Page 74 of Roping Her In

He sent that message too, and he leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. “Lord,” he prayed right out loud. “I’m sorry, and I don’t know how else to say it. Help my brother to feel it, and please bless him to respond.”

Carson could be hard-headed, though Jake supposed he could be too. After all, it had taken him months to be persuaded to take on interns, and that had turned out to be the best thing he’d done last year.

His phone chimed, and he hastened to sit up and read Hailey’s text.

Wow, that’s beautiful!

You’re awake, he texted with a smile. You could go outside and see it.

Being awake and being up are two different things, cowboy.

Jake chuckled, feeling a bit foolish for staring at his device and laughing. I miss you, he sent next. I texted Carson again, and I’m hopeful he’ll respond this time.

I hope he will too, she said. And I don’t see how you can miss me. We went out last night.

What are you wearing to church today? he asked. I’ll see if I have a tie to match.

Do I seem like the type of woman who’d wear matching clothes with her boyfriend?

He grinned at his phone, because he knew Hailey pretty well now. Sure, there’d probably always be something more he could learn about her, but she wasn’t a complete mystery the way she’d once been.

Yes, he typed out and sent. That was all, just yes.

His phone rang, and Jake slid on Hailey’s call.

“Really?” she asked.

“Good morning, princess,” he said, leaning back into the couch again. He tapped the speaker icon on his phone and settled it on his chest. Then he could truly relax while he flirted with the woman he was steadily falling in love with.

“I can’t believe you,” she said.

“Just give me a color family,” he shot back. “It doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy.” He smiled up to the ceiling. “Besides, did you or did you not give me a color palette for Elaine’s wedding?”

“That’s Elaine’s wedding,” Hailey said. “Which, by the way, I’m going to need a picture of your tie and suit pretty soon, because I have to get it approved with her.”

Jake couldn’t help the laugh that flew from his mouth, though he knew Hailey wasn’t joking. He liked Elaine, but she had some very distinct ideas of what her wedding should look like, and she didn’t even want guests there if they weren’t wearing navy blue—oops, deep navy blue—bright coral, or peach.

He supposed she’d even gone so far as to say “blush” would be okay. Jake had no idea what color blush even was. He knew Hailey had been dress shopping with Elaine and found a pretty pinky-coral dress she liked, and she expected him to get a tie that matched.

He had to wear a deep navy blue suit as well, and Jake thought he’d probably spend more on Elaine’s wedding than his own.

He quieted his laugh, just enjoying being on the line with Hailey. “No color family?”

“I’m probably going to wear my sky blue dress,” she said, her voice devoid of all the ire he’d previously heard.

“Sky blue,” he mused, already thinking through his wardrobe. “I can work with that.”

“Hey, I wanted to ask you something else,” Hailey said.

Jake let his eyes drift closed though his pulse kicked into a new gear. “Okay.”

“You’re coming to Shiloh Ridge next weekend still, right?”

“Yes.”

“So you’ll meet my parents, my siblings, my family.”

“Mm-hm.”