“Although they both might,” Preston mumbled, “if you have a serious relationship with the woman who could ruin our ranch.”
Landon didn’t want to hear any more from his brothers about commitment issues or his decision to date Kitty. “You don’t have to worry about our ranch. At least not yet. Kitty seemed open to the idea of selling her claim on Coyote Glen to us. Come Monday, I’ll look into real estate agents who can give me quotes on what the place is worth.”
Dillon cut into his sausage. “I hope you’re not getting too attached to Kitty, then. If she takes your offer, your relationship with her will come to a quick end.”
Landon paused, fork midway in the air. He’d been so focused on the notion of working out an arrangement with Kitty that he hadn’t considered she would go back to Washington afterward. That wasn’t at all what he wanted.
“I told you,” Dillon said. “His girlfriends never last long.”
Jaxon shook his head at Landon. “You really didn’t think that through?” He gestured at Preston with his knife. “See, this is why you need a good education—so you don’t make rooky mistakes, like paying your girlfriend to leave.”
Preston took a sullen bite of his eggs. “Dating her is the mistake.”
“Nah,” Jaxon told Preston, “you’re looking at this from the wrong angle. It’s a good thing that Landon is dating Kitty because whether Landon means to influence her or not, he will.” It was clear from the way Jaxon was smiling that he found Landon’s dating predicaments entertaining. “Kitty will eat up his sweet talk. Or at least she would if Landon knew how to sweet-talk anyone.” Jaxon nodded at Preston and Dillon. “We may have to teach him something about romance.”
Landon set his napkin down on the table. His brothers were getting far too involved in his business. Maybe Kitty was right about the benefits of privacy. “I don’t need your help, thanks. My talk is sweet enough.”
Audrey had abandoned her show and skipped over to where Jaxon sat. “Why is Uncle Landon going to sweet-talk Kitty?”
“It’s grown-up stuff,”Jaxon said. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
How much had the girl overheard? The last thing Landon needed was for her to repeat something to Kitty that she shouldn’t. “Don’t go saying anything about the ranch to Miss Benton,” he told her.
“You mean ‘bout you influencing her?”
“Yeah, that.” Shehadheard. The girl was far too smart for her own good.
“Why not?” Audrey asked.
“Just don’t,” Landon said.
She scrunched up her lips, clearly unhappy about this instruction.
“It’s grown-up stuff,” Jaxon repeated, ending the topic.
Audrey huffed dramatically and took a drink of her milk. “I hate grown-up stuff.”
Jaxon ruffled her dark hair. “You should. Once you grow up, life is nothing but paying bills and taxes.”
Audrey replaced her cup on the table and skipped back to the family room. Jaxon lowered his voice and added, “With a few benefits along the way, like dating the girl next door.”
Landonand his brothers took their regular place at the left side of the chapel for the sermon. After their parents died, Landon promised his grandma he would take his brothers to church every week. For the most part, he’d kept that promise. As isolated as he and his brothers were on the ranch, church was a place where they could check in with people.
Kitty sat alone on a bench a few pews up, which was too bad. Church would be a good place to show Kitty what the community was like—full of kind, friendly people. . She wore a dark blue dress, and her hair was swept up in a knot—a look more suited to a high-powered business meeting than their usual church service. The congregation was mostly made up of ranchers, artists, young families, and retirees, but there were a few single people in their twenties, people who could become Kitty’s friends.
He wanted to sit next to her but figured that wouldn’t be the best way to keep their relationship a secret. Besides, he might have a hard time keeping his attention on the sermon if he smelled her perfume. The scent of it would give him flashbacks to last night and the way Kitty looked under the starlight.
After the sermon, Landon sauntered to the foyer, his eyes following Kitty. She read the bulletin posted on the wall, then stood there, looking a little lost. Usually, within minutes someone would’ve gone up to a newcomer and struck up a conversation. But not today. No one seemed to notice Kitty at all. No, that wasn’t right. A few people shot her looks and then turned away. She’d said that everyone in town was mad at her about the golf course. Was she right about that?
Kitty turned and caught his eye. He raised his eyebrows in question. The question being: Did she want him to come over and talk to her? He was starting to think that keeping their relationship hidden was a stupid idea. Let people talk. Let her parents disapprove. He wanted to spend time with her, not watch her from a distance. She gave a shake of her head. Dang. She still wanted to be incognito.
While he was trying to convey with his eyebrows that he didn’t care what people thought and she shouldn’t either, Mrs. Bassencherry, the chorister and self-appointed town crier, swooped over to him, full of consolation. “I heard what the Bentons plan to do with Coyote Glen.” She laid her hand on Landon’s arm. “Cal never would have wanted you to lose access to his wells.” Her gaze momentarily cut over to Kitty and she harumphed.
Better put a stop to this line of conversation. “You can’t blame Miss Benton for wanting to inherit her grandfather’s land. Besides, I’m hopeful we’ll be able to work out an arrangement.”
The woman hardly seemed to hear him. “She thinks she can run a ranch without any sort of experience.” She clucked her tongue. “You wouldn’t show up at your grandfather’s dental practice and think you knew how to fill teeth.”
Before Landon could comment, Mrs. Perry joined them. She had a daughter in grad school and every time the daughter came home, Mrs. Perry dropped not-so-subtle hints that Landon should ask her out. “You’re talking about Kate, aren’t you?” She tsked in disapproval. “Don’t you worry. She’s never going to make it on a ranch. She’s got city girl written all over her.”