“Touche. See you guys later.” He waves as he turns and leaves the barn.
“Great, now the whole of Alpine Falls is gonna know we were lip locking,” Bailey sighs.
“He doesn’t strike me as the town gossip,” I note, then again, what would I know?
“Yeah? Clearly, you haven’t been in Alpine Falls long enough to know what constitutes as gossip these days, and me kissing a wild cowboy from out of town will be front page news.”
I chuckle at her description. “Wild cowboy, huh? I better lift my game if I’m gonna live up to that reputation.”
“Trust me, even though the people in this town don’t get much to gossip about, when there is something newsworthy, boy, it travels fast.”
“Well, at least he said he liked that you were smiling.” I leave the for once part out of it.
“That’s George,” she sighs. “He looks out for everyone, not just because he’s the sheriff, but because he has this moral obligation to be a decent human being. He and Zane’s sister Izzy hate one another, but I secretly think they’d have cute babies, they just won’t admit it.”
“He’s a good guy then. I’m yet to meet Izzy, but I’ve heard a little bit about her.”
“She’s a whirlwind,” Bailey says. “But a good friend, and she gives just as much stick to the boys as they do her, which is hilarious. They need bringing down to size sometimes. The testosterone can be a lot around here.”
“I can only imagine.” We trot slowly back into the stable and give the horses a feed.
“We should get lunch before the tourists arrive,” Bailey says. “Normally I bring my own, but I didn’t have a whole lot of time this morning.” She side eyes me, and I smirk.
“Gettin’ back to that. I wasn’t runnin’ out on you this mornin’,” I say.
“I gathered that with the post-it note you left with your number and your grandma’s favorite mud cake recipe.”
“You said you liked chocolate, and I love to cook.”
“I love both of those sentiments,” she pauses. “We can go on up to the Lodge and grab something from the kitchen, or there’s the Perky Porch or Butterfingers.”
“I confess. I brought the boys’ breakfast burgers this mornin’,” I say. “I would’ve brought you one, too, but I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“You Ubered me coffee, I think we’re good.”
Yeah, well, she said she liked a decent coffee in the morning, and I like to keep the women in my life happy. That may only include my mom, sister and my sister’s dog, Molly, right now, but who’s counting?
“I can cook, but makin’ coffee is a personal thing, plus, the guy at Butterstick said he knows how to make it just how you like it.” I pique a brow.
She screws up her nose. “Oh my god, if you’re talking about Larry, Mrs. T’s husband, ewww.”
I chuckle once more. “Don’t worry, I just said I owed you a favor, so he didn’t think it was anythin’ more.”
“I’m sure.” She rolls her eyes.
My phone chimes in my pocket, but I silence it quickly.
Richard.
I don’t want to speak to my ex-manager. He’s done enough where damage control is concerned. Or lack thereof would be a better word.
“The Lodge sounds good, maybe you have time to show me around?”
She surprises me when she looks me dead in the eye. “I’d like that. And you did good today, cowboy, I won’t have to fire you just yet.”
“There’s still a few hours in the day left.” I grin. “I’ll give it my best shot.”
CHAPTER 14
