Page 35 of Roping Her In

Jake’s pulse thrashed in his chest, but he nodded too as she pulled her hand away from him, rolled up the top of her chip bag, and said, “I have to get to Feline Friends.”

“Yeah, go,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She headed for the door, where she turned back with the prettiest smile on those pink lips. “Yeah, see you tomorrow, Jake.”

Then she was gone, and Jake stood there in his silent office, a sense of wonder and happiness pulling through him in the most magical of ways—because he had a real date with the lovely Hailey Winters tomorrow.

14

Hailey couldn’t believe she’d gotten up at seven o’clock on a Saturday to do her hair and makeup before driving the forty minutes to Three Rivers Ranch for the fifth time this week.

She was behind on her reading and her sleep, but she’d managed to get a whole pan of chicken Alfredo from the pasta bar leftovers at Feline Friends yesterday, and that should keep her fed for a couple of days. She didn’t want to be a burden for Pete and Chelsea Marshall, though they’d told her she was welcome to eat with them and Paul, Brielle, and their grandson Spur.

Paul and Brielle had gotten a puppy for Christmas too, and Hailey did enjoy the country pureness that existed inside the blue farmhouse where she’d stayed last weekend and would be camping out again. Pete had happily given her the code to the back door, and Chelsea told her that bedroom on the first floor was hers anytime she wanted it.

She pulled up to Jake’s a couple of minutes past nine, only to immediately put her SUV in reverse and start backing out of the driveway again. Libby had just exited Jake’s house, and the cherry-red pickup truck in his driveway clearly belonged to her. Libby broke into a bit of a jog, smiling and waving at Hailey, who did the same in return. Hailey glanced up to Jake’s front door, but he hadn’t come outside.

Hailey told herself over and over that she had every right to be here. That it wasn’t odd for her to have a meeting with Jake, and Libby wouldn’t think they were getting together for a date.

She eased down the lane toward the administration building while Libby pulled out and went the other direction. Hailey swung around in a wide U-turn and returned to Jake’s house. She left her overnight bag and food on the passenger seat, and the moment she slammed her door behind her, his front door opened.

He emerged from the cabin with a big smile that told her he was glad to see her, and Hailey increased her pace as she neared him. He wore a clean pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt in blue and white checkers. With his boots and belt, Hailey found him so darn attractive, and she suddenly wished she’d worn something more date-appropriate.

As it was, she too wore her jeans, her steel-toed boots, and a long-sleeved T-shirt. She knew to dress in layers, and this way, she could pull a coat or sweatshirt over her tee outside, but remove it while working inside.

Jake met her at the top of the steps, reaching for her hand, though they stood outside and anyone could see them. “Good morning,” he said, his voice brighter than she’d ever heard it.

She wondered how much of himself he’d been holding back, or if she simply hadn’t seen the man in a good mood yet.

“Morning,” she said. “Do you meet with Libby every Saturday?”

“No,” he said. “It’s just been such a wild winter that our expenses are a little higher than normal.”

“Of course,” Hailey said, though she’d never been involved in the finances of a ranch and couldn’t fathom the costs of running one the size of Three Rivers.

Before she’d even crossed into his house, the scent of coffee and bacon mingling together met her nose, and anticipation of something delicious made her mouth water. “Who taught you how to cook?”

Jake closed the door behind them. “My momma and daddy,” he said. “They can both cook decently well.”

She moved into the kitchen with him behind her, and she took in the spread sitting on his island.

“And don’t be impressed,” he said as he came to her side. “It’s a build-your-own breakfast-burrito bar. Scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and tater tots.” He indicated the end where a stack of flour tortillas waited. “Do you want me to put one in the microwave for you?”

“They’re already cooked, right?”

“Yeah, but I like mine warm to go with the rest of my warm food.”

Hailey smiled and nodded. “Sure, heat mine up.”

He picked up two tortillas and put them on a plate that already held a paper towel. He put another paper towel over that, and then put the plate in the microwave.

“Ten seconds is all you need,” he said. “You don’t want to microwave already cooked tortillas too much; then they get tough.”

Hailey wondered when he’d made this food, what with his meeting with Libby. All of it seemed hot and fresh, and she could barely do this when she had nothing else on her mind.

Jake handed her the tortilla, which was piping hot, and she quickly dropped it onto a fresh paper plate. She started building her burrito with some of everything after that, and she opted for a healthy spoonful of salsa, while Jake squirted ketchup right down the length of his burrito before he rolled it up.

He led the way to the table and set his plate down. “Coffee?” he asked.