Mason (Remington Ranch Book 1) (Contemporary Western Romance) Read Free

me up?”
    “I'm not stupid, Dad. It'd take a half hundred weight of sugar to sweeten up an old sourpuss like you.”
    He tried to look angry, but she could see the laughter in his eyes. “Well, you can start with the muffins and maybe you can make me one of those apple pies for tonight?”
    Gina nodded, relieved. He was angry with her—and she understood why—but he loved her. She loved him. She wished there was some other way they could work things out. She didn't want to sell the place any more than he did. At least if they sold now, he might still come away with a little nest egg. If they waited much longer and things kept going the way they had been with the ranch, he could end up with nothing.
    He settled himself at the big table and she poured him some coffee. “So, what have you got planned for the day?” he asked.
    “I already told you. The realtor from town is coming at twelve-thirty and the other one from Bozeman is coming at one-thirty. I thought it would do them good to see that you're not sure who you're going to use yet. Make them put forth a bit of effort to be the one you choose.”
    He scowled at her. “I don't want to use either of them, Gina. I don't want to sell.”
    “Then what do you suggest we do?” She hated this. Hated making him sell up the only home he'd ever known. Hated asking him to leave his life. But what else could she do?
    His eyes shone as he looked up at her. It broke her heart to see him so sad. “Can't you come back, love? Come live here. We could keep the old place going between the two of us.”
    Gina felt tears sting her own eyes. “If I believed for a moment that was true, I'd do it. But you know we can't. Beef prices are still falling. Hay prices are still rising. We could bust our butts and still not be able to make it. You know that. I've been sending you as much as I can these last couple of years and you're still only scraping by. If I were to move here too, I wouldn't be bringing anything in.”
    He shook his head sadly. “I know. I just... Why don't you get them muffins out of the oven before you burn 'em?”
    Gina whirled around and rescued the muffins.
    “Are you going to take me over to Monique's birthday party next Sunday?”
    Gina's heart stopped. “Monique Remington?”
    Her dad gave a low chuckle. “Don't pretend you don't know who I mean, girl. How many Moniques do we know?”
    Her hands were shaking as she set the muffins on the rack to cool. Mason's mom was a wonderful lady. No one had expected the sophisticated French lady to last more than a year in the valley when she'd arrived as Dave Remington's new wife. That had been nearly forty years ago. She'd proved them all wrong and was as much a part of the valley as anyone. She'd raised four boys and worked the land alongside her husband whenever she was needed. She wore jeans instead of designer dresses these days and was lucky if she got to go shopping in Portland, let alone Paris. She still loved to throw herself a big birthday party every year though.
    Gina turned to set the plate of muffins in front of her dad. “I'll drop you off over there.”
    “You should come. You haven't been to Monique's birthday bash for years.”
    “Drop it, will you?” She was having a hard enough time being here at all. She was desperately hoping she wouldn't see Mason. The thought of going out to the Remington Ranch, of willingly being in the same room as him...? No. Just no!
    Her dad was staring at her. His eyes boring into her as if he could see what she was thinking. “You're going to have to make your peace with him someday.”
    “With who?” Gina busied herself at the sink, rinsing dishes and making sure her dad couldn't see her face.
    “With the man on the moon! Who do you think I mean? Mason. You stubborn little mare.”
    Gina determinedly kept her back turned to him. “There's no peace that needs to be made with him, Dad. I don't know why you won't let that go. We dated when we were kids. It ended years