Cupcake Cutie (Plus Size Romance 1) by Lynn Cooper Page B

“Anything injured?”
    “Other than my pride, no.”
    “Good.  Okay, Ella, I need you to turn loose of the tree trunk and lean forward when I tell you to.  I’m going to position my right shoulder under your chest and lift you into position.”
    Oh, shit! He knew her name.  He had been listening to Beatrice.
    “Uh, lift me into position?”
    “Yes. How else can I carry you down?”
    “ Carry me?”
    He chuckled.  “Is there an echo in this tree?”
    “No.  Sorry.  I just don’t want you getting a hernia or worse.  I—I mean—you know—since I’m so heavy and all.”
    “The day I can’t throw a beautiful, brown-eyed woman over my shoulder and carry her down a ladder, darlin,’ is the day they best throw dirt over this old boy.”
    Ella couldn’t stop a huge grin from spreading across her apple cheeks.  Her heart was leaping with joy.  The best looking man she had ever seen thought she was beautiful, and he called her “darlin’” to boot.  Leaning all her weight on him would be no problem now.  His deep, southern drawl and honey-coated words had effectively melted her bones.
    Blushing, Ella said, “Okay, just tell me what to do and when to do it.” 
    “Alright, get ready.  On the count of three, fall across my shoulder.”
    Ella whispered, “One, two, three—oh, you really are strong.  I can’t believe I trusted you enough to do that, cowboy or fireman or whatever you are.”
    For the second time during their conversation, he chuckled.  And the deep timbre resonated out of his chest into Ella’s.
    “I guess I’m both.  Ever heard of the Rowling Wyman Ranch?” he asked, steadily climbing down the ladder as though she weighed no more than a feather.
    Ella couldn’t keep the admiration from her voice.  “I’ve only lived here a few months, but that ranch was one of the first spots I noticed.  I think everyone in Pleasant View has driven by that place at least a dozen times.  I’ve never seen such a beautiful spread.  Green, rolling hills peppered with cattle as far as the eye can see.  A gorgeous main house with rows of bunk houses and a huge red barn. Oh, wait! Are you Rowling Wyman?”
    Slowly he let her body slide down his until her feet were safely planted on the sidewalk.
    “No.  I could never fill those boots.  Rowling is my dad.  I’m his oldest son, Decker.”
    “Oldest?”
    “Yep.  Not too old though, only thirty-five.  I have—”
    Before he could finish his thought, Beatrice impatiently tapped her cane on the concrete.  “What about my Sampson?”
    Looking sheepish, he said, “Right.  I’ll get him now.”
    Decker had no more than placed his foot on the ladder when Sampson came scampering down the tree.  Arrogantly, he jumped from the lowest limb, landing on his feet and pranced over to Beatrice. 
    Decker scooped Sampson up and handed him to his owner. 
    Beatrice mumbled a barely-audible thank you before shuffling her way across the street.  They watched until the old woman and her cat were safely inside the house.
    Ella cleared her throat. “You were saying?”
    “Oh, yeah, I have a younger brother, Rylan. He’s twenty-nine and works the ranch, too.”
    “I bet he’s married just like you and your father.”
    Talk about fishing for information.  Instantly, Ella longed to reel those words back inside her mouth.
    “That’s a bet you’d lose, little girl.  Why? You in the market for a cowboy?”
    Heat filled her face.  She nervously bit her bottom lip.  “I might be.”
    Decker raised his eyebrows.  “Well, Dad’s a widower.  My mom died a few years ago from breast cancer.  She was his heart, and it’s not likely he’ll ever love another.  Rylan’s probably closer to your age, but he’s engaged.  He and Olive Boone are gettin’ hitched this summer at the ranch.”
    “I’m sorry about your mom.  But I’m happy for your brother.  I’m sure his wedding will be lovely.  Well, I should get back inside, and you should