Page 54 of Home to the Cowboy

“Why would Dylan text me to tell me what movies he likes? Ending with a smiley emoji?”

Silence. Finally, Abby cleared her throat. “Well, let’s see. This is an interesting question. The guy you’ve slept with and have probably fallen in love with texts you to tell you what movies he likes with a smiling emoji. This after you left him a week ago without telling him you’re returning to Seattle. Taking a wild guess, I think he’s trying to communicate.”

“Communicate?”

“Yes, you know that thing people do when they’re getting to know each other? Talk about your likes and dislikes, see whether you have anything in common?”

“Oh.”

“What about dinner tomorrow night?” Abby asked. “Then you can tell me all about your answer to your cowboy. Oh, and there’s a ballet I’ve been dying to see. I’ll find out if we can still get tickets.”

“Okay, thanks.” Her thoughts still with Dylan’s text, June ended the call.

Picking up her phone, she stared at the small screen. Maybe this was not such a bad idea. If he knew she preferred movies that were the exact opposite of what he liked, he’d realized it was a good thing she’d left.

*

Dylan had just given Daisy her food when his phone pinged. Daisy stopped eating and barked.

“You think it’s her?”

Daisy barked again before she resumed eating her food.

The text was from June.

“Don’t judge—rom-com movies.”

Chuckling, he read her text a few times before he texted again.

“So you liked Titanic?”

He didn’t have to wait too long.

“Way too sad! If it doesn’t have a happy ending, I’m not watching. Things okay on the ranch? Is the bull behaving himself?”

Grinning like an idiot, he texted back.

By ten o’clock they were still texting. By now he knew Barry had loved her story—of course he would love it, it’s a great story—he knew about her difficult client, he knew Abby and she were going to the ballet tomorrow night after dinner out, and he knew he missed her even more than he had before. He should probably say good night, she had to be tired after the week back at work.

Instead of texting again, though, he phoned her. And waited. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to phone, maybe he should’ve just sent a final text, but man, how he wanted to hear her voice.

Just before he wanted to end the call, she picked up. “Dylan.”

Daisy barked and jumped up against his legs.

“Is that Daisy?” she asked.

“She misses you.”

A soft sigh. “I miss her too. You okay?”

“I am. Just wanted to hear your voice.”

Silence. “I’ve decided to brace myself and watch Titanic.”

He chuckled. “Yeah? So, what rom-com should I watch?”

“Ooh, there are so many. I’ll send you a list.”