“Yeah?”
“How are you getting to work in the morning?”
“Oh, shoot.”She briefly closes her eyes, as if she’s warding away tears.“I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“What time you start?”
“Eight a.m.”She screws up her pretty features.
“I’ll be here at 7:20.”
Daisy shakes her head.“You don’t have to drive me.You’ve done more than enough.”
“I ain’t taking no for an answer, so you should just be ready at 7:20.”
“West—”
“I said I’ll be here, Dais.”
She bites her lip.I never noticed how full they were, or that they’re the color of the dusty roses lining the porch at the ranch house, even when all her lipstick has worn away.Her eyes shine with unshed tears, and I need to get the hell out of here because someone is waiting on me, but I don’t want to leave.Not when Daisy’s like this.My phone rings.The Imperial March plays through the tinny little speaker and I wince.Lemon’s calling again.Shit.I am in for it now.
“I’ll see you in the morning then.”I nod to Daisy.
“Thank you.I don’t know how I’ll make it up to you yet, but I will.”
“Got nothing to make up for.I can’t have the ranch’s best employee lookin’ for another job.”
“Are you kidding?I have no plans to go anywhere.Besides, who is going to hire a pregnant woman in her millionth trimester?”
“Well good.Because I just don’t think we can afford to lose you.”
“You’re sweet to say so, West Winchester, but anyone with half a brain could run that B&B.Hell, Lemon could replace me at a moment’s notice.”
“Are you sayin’ my sister has only half a brain?”
Her eyes grow wide.“Oh my gosh!No!That’s not what I meant.”
I chuckle.“Relax, Daisy-Mae.I’m just messin’ with you.”
One corner of her mouth lifts in a smile and I rev the engine.“You go on inside now.I’ll wait until I know you’re safe.”
She pauses, her brows pinching a little before a shy smile flits across her face.“Thanks again.”
I nod.She turns and heads up the walk, fumbling in her purse as she goes.Daisy produces her keys and slides them into the lock before waving me off.I peel away from the curb.As I drive through the streets of this town I grew up in, I wonder how I never really opened my eyes to half of the things in front of me.Like the small-town smoke show I just dropped home.The sweet scent of her perfume lingers in the cab of my truck, and it keeps me company the whole way to dinner.
***
“So, what do you liketo do for fun, West?”my date asks, fingering her straw as she looks up from under her lashes at me.Her lipstick is nude but so fucking shiny it looks like my lips would slide right off the second I pressed them to hers, or get caught like a bug in a web.Not that I’m entertaining the idea of kissing her.I mean, I’m a red-blooded male, I can see she’s attractive with her curvy body, her long dark waves, and her fluttery lashes, but honestly, it’s all just too ...obvious.This woman likes to be looked at, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that, but tonight that’s just not whatI’mlooking for.
“Around here, not a whole lot.We usually spend Fridays at Earl’s.”
“Oh, the local bar?”
“Yep,” I say and push my food around my plate.
She’s eating a damn Kale salad.I mean, we only feed that shit to the chickens.The woman is also a vegetarian.I didn’t know people ate like that willingly.Maybe that makes me a hypocritical asshole, because I’ve got a one-thousand-pound steer on my doorstep waiting for me to come home, but he’s just a big baby who’s not about to be lunch.
“So, any hobbies out there on that ranch?”
