Marrying The Rancher. Roz Fox Denny

his discomfort endearing, Tandy slanted him a smile. “Raising curious, precocious kids can be a challenge. Scotty, let me unload these cookies to the cooling rack and put the next pan in to bake before you take any.”

      As she worked, she eyed her son. With her having been away, she worried that he hadn’t received many gifts for no reason. Thanks to Wyatt, right now Scotty was dancing on air. It buoyed her spirits to see him so exuberant.

      “I suppose you can call Mark. Let’s see, it’s still early enough in Honolulu so you won’t interrupt their dinner.” She checked her watch as she deftly set the timer again.

      “I can take his picture if you’d like,” Wyatt said. “I’ll set up his call if you need to refill that pan. I’d hate for you to burn those great-smelling cookies.”

      “That would be helpful, thanks.” She wedged her phone out of her pocket.

      Wyatt reached for it and their hands tangled. Tandy almost dropped the phone. He caught it, and she mumbled, “Mark’s number is under Lucinda, his mom’s name.”

      Touching her arm briefly as he slipped by her, Wyatt glanced around the small kitchen. “How about you go back and sit on the couch, Scotty? You can unroll the poster, hold it to one side and have the book on your lap. That way we’ll get everything in one photograph.”

      “Yay, yay, hurray! Mark will be so jealous. That’s the right word, isn’t it, Mama?” Stopping at the door, Scotty flung the question back over his shoulder. “That’s what Mark used to say about me when he pinned up new surfing posters.”