Instead of skittering away from what had to be a hungry look on my face, she narrowed her eyes. “Are you messing with me, Tate?”
Tate. That one got me. She had always referred to me as Mr. Bailey, and I liked the way Miss Scarlett slipped between my lips. Silky and smooth.
“I’d never mess with you, Miss Scarlett.”
She rolled her eyes. “You can just call me Scarlett. I’m not Chance’s teacher anymore.”
“I wish you were. You were amazing with him.”
She lifted a shoulder like it was no big deal, but it was. My son had been switched from classroom to classroom in Bozeman. “So, tomorrow? What do you do for a date for the entire day?”
Had she never been taken out for more than dinner? “What do you need done?” Yeah, I let suggestion infuse my voice.
Those innocent, yet somehow shrewd, eyes narrowed once again. “I need my lawn mowed.”
I wasn’t a Day of Work Bachelor. I was a Date Bachelor, but if it would get her to open her door to me, then I’d take it. “I’ll mow your lawn.”
“And my roof has a leak.”
“Wet things don’t stand a chance around me.”
Her face bloomed red, and she pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Do you know how you sound?”
The woman could only be pushed so far. I went for honesty. “The truth is, I’d like to get to know you. Take the date. I know my sisters pissed you off, but you and I can enjoy ourselves.” Sayingthatwithout sounding like a turned-on prick was difficult.
“They didn’t upset me.” She glanced away. “It’s embarrassing.”
“Think how it’d hurt my poor reputation if you didn’t let me take you out.”
Another eye roll and a disbelieving smirk. I hadn’t gotten this side of her when she’d met with me about my son. I’d gotten the stern teacher with a firm hand for a kid who felt like his mother didn’t want him and his father was too busy for him.
“All right,” she finally said. “Be at my house at ten.”
I was going to push my luck, but I wanted to get to the date side of the bachelor win. “I’ll take a look at that roof too. Then, for supper, you can come out to my place and I’ll make you some Bailey Beef T-bones.”
“I’m a vegetarian.”
I nearly gasped. I was a rancher’s kid, a rancher who ran one of the biggest distilleries in the state. Bourbon and beef were in my blood.
Her laughter rang out, and she pressed a hand to her chest. “Just kidding.”
I huffed out a laugh, but my blood heated. Scarlett had a hidden side, and I planned to uncover every inch of it. “It’d be fine if you were. I’d just have a lot less to work with at home, and the grocery store’s closed.”
“You’ve got a lot to work with, Tate Bailey. That’s what I’m afraid of,” she murmured. “Let’s go to Canyon Grill instead so you can fulfill the dating part.”
Was she afraid of me or afraid to be alone with me? Curly’s Canyon Grill was the most public a person could get on a Saturday night in Bourbon Canyon. “If you need a public spot, then Curly’s will work.” Though it wouldn’t be her in my home, getting her sweet frosted-sugar-cookie scent all over my house.
She gave me a small parting smile and kept walking. “See you tomorrow.”
I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. “See you bright and early, Miss Scarlett.” I drove away and tried not to hit parked cars while I watched her swaying walk in the rearview mirror.
A date.
I’d been divorced for five years. I wasn’t bitter about it, and I’d been on dates, but they hadn’t been for a relationship. There’d been no end goal. Chance complained about not getting enough time with me. I couldn’t take more from him. So when my place had been finished in Bourbon Canyon, we’d moved, and I hadn’t dated since. Chance deserved my time.
My ex had always chosen her career over a family, and I’d known it when we married. I should’ve known how it would go, but I’d been too focused on ticking all the boxes. Work for the family business—check. Get married—check. Have two point five kids—almost check.
I hadn’t thought about trying a real relationship again since I’d signed on the dotted line that ended my last one.
