Melissa Senate - Rust Creek Falls Cinderella

“I’m so sure you can, honey,” she said, her voice lowering an octave. “I’m Vanessa and I was hoping to hire one of you tall, strong, strapping cowboys to teach me how to ride a horse. I’m a town gal, so no horse or land of my own.”

Xander knew there were plenty of horse farms and ranches in the area that offered riding lessons. The Ambling A wasn’t one of them.

He had a feeling this woman was here for a cowboy and had zero interest in horses, if her very high heels and short dress were any indication. But any woman in the market for a Crawford was looking for a wedding ring. So despite the fact that Vanessa was his type to a T, he’d have to sit this one out.

“Ah. We don’t offer riding lessons, but perhaps one of my brothers can give you the rundown on who does.”

“I’d be happy to hear it from you,” she said, puckering her glossy red lips a bit.

“I’m not really one of the eligible Crawfords,” he said.

She frowned. “I don’t see a ring. Unless you’re spoken for.”

Lily’s face flashed into his mind. His chef. That was weird. “Well, I do seem to be seeing someone, unexpectedly,” he added, for no godly reason. Then realized that was why Lily had popped into his brain. She was his way out!

“For goodness’ sake, why didn’t you say so and save me the trouble of flirting?” She fluffed her hair. “Any of your eligible brothers around?”

He smiled and mentally shook his head. A woman who knew she wanted. Had to give her credit for the chutzpah. “Let me see if Finn knows about riding lessons. Be right back.”

“Finn? I do like that name,” she said, peering around.

“Hang on a sec.”

He went around the back of the sprawling ranch house to find the Crawfords just finishing up. “Finn, there’s a woman here to see you.”

Finn perked right up. That was a line he liked. “Say no more,” he said before dashing around the house.

Xander smiled. That was easy. He went back into the barn and got down to work, ignoring the giggles coming from Vanessa as Finn flirted.

A flash of freckles and determined green eyes came to mind again. He should let Lily know his family loved the French dip, too, right? She’d probably appreciate hearing that. He could stop by the Manor and say it loud enough for her boss to hear; who couldn’t use a gold star at work from a happy customer?

Yeah. He’d stop by and let her know. A good friend would do that, and he had a feeling that was exactly what he and Lily were going to be: good friends. That was it. Sorry, Matchmaking Dad.

* * *

The Hunt house was a big white colonial not far from the center of town. Xander glanced up at the second-floor windows, wondering which room was Lily’s. He had a vision of himself standing out here at night, tossing pebbles at her window to get her to come out as if they were in high school or something.

Something about this very young woman had him all discombobulated.

He shook his head to clear it and rang the buzzer on the side of the blue door. He liked the color; it was a deep-sea blue that might be interesting for the barns at the Ambling A.

An auburn-haired guy in his midtwenties opened the door. One of Lily’s three brothers, he presumed. He had on a pristine Kalispell Police Academy uniform, including a cap.

“Hey, you’re one of those Crawfords,” the guy said, his hazel eyes intense on Xander.

“I am. Xander Crawford, specifically. I haven’t broken any laws, have I? I haven’t been to Kalispell yet.”

The guy scrunched up in his face in confusion, then glanced down at his uniform. “Oh, this. I’m on my way to school. Not a cop yet, but I will be in a few months.” He eyed Xander, then looked behind him into the house, then turned back. “Got a minute?” he asked. “I was hoping to run into one of you, but I’m rarely in town during the day.” He extended his hand. “Andrew Hunt.”

Okay, now Xander was confused. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said. “So what can I—we—do for you?”

“I’m wondering about your overflow,” Andrew said, stepping out onto the porch and shutting the door.

“Overflow?” Xander repeated.

“I heard your father’s trying to get his sons married off and offered a wedding planner five million bucks to get the job done. A buddy told me that since then, all the places he goes in town to meet women have dried up. Even at Ace in the Hole, our place to play darts and always meet a few ladies, even if we already know them, there was no one there last Saturday night. Just a bunch of guys. Man, it was depressing.”

“ One million,” Xander corrected—quite unnecessarily, but still. “And I see the problem.”

“So, I was thinking, if you’re on one of your dates and it doesn’t work out, maybe you could mention that you know a great guy in the police academy and set something up for after six, any night.”

Wait, now Xander was a matchmaker? Good Lord. “Look, Andrew, I—”

“I know, I know. But listen. I’m about to have my act totally together. I’m ready to settle down. And the playing field has been decimated. Your faults, dude.”

Xander had to give him that. “I see your point.”

“I’m just saying, if you want to mention my name and availability to any lovely lady you’re not interested in, I’d appreciate it.”

“I’m not interested in anyone ,” Xander said—quickly. “This is my dad’s thing. Not mine.”

“Well, just think of me, leaping over walls at the academy and studying for my procedure quiz, a forty-five minute commute each way, all with the intended goal of serving and protecting our communities one day.”

Xander sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. What’s your type?”

“Nice,” Andrew said. “I like nice. My last girlfriend? Not so nice. Pretty, but ooh boy.”

Xander laughed. “Got it. Nice.” He shook his head at that one. “I’ll keep this between us.”

“Oh, no need,” Andrew said. “I’ve got the family on it, too, but they’re no help. You’d think having a sister a couple years younger would mean lots of introductions and dates, but nope. Lily’s either in the kitchen here or in the kitchen at the Maverick Manor or hunched over her laptop taking her online class. Thanks, Lily.” He smiled.

“Speaking of Lily, I’m actually here to see her.”

Andrew tilted his head. “Really? Why?”

Xander stared at him. “We’re friends.”

“Oh. Yeah, I figured you two couldn’t be dating. I mean, she’s super single, but I can’t even imagine her throwing her name into the hat to land some rich cowboy. No offense.”

“None taken,” Xander said with a smile. He could imagine how Lily had her hands full with this crew if the other three Hunts were anything like Andrew.

“So you’re on board?” Andrew asked. “With the overflow?”

“Sure,” Xander assured him.

“Awesome.” Andrew tipped his Kalispell Police Academy cap at Xander, then threw open the door. “Lily!” he bellowed. “Someone’s here to see you!” He headed past Xander to the driveway. “Later, dude,” he added amiably, jogging down to his car.

Wondering what he’d just gotten himself into, Xander watched Andrew drive off.

“Be right there!” he heard Lily call from somewhere in the house.

It was crazy, but the sound of that voice? His heart skipped a beat.

* * *

How many times had she told Andrew not to scream from one room to another? Lily was in the kitchen, working on a vegan entrée she hoped to introduce as an option at the Manor so that all their guests were covered, and she’d heard Andrew’s loud voice as though he were standing right beside her.

She took off her apron and washed her hands, figuring her visitor was Sarah, whom she’d texted to mention that Xander had come in for lunch earlier and had barged right into the kitchen to see her. She’d asked if that could possibly mean he did like her that way , even when all signs pointed to a friendship only.