By the time the cookout was over and Adam was driving Tiffani back to her home, she was exhausted. It was a good tired, though, that came from a busy week of working hard and unpacking. “I think I’m going to love it here. The ranch already feels like home.”

His hand covered hers where it rested on the seat between them. “I’m really glad. Now that I’ve met you, I can’t really imagine letting you go.”

She looked over at him, her cheek resting against the back of the seat. “Is that your father’s vision talking, or is that you?”

“They’re one and the same at this point. I wish I could differentiate.” He knew why his father had told him he would be married to her, because it made it so he’d hired her. But he wished he hadn’t known.

“Me too.” She watched him drive through the ranch toward her little cabin. Her first real home she didn’t have to share.

When he’d parked in front of it, he turned to her. “I’m not going to come in tonight.”

“I don’t recall inviting you,” she said, grinning at him.

“I worry about being alone with you when my feelings are so strong.” He sighed. “What time should I be here in the morning for our drive to San Antonio?”

“I’d say nine. I need to get the truck back to my uncle, and then we’re having lunch with Mom.”

“I’ll be here then.” He opened the door of his truck and got out, surprising her. Hadn’t he just said he wasn’t going to stay?

She got out and met him next to her front door. “I thought you weren’t coming in.”

“I’m not. I’m going to be a responsible escort, walk you to your door, and kiss you goodnight.” He reached out and removed her cowboy hat. “I can’t kiss you if our hats are bumping together.”

“So why not remove your hat instead of mine?” Her heart was beating faster at the mere idea of kissing him. How did he affect her senses so much?

“Because I wanted to be able to touch your hair when I kissed you.” He stroked a tendril out of her face and behind her shoulder.

“What if I want to touch your hair?”

“Are you just trying to be contrary?” He reached up and removed his hat, setting it on the top of his truck. “There, happy now?”

She nodded, her eyes meeting his. “I think I am. But I’ll be a lot happier after you kiss me.”

“Well, get over here, then!” He caught her by the waist and pulled her close to him, lowering his head to press his lips to hers. His hands stroked over her shoulders, smoothing her hair away from her face.

Her arms went around his neck and she held to him, feeling a tingling deep in her stomach. She could stand there and kiss him all night.

When he pulled back, his eyes were glazed. “Goodnight, Tiffani. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She watched him get into his truck and drive away, her knees weak. “G’night, Adam,” she whispered as his tail lights disappeared.

She went into the house and picked up the kitten, who was meowing at her. Snuggling him to her chest, she walked into her room and sat down at the edge of her bed. “Well, what d’ya think, Bobcat? Am I meant to marry him? Or is his daddy crazy? Or maybe a little of both?” She sighed. Answers would be fabulous.

* * *

Adam was there ten minutes before nine the following morning. Tiffani had a water bottle in her hand as she shut the door and walked to the driver’s seat. “You’re not going to let me drive?” he asked, frowning at her.

“Are you one of those macho guys who always thinks he needs to drive everywhere? If so, this does not bode well for our relationship’s future.”

“Not really. You just look tired, and I thought you’d want to be able to sleep if you got tired along the way.”

She handed him the keys without another word. “Are you always so good at talking your way out of trouble?”

“Not at all. I just tell the truth. One thing I learned from a very young age is that if your father has visions, lying is not a good idea. I have never been one to lie as a result.”

Five minutes later, they were on the road, heading toward Austin and San Antonio. “Where did you grow up?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Mom and I lived in an apartment complex. We lived in the same one for as long as I can remember. There was never a lot of money, so it was better that way.”

“And you went to college, I know. Pell Grant?”

“I had a full Pell and I also had a scholarship. I was valedictorian of my graduating class, so I had a scholarship to any public Texas university. I went to UT San Antonio, because it was close to my mom, and I could see her as often as I wanted.”

“And you majored in Business Administration?” He’d read it all on her resumé, but he wanted to hear from her how she’d decided on that as a major.

“Yeah. I started out as an English literature major, certain that I’d spend my entire life writing. It’s a lot easier to start a book than it is to finish one, so I started taking some business courses. My senior year I interned for a not-for-profit agency, and I loved it so much that I never stopped working there.”

“I think that’s great!”

She grinned. “I love it. They were having some issues with the management, and I was laid off from them right before I came here. It worked out perfectly for me.”

Adam nodded. “I never would have thought about working for a not-for-profit if my parents hadn’t run one my entire life.”

“What do your parents do now? Do they still work?”

“Dad kind of oversees everything. When Gideon marries, Dad’ll move to a small house on the other side of the ranch, and he and Mom will probably travel.”

Tiffani nodded. “Did your grandparents do that?”

