Page 8 of Rancher's Heart

“Are you asking me out?” Elle arched her brow and stared at me with the darkest brown eyes I’d ever seen.

“Yes, I am.”

“I wish your timing was better.” She sighed and took the box, holding it close to her chest. “I need to keep packing and find someplace to move to. Apparently, this place has been sold and that’s left me weeks away from being homeless.”

Sold? How could that have happened? I’m called before every land deal is done, and I hadn’t even heard a whisper of this place changing hands. I was going to have to call Tawnie down at the county office tomorrow.

“Move into my place.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. What kind of man just blurts out move in with me to a woman he doesn’t even know? “Look, I lied the other day. My arm is fucked. By the end of the day, I can barely use it. Hell, by noon, I have no feeling left in it.” I shrugged and watched her eyes drift to my hand.

“Griff, that’s not good.” She frowned and took a step closer to me. She stared at my shoulder, and I felt like she could see right through it like she was a human X-ray. The way her eyes focused on me made me feel like she was really trying to figure things out.

“How do you function by the end of the day?”

Shrugging, I looked toward the house. “I don’t. By the time I get home, I fall asleep and hope the feeling returns by morning.” Shifting my gaze to the ground, I kicked at a rock on the gravel road I wanted this to be over. Why had I even told her anything? She didn’t need to know.

“If I were to take you up on your offer, you’d have to listen to everything I tell you to do.” She crossed her arms around the box she was still holding. “On the days I work obviously I’m not going to be around, but you’ll have exercises to do. I will clean your house, do your laundry and cook. In return you’ll have to be willing to be there for my boy when I work.”

What she was saying was all things I could agree on. I had no idea what to do with a kid, but I was one once, so it couldn’t be that hard.

“Where’s your son now?” I asked, looking around.

“Parker’s in the house, but I’m taking him to his dad’s for a few days later this afternoon.”

“Can I meet him?”

“Yeah, I’ll go get him.” She nodded and grinned up at me. Elle wasn’t gone very long, and when she came out of the house,the boy at her side was laughing. He was tall, he came up to her shoulder, and Elle wasn’t a short woman.

“Parker, this is Griffin Harp. He’s got a ranch up the road.”

“Nice to meet you.” He said as he held out his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Parker. You like living out here?” I asked and watched his bright eyes turn a little sad.

“I do, but we have to move.”

“I know I might have a plan.” I grinned at him, and Parker looked up at his mom, his eyes wide with wonder.

“Mr. Harp and I have to talk about some things. Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure it all out. Are you packed to go to your dads?” She asked putting her arm around his shoulders.

“No, not yet. I’ll go do it. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Harp.” He smiled at me.

“Please call me Griff. It was nice to meet you too, Parker.” The boy ran back to the house, and something in his hair caught my eye. Must just be headphones or something. Kids these days always seem to be connected to something.

“He likes you.” Elle beamed as she looked over her shoulder as Parker disappeared into the house.

“Come to the house, look around and see if it’s even something you’d even be comfortable in.” I took a step closer to her and waited for her answer.

“I have so much to do.” She shook her head and looked over to the house.

“Fine, will you go on a date with me, and if I happen to show you where I live would that be okay?”

“You think I have time for a date when I just told you I didn’t have time to go with you now?” She smirked.

“It’s supper, you have to eat right? So no matter what you’re doing you’d have to stop and cook, so let me handle the eating situation.” The second the words came out of my mouthI regretted them. Maybe not as much as I should though. Elle smiled and rolled her eyes.

“Well how could I say no, after that absolutely convincing point.” She rolled her lips together and stifled her laugh.

“I’ll be here to pick you up at six-thirty.” I watched her push off the side of my truck as I reached for the door handle. “Wear the bra Elle,” I said as I closed the door and started the truck.

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