“What the hell is all this?” Heath grumbles as he trudges down the porch steps.
“I stopped by Prairie Pines while I was in town,” I say, deliberately keeping my answer vague.
He arches a brow. “Don’t you think we have enough chicken feed to last a lifetime?”
Fair point, considering I had to build a third shed last month to store the overflow.
I shoot him a sheepish look. “With the number of hens we’ve got, it’s better to be overprepared, don’t you think? You never know when an apocalypse might hit. Plus, the feed store could shut down for two weeks again.” That happened last year afteran electrical storm, and I ended up driving two hours one way just to grab enough feed to get us through until they reopened.
Heath drags a hand over his mustache as he scans the bags stacked in the back of my truck. “Right. So scratch grain and mealworms are part of this emergency stash too?”
“Whatever makes the ladies content,” I say with a grin. “Happy hens mean more eggs. Simple as that.”
“If you’re so set on preparing for an apocalypse, why not make one big order and have it sent here? I went through all the trouble, and you haven’t taken advantage of it once. Unless, of course, you’re not actually going there for supplies.” Heath fixes me with one of hisI’m on to youstares.
I scratch my neck, trying to act casual. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He crosses his arms, letting out a low hum. “See, I think all these trips are just convenient excuses to see a certain blue-eyed blonde.”
“Who? Birdie? That’s ridiculous.” I scoff. “Why would I go out of my way to see Briar’s friend?”
I’d rather that word didn’t get back to Briar about my drop-ins, honestly. She’d get the wrong idea and tell me to back off. She’s fully aware of my past and would probably worry I’d hurt Birdie if we ever got together.
“Birdie is your friend too,” Heath reminds me. “Hell, I’d bet money you spend more time with her than Briar has lately.”
Damn him for being so observant.
Although I shouldn’t expect anything less. Nothing gets past Heath—he’s perceptive to a fault. Maybe he wouldn’t be so interested in my personal life if he had one of his own. As it stands, his sole focus is the ranch and turning it into one of the most successful cattle operations in the country. Since taking over from Dad, he’s thrown himself into it completely, leaving no room for anything else.
“You’re right. Birdie and I are friends, nothing more,” I admit.
“My mistake. I forgot you don’t do relationships. What did you use to say? No commitments, and no strings?” Heath says, lifting two bags from the truck bed and hoisting them over his shoulder. “Guess that means I can give my buddy the green light to ask her out.”
Wait. What the hell did he just say?
Heath heads down the path toward the fenced-in coops, leaving me reeling from the bomb he just dropped. I grab a few bags and jog after him, determined to get answers.
“Hold up. Whatbuddy?” I snap.
He isn’t known for having a wide circle of friends. Outside of me, he only hangs out with a couple of guys he occasionally grabs beers with and a few other ranchers he networks with, but that’s the extent of his social life.
“His name is Dylan. He moved to town with his brother. They’re taking over Mr. McAlister’s family practice,” Heath calls over his shoulder. “He saw Birdie at the bar last weekend and asked if she was single.”
Even if Birdie weren’t off-limits and wanted more from me, I wouldn’t stand a chance against a guy who saves lives. He probably rescues kittens and volunteers at the homeless shelter on the weekends, for fuck’s sake. Birdie has devoted her life to saving animals from certain death while I’m out here running a damn cattle ranch. That’s hardly a match made in heaven.
I can only hope that if this guy tries asking her out, Birdie’s nervous energy keeps him at bay, distracting from her generous heart, quick wit, and infectious energy. Otherwise, I’m totally screwed.
“What did you tell him?” I ask, unable to hide my curiosity.
“You said you weren’t interested in Birdie, so why does it matter?” Heath smirks, adjusting the bags on his shoulder as he opens the door to the nearest storage shed.
I huff in frustration and follow him inside. “That doesn’t mean I’m okay with her dating some stranger. What if he’s an asshole? She deserves someone who treats her right.”
Heath tosses his feed onto an empty shelf before turning back to me. “Or what if he’s the real deal? Would you be happy for Birdie then?”
He walks out before I can respond, and a sense of dread settles inside my chest.
At this rate, there’s a good chance she’ll end up with someone else before I get the chance to make her mine.