“Yup. It’s always worked out that way for my family. The youngest son inherits the family business. The brothers sometimes help him run it, but it’s up to that generation. Dad’s brothers were never interested, so it was all him and Mom. I think we’ll all be involved until the day we die.” Adam shrugged. “I feel like it’s my calling to work with the troubled youths at the ranch.”

“I love that you’re doing what’s right by those boys.”

“It’s really the only life I’ve ever known. You really need to meet Kevin sometime. He’s a minister, and he serves a congregation in Idaho at this huge resort ranch. River’s End Ranch or something like that. Maybe we can go there on our honeymoon.” He didn’t look at her as he said honeymoon, knowing that she would roll her eyes or complain.

“There can’t be a honeymoon until there’s a wedding. There can’t be a wedding until there’s a proposal. All I hear are assumptions that I’m going to marry you. No one has mentioned a proposal at all.” Tiffani looked out the window away from him, trying to hide her grin. She knew she’d shocked him even without being an empath.

“Does that mean it’s time for me to ask?”

She shrugged. “I think it’s almost a foregone conclusion we’ll marry. At least for you it is.”

“I’ll think on it.” He kept driving, but his heart felt as if it was beating a mile a minute. She was willing to consider marrying him. He hadn’t thought it would ever happen. Of course, he’d known her less than two weeks, but it still felt like it would never happen.

When they got to San Antonio, they returned the truck to her uncle and picked up her car, no worse for wear. It was an old, beat-up Ford Fiesta that she’d been driving since she’d gotten her license. It wasn’t worth much, but it still ran well, and that’s all she’d ever cared about.

He looked at it for a moment. “I don’t know how I feel about you driving this thing.”

She got behind the wheel and started the car. “It doesn’t really matter how you feel. What matters is the car is mine.”

He got into the passenger seat, scooting it all the way back. “I feel like a pretzel.”

“Are you sure? Have you ever really been a pretzel to know what it feels like?”

“I have an imagination. And maybe I’m empathetic with random snack foods. You don’t know!”

“If you’re empathetic with snack foods, I cannot be seen in public with you. I have a rep to protect!”

He shook his head at her. “Just drive me to meet your mother, please!”

She picked up her phone to call her mother first. “Hey, Mom. We’re heading your way from Uncle Simon’s place!”

“I didn’t feel like cooking. Why don’t you meet me at that little Mexican place around the corner from me? You brought your Adam?” her mom asked.

Tiffani blushed, glancing at Adam to see if he’d heard. He grinned at her in a way that told her he’d not only heard, he’d liked it. “Yes, I brought my Adam. He brought me actually. I was tired this morning, so he offered to drive.”

“Out late?”

“The ranch does a cookout every Friday night. We went together and stayed out until it was over. There were s’mores and everything.” Tiffani knew that her mother loved anything chocolate as much as she did.

“I should have been there!”

“I sure wish you were closer.” Her mother had been a cafeteria lady for the San Antonio school district for as long as she could remember.

“I do, too. We’ll see each other often, though. An hour and a half is an easy drive.”

Tiffani sighed. “For me.” Her mother hadn’t driven in her lifetime. She had always used public transportation. “All right. I think we can be at the restaurant in twenty. Does that work for you?”

“It does. I’ll see you and your Adam then.”

Tiffani looked over at Adam, who was openly grinning at her. “I’m your Adam, huh?”

“I never said that. My mom did.”

“Well, I like it. I want to be yours.”

“We’re going out for Mexican,” she told him in a desperate attempt to change the subject. “I know you like Taco Bueno, but do you like other Mexican?” His mother had made Mexican for them, but she needed to get him talking about something else.

“I’m a Texas boy. I have Tex-Mex running through my veins.”

She laughed, shaking her head as she pulled out onto the street.

When they arrived, her mother was standing outside the entrance of the restaurant, waiting for them. After Tiffani parked, she hurried to hug her mother. It had only been a week since she’d seen her, but it felt like an entire lifetime had passed. “Mom, this is Adam McClain. He’s the counselor on the ranch.”

“A counselor? Didn’t I tell you to hold out for a doctor?” Her mother’s eyes were twinkling as she said it, making it clear she was joking.

“Well, I am a psychiatrist, Mrs. Simpson. Does that work for you?”

Mrs. Simpson laughed. “I didn’t mean it! I was just kidding!”

“That’s all right, Mrs. Simpson. I know we’re meant to be together, so nothing you say can dissuade me.” Adam reached over to take Tiffani’s hand in his.

“You know that after two weeks’ acquaintance? You move awfully fast, Adam.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I saw what I needed and I grabbed it. It’s only smart!”

