Page 60 of Home Hearts Hooves

“Looks like my ride’s here. I’ll check in later.”

“Remember to ask about Friday.”

“I will.”

I close the barn door behind me, and when I turn, I find Preston in the driver’s seat, smiling at me like I’m his most favorite person in the world. My stomach swirls.

“I put the seat back, figured it would be a bit easier,” Preston says when I open the passenger door. “Do you need a hand?”

I shake my head and grab the handle over the door opening and heave my ass up into the seat, then lift my boot leg in slowly as I turn.

“Thanks, that was actually a lot easier,” I say, wiping my sweaty hands down my lap before buckling the belt.

“Where’s Cuddles?” he asks.

“I’ve left him at the cove, figured it was safer. What do you know about the sheep?”

“Not much. Mr. Fletcher went out to round them up this morning and found fourteen dead.”

“Fourteen, shit. Are you thinking it’s a disease?”

“I’m not thinking anything just yet. Have to wait until we get out there and see, but I can’t rule it out. I’ve put Land Services on notice, too, in case we have something major on our hands.”

Preston took over more than just his father’s clinic when he moved back to Bellerelle. He’s the district vet, so when shit like this goes down, he’s got to investigate to rule out exotic and notifiable diseases and such and report back. Hopefully, that’s not what this is, but with fourteen dead sheep, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be something small either.

We’ve got about twenty minutes to the Fletchers and for the last ten, I’ve been trying to get up the courage to ask him out. I’ve been over the words a hundred different ways. I could be all casual, and just mention it’s on if he wanted to stop by, or I could ask him to see if Poppy wants to come out for it, but neither of those are dates, and I want it to be a date. Fuck, come on, Dean, grow some bull-sized balls and ask the guy out already.

“Do you have plans on Friday night?” I manage to ask, my heart thumping in my ears. I watch his mouth for the reply, worried the drumming is so loud I won’t hear a word he says.

“Not as yet. Why’s that?” he asks, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

“We’re putting on a cinema under the stars out at the ranch.”

“Sounds like fun, what are you showing?”

“Not sure yet. Nial is working all that out.”

“Weather’s been pretty good lately, so there should be a nice clear sky for it.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, too.” Fuck, why is this so hard? “I was also thinking…maybe, you might want to come?” I manage to say, and he nods.

“Yeah, sure, sounds good.”

“I mean, like, with me,” I say before I lose my nerve, and he glances my way, a smile on his lips and a blush on his cheeks I don’t hate before returning his attention to the road.

“Like a date?” he asks, and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Yeah. I mean, if you wanted to. If you’re still not up for—”

“No,” he interjects, and my heart sinks.

“Sure. It was a silly idea. You said you weren’t—”

The car swerves a little.

“No! Not no, I’m not up for it,” he says, cutting me off again. “No, I’m not, not up for it. I mean, I’d like that. Sorry, I’m screwing this all up,” he sighs, scrubbing his fingers through his hair.

“So that’s a yes?” I ask, and he nods.

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