Ex, Why, and Me by Susanna Carr Page A

Michelle,” Ryan said. Everyone looked at her and he smiled when he saw Michelle’s blush deepen. She refused to lift her head as she pushed the food around her plate.
    “I enter beauty pageants all the time,” Brandy announced unexpectedly. “You should see my talent. It’s with the hula hoop, but I bring in rhythmic gymnastics moves.”
    “I remember that,” Annie said as she entered the dining room, ready to serve dessert. Ryan’s mouth watered at the aroma of baked apples. “It was when you competed for Miss Horseradish a couple years back.”
    “Yes-s-s.” Brandy paused and slid a look Michelle’s way. “But that pageant is minor league compared to the others in the area. Most serious beauty queens treat it as a warm-up. This year I finally reached my goal and was crowned Miss Beefalo.”
    Michelle gagged on her water and put the crystal goblet down quickly.
    “Beefalo?” Ryan asked. “Don’t you mean buffalo?”
    “Beefalo is a cross breed of cattle and bison,” Clayton answered. “Bison, as you know, is frequently mistaken as buffalo.”
    Clayton was beginning to really annoy him. Ryan returned his attention to Brandy. “And beefalo is a step up from horseradish?”
    “Duh.” She tossed her head, her red hair floating around her face as she giggled. “Livestock is way more important than a root vegetable.”
    “It’s a food chain thing?”
    “No, silly.” Brandy leaned forward. “Livestock pageantries usually offer a bigger crown.”
    Michelle slapped her napkin against her mouth.
    “It’s the least they could do,” Brandy confided, placing her hand on Ryan’s wrist. “When I was competing for Junior Miss Swine—”
    Michelle choked and coughed. Hard coughs that made her eyes water. Or maybe she was coughing to hide the fact that her eyes were already watering.
    “They made us do the one-hundred-yard dash riding a pig. Can you believe it?”
    Ryan didn’t glance in Michelle’s direction when he heard her chair legs scraping the floor. “Is that right?”
    “I won that race.”
    “I have no doubt.” Otherwise she wouldn’t have mentioned it.
    The redhead leaned forward, giving him a front-row view of her ample cleavage. “Do you know how hard it is to ride a pig bareback?”
    He was at a loss. “I’m guessing not as hard as getting a saddle on them.”
    Michelle bolted up. “Excuse me,” she said, her mouth against her hand as if she was covering a yawn. “I didn’t realize how tired I am. All the events really wore me out. I think I better turn in.”
    “The hunt organizers picked up your overnight bag from your mom’s house and brought it here,” Annie said as she headed back to the kitchen. “I put it in the first room to the right.”
    “Thank you. Good night everyone.”
    “And, Ryan,” Annie added, “I put your backpack in the second room to the left.”
    Ryan looked at Michelle and she couldn’t quite hide her smile. Separate bedrooms? Did Homer and Ida sleep in separate rooms? Was this any way to conduct a romantic legend? Weren’t they going for the Sexiest Couple title?
    What was he thinking? He should have known better. It was sexy, Carbon Hill style. These organizers needed to cut him some slack.
    He froze when he felt Brandy’s toe creeping up his leg again. Ryan sighed. It was going to be a long night.
     
    Michelle had expected the knock on the door. Soft but firm, as she predicted. She had lain on her bed, desperate to go to sleep, but couldn’t. All because she knew Ryan was going to pay a visit.
    She sighed and got out of bed. Michelle tiptoed to the door, wincing at the pain in her feet. She wasn’t listening to her mother’s fashion advice ever again.
    She leaned against the door. “Who’s there?”
    “Who are you expecting?” Ryan asked. The gruff tone should have made him sound grumpy, but she found it very seductive.
    “I already gave at the office.” She pushed off the door, wondering why she got up in the first place. Or why