I glance up, unable to stop my grin. “Better.”
“Can you make pasta?”
“The best pasta.”
“Then sign me up for dinner soon.” A smile paints her lips.
I spend the entire car ride home plotting how to get more one-on-one time with Lauren as soon as possible.
Chapter Five
Lauren
I untackLucky and put him in his stall for the night, releasing a sigh as I take in the gorgeous sunset. When I pull out my phone, I have yet another text from Jax. They’ve been coming all week, but this one still sets butterflies loose in my stomach, and I don’t know what to do with the feeling.
Jax
If you don’t check something off your list today I’m going to have to come over again and make sure you do
Little does he realize how unmotivating that is. IwantJax to come over again. He’s been around the ranch for the past week, like he promised, but he’s mostly been working with the other cowboys. I miss the smile in his eyes when I talk with him and the feeling of his gentle touch. It’s both torturous and confusing.
My list has been staring at me for a week. Jax has beentexting me to check in on my progress, but all I’ve been able to tick off is reading for fun, which I only did because he dragged me to the dang bookstore.
I’ve told him I’ve been busy. It’s true. Even at this time of year, there’s still a lot to be done on the ranch, and I’ve been spending any free moment I have on research. I’m now hoping to implement adaptive multi-paddock—or AMP—grazing at the ranch. It involves dividing our fields into smaller pastures where we plant different crops and continuously moving our livestock through each paddock. This should help return the cattle to their natural inclination to graze and cut down on the cost of feed.
Except implementing this strategy means I have to get a move on studying what the soil needs in each section of the ranch. Everything I’ve read tells me I need to consider what the cattle need and how they’re going to best move through the various paddocks so we can begin zoning and planting in late winter to early spring. I’m trying not to let myself spiral thinking about all the work that will be involved in making this happen.
My phone vibrates in my hand again, and I’m grateful for a distraction from the chaos in my head.
Jax
Don’t ghost me Freckles. I know where you live.
Me
I need to look at the list again. Let me check when I get home in 5 mins. I’ll do something tonight
Promise?
Promise
I’m going to check in on you so don’t lie
I bite back the stupid smile on my face and slide the barn door closed behind me, getting into my truck and driving to my corner of the property.
As soon as I get to the house, I walk into my room and scan the list. My eyes snag on number two. It seems simple enough. If I don’t put too much thought into it, I can do it.
I quickly send two texts. One to Jax?—
Me
2) Cut my Hair
And one to the person I know will be supportive when I want to make a rash decision.
Me
I’m feeling impulsive. Can you hang out tonight?
