items from the fridge, and my eyes widen at the assortment of desserts laid out.

“Shit. You feedin’ an army?” I grab two pecan pies and inhale the sweet aroma.

“Just wait till you see all the Bishops together. There are a lot of us…” she says. “Then add in the ranch hands too.”

As I help her move tables around the dining area, I wonder how everyone will fit in here, then remember the rocking chairs and tables on the back porch.

Once we’ve set the desserts out, Maize puts the serving utensils in each dish and directs me to find the dessert plates. Then I grab the whipped cream and start the coffee maker as ordered. Once I’ve done what she’s asked, I head out of the kitchen and hear her talking to someone.

“Elle! It feels like it’s been forever.” Maize hugs her, and I immediately see the Bishop resemblance. Elle has long, dark hair and features similar to Maize.

“Came to see if you needed help, but I see now that I’m interrupting…” Elle looks me up and down, and Maize quickly turns around.

“No, no. Gavin’s training horses with Jackson and Kiera. Mom invited him to dinner.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Nice to meet you, Elle. I’m Gavin.” I hold out my hand, and she quickly takes it.