Free Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right [The Chisholms of Texas 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Lea Kinkade Page A

other’s company and the delicious meal she had made.
    Abby planned on giving that pushy man a piece of her mind as soon as they were alone. Unfortunately, she had ridden with him here on the Harley, so she couldn’t get home on her own. He had even talked her into bringing along a change of clothes so she could spend the night at his house. That plan was out the window, that was for sure.
    The women adjourned to the family room after lunch while the men cleaned up and did the dishes. This practice had surprised Abby the first time she had accepted his mother’s invitation for a meal. Her own mother had done all the cooking and cleanup when she was a little girl, and Abby had helped when she had gotten old enough. It had seemed only natural for her to take over the cleanup duties after her mother had died. Her father would go into the living room with a beer, or several, and watch sports while she cleaned up after the meal and put things away. Eventually, Abby had taken over the cooking duties as well.
    Cassie offered Abby a tour of the house and she gladly accepted. Despite having been to the big house for a meal several times, Abby had never gotten a tour of the family home. Smiling mischievously, Cassie asked, “Do you want to see Dillon’s old room? It’s got some embarrassing baby pictures of him on the walls. I figure he owes you for not cluing you in to what it means for one of my children to bring a boyfriend or girlfriend to a family lunch.”
    “I am so sorry, Mrs. Chisholm,” Abby began to apologize for being there.
    “I know I’ve told you before, Abby. Call me Cassie. You have no need to be sorry. What are you sorry about anyway? That my son loves you and wanted to share you with his family?” she asked with an arched brow. “Dillon’s been waiting a long time for you. He’s been ready to settle down for a while now. Sown all his wild oats, as it were. I’m glad he’s found you. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you over the past couple of years.
    “I don’t understand. I thought from what I heard at the table that your children didn’t bring girlfriends or boyfriends to Sunday lunch. And how do you know Dillon loves me? It’s a little too soon for that,” said Abby.
    “Oh, honey. You are in some kind of denial, aren’t you? My Dillon would never have brought you here if he wasn’t in love with you. He’s never brought another woman to this house to meet me and his father. What’s the matter? Hasn’t he told you that he loves you yet?” Cassie asked very matter-of-factly.
    “Well,” Abby started, as she intended to be completely honest with Dillon’s mother. “I guess he has told me he loves me, but I thought it was just…” She trailed off, not wanting Cassie to know that Dillon had only told her he loved her while they were in bed together or on the way to getting there.
    “Pillow talk?” finished Cassie impudently. “Oh, don’t worry, honey. I know my boys aren’t monks. I know women find them nearly impossible to resist. They take after their father in that way.” Cassie chuckled when Abby turned beet red.
    “Well, I’m pretty sure my son wouldn’t tell a woman he loved her, no matter what the circumstances, unless he really did. I guess the question is, how do you feel about my son?” Cassie asked gently.
    “We’ve only been a couple for a little over a week, Mrs. Chisholm. I think it’s a little soon for me to know how I feel about your son.” Abby desperately tried to deflect the volatile question.
    “Oh, fiddlesticks,” said Cassie. “You’ve known each other more than two years. I knew I loved Dillon’s father a week after I saw him for the first time. I’ve seen the way you and Dillon can’t keep your eyes off each other for more than a few seconds when you’re in the same room. Look into your heart, honey, and tell me you don’t love my son,” she challenged Abby softly.
    At Abby’s thoughtful silence, she said, “Don’t get me wrong. I know it