“Nope,” he replied with a shake of his head.“While there are times when I may be too busy to talk I prefer to hear your voice and your laugh.Besides things don’t always come across well on text.”
“True,” she murmured.“Okay, then I’ll talk to you later.”She went to walk away then stopped before looking over her shoulder.“Did you ask my father for permission to marry me?”
He laughed.“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
Chapter 3
Bailey had no ideahow much of a whirlwind her life was going to become.Lunch with Duke had turned into dinner a week later, another lunch date, and then another dinner date after that.Every moment they spent together, he bulldozed the barriers she’d erected and it scared her.
So why couldn’t she say no to him?Why did the thought of him make her giddy?She couldn’t ever recall feeling this way about anyone.
And that was the reason why she was still sitting in the driver’s seat staring out the window like a loon.
She didn’t know why she’d said yes to coming out to the cattle farm today but she had.A part of her wanted to see Duke in this element.A marketing consultant turned cowboy was a little of a stretch for her to believe.
But by all accounts of town gossip, he was doing a great job of it.There were also a few whispers of her because it was now clear that she and Duke were involved.Even though she was usually able to convince Duke to go the next town or two over for their dinner dates.
Yet, the one lunch date they’d had at a local diner had been enough to get some tongues wagging.
When the front door of the main house swung open, she realized she could no longer delay the inevitable.Only she was surprised when an older woman stepped out on the porch.She knew it wasn’t Miss.Jorie because the woman wasn’t old enough.When she waved, Bailey pushed her door open and swung her legs out.
“Bailey?”the woman called out.
“Yes,” she confirmed cautiously.
“Hi, I’m Rae, the part-time housekeeper.Duke asked me to keep an eye out for you.One of the ranch hands hurt his back so Duke is a little behind with the evening chores.He’s finishing up in the barn.Can I offer you something to drink?”
“Um...thank you, but I’m fine.Can you point me in the direction of the barn?”
If her request seemed strange, Rae didn’t bat an eye.“Of course, just go around the side of the house and follow the trail toward the back.You can’t miss the corral or the barn.”
“Thank you again.Nice to meet you,” Bailey replied before heading in the direction she’d been pointed in.
As she cleared the house her breath stalled in her chest.It was beautiful.Green pastures for as far as she could see.Several of the black cattle roamed the enclosure and part of her felt a little guilty.The steakhouse in town was one of her guilty pleasures and she knew they purchased their meat here.
Realizing that she was wasting time, she walked toward the barn, finding one of the main doors open.As soon as she stepped inside she realized why.The smell was horrendous.She fought back the urge to gag.Then Duke stepped outside of a stall carrying a bucket.