“I guess so…” Mrs. Simpson looked a bit nervous after that. “Well, are we going to eat Tiffani’s favorite Mexican food? She’s begged to come here for every birthday since she was a little girl.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Tiffani led them in, a little nervous about how her mother and Adam would react to each other. They were led to a booth at the very back of the restaurant. The waitress didn’t bother to ask Tiffani or her mom what they wanted. Only Adam.

“Dr. Pepper sounds good.”

“I’ll be right back.” She hurried away, returning with ice water for Tiffani and her mother and a Dr. Pepper for Adam.

“So tell me about the ranch! I want to hear about your little house!”

Tiffani grinned, pulling her phone from her pocket. “I took pictures, because I knew you’d want to see. It’s little, but it’s good for me. And guess what! I got a kitten! His name is Bob.”

“Bobcat? Oh, Tiffani. There are times when your sense of humor makes me wonder about you.” Her mother shook her head. “It’s a good thing I love you so much, and I’m not changing my mind any time soon.”

Tiffani grinned, looking over at Adam who was watching her. “I love the sour cream beef enchiladas.”

“Those sound good! I might try some.” He barely glanced at the menu, enjoying watching her with her mother more.

Tiffani pushed her phone across the table. “Check out the photos of my little place. I finally got everything unpacked and the wall hangings up. I want to live there forever and never move.”

Adam nudged her with his elbow. “It’s a little small for a family.”

She blushed and refused to respond. He needed to quit teasing her with her mother right there. Thankfully the waitress came back then, and she was able to give her lunch order.

When she was done, Adam shrugged. “I’ll have the same thing. Sounds good.”

After her mother had ordered, she pushed the phone back. “The house is very cute. I think you’re really enjoying the ranch.”

“I am. I have some great ideas for their big fundraiser in October of next year, and I really love living there. I’m going to nail down a taco truck this week.” Tiffani leaned forward. “Do you believe the day I started the driver of the taco truck that has been coming to the ranch for the event for over ten years called to say he couldn’t make it? I am not going to do this event without a taco truck!”

Her mother laughed. “If all else fails, bring me down. I’ll make tacos for you.”

“But that wouldn’t be the same. Do you realize I’ve never in my life eaten a taco off a taco truck? It’s like I’m deprived or something!”

“Your life is so rough. I don’t know how you’ve lived to be twenty-eight with no tacos from a taco truck. Did you check to see if Taco Bueno has a taco truck they can send?”

Tiffani looked at her mother with shock. “I haven’t! What a brilliant idea! I’ll call them first thing Monday morning.” She looked over at Adam. “Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could get a Taco Bueno truck? I could have anything I wanted!”

“You do realize that the taco truck is for the people coming to the event and not for your personal food choices?” Adam couldn’t help but tease her a little.

She shrugged. “There are some things that can be both, and the taco truck is one of them.”

By the time they’d eaten, her mother was smiling. When Adam excused himself for a moment, Mom leaned forward. “You’re so right. He’s the right man for you. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

Tiffani smiled. “There’s not one in mine either. He’s the man for me.”

“Have you told him that yet?”

“And let it go to his head? Are you kidding me?”

“What would go to my head?” Adam asked from behind her.

“You always assume we’re talking about you. Adam, Adam, Adam. There are other men in this world.” Tiffani slipped out of the booth and faced him. “Maybe someday you’ll realize that.”

“There are no other men for you.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, and she wasn’t certain if she should be thrilled or embarrassed.

Turning to her mother, she asked, “Do you want us to give you a ride home?”

Her mother shook her head. “It’s a beautiful day for a walk. Besides, I don’t want to have to fold myself up like a pretzel in the back seat of that tin can you call a car.”

Adam laughed. “Mrs. McClain, I was trying to decide if I liked you until you said that. Now I know I do. You are wonderful!”

“Call me Sharon. I can be wonderful on my own two feet.” She hugged them each goodbye, whispering, “Be good!” in her daughter’s ear before disappearing out the door.

“She walked?” he asked.

“Mom hasn’t driven for as long as I can remember. She says she used to all the time, but I’ve never seen it. She is satisfied with public transportation, and I drive her where she wants to go.”

“She even grocery shops that way?” He was surprised. Where he lived that just wasn’t possible.

“She used to. There’s this fabulous thing called grocery delivery now. She does all her shopping online and the food magically arrives. It makes her happy, and she doesn’t have to have a car.”

He paid for their meal, and they walked to the car together. “Do you want me to drive back?”

She shrugged. “I was planning on it, but there’s a little more room in the driver’s seat than any of the others. It might be best if you didn’t pretzel yourself and sat there instead.”

“That sounds wonderful to me!” He took the keys from her and carefully moved the seat back before even trying to sit. “Why do you drive a tin can?”