Page 12 of New in Town

Did Arlo say elusive? As in, not a player? The thought reignites her excitement.But he is still a cowboy, her brain helpfully reminds her.

Grey

Arlo looks at him for confirmation, and he feels like his whole body is on fire with nerves now.

“People are nosy as hell in this town,” he agrees to the pair of veterinarians watching him. He brings his eyes to meet Maddie’s, but not before quickly taking her in. She isn’t wearing her white lab jacket today, just a pair of flattering red scrubs on her lean, toned body.

The top is a fitted short sleeve V-neck, and he notes that she has a patchwork array of tattoos down her right arm. The black ink stands out against her olive skin and he feels an urge to step closer and study them each individually.Don’t be weird, he scolds himself.

“Exactly, so give them a reason to be nosy about you.” Arlo really isn’t letting this idea go. Grey feels his pulse racing. Is he nervous about spending more time in town, or nervous about the fact it would be with Maddie?

“We could eat a few meals together,” he says, desperate to keep his tone even. She is looking at him with wide eyes, making him feel more panicked. “It wouldn’t have to be… no pressure,” he adds hurriedly, trying to make her more comfortable.

Her mouth opens as if she’s about to respond, but no words come out. Ready to crawl out of his skin at this point, he tries his best to shrug breezily. “You have my number on Pippa’s chart, let me know if you’re interested,” he says before rushing back out to his truck, the encroaching dizziness subsiding once he’s on the road again.

* * *

He leans back in his rocking chair, stretches his legs out, and tilts his cowboy hat down over his eyes. At his feet, leaning against the heel of his cowboy boot, Pippa is curled up asleep from her long day of ranching. He sits and listens to the sound of the river that cuts through the ranch nearby, a feeling of contentment wafting over him. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to get out there in the open and ride until he was back in the mountains today. It settled him to spend the rest of his day on his horse. And between the auction and worrying about Maddie, he needed to feel settled.Why am I worrying about her so much anyway, he wonders as his phone rings beside him.

The number across the screen says it’s a Denver, Colorado area code. He feels his pulse quicken as he answers the call.

“Hi, Grey?” Maddie says through the phone. Hearing his name on her lips sends an interesting sensation through him. What was this feeling?

“It’s Maddie, I wanted to apologize that Arlo put you in a weird position today on my behalf. I know how busy you are, I just don’t want you to feel obligated to do anything.”

He smiles to himself before responding, “I wouldn’t be doing anything out of obligation, Maddie.”

“Okay, then I’d love to take you up on the offer to have a few meals together. Just to get that rumor mill going, like you guys said. Maybe we can meet to lay out a plan?”

“That sounds very official. Should I be prepared to sign a contract?”

“Now that you mention it, yes. I think that’s a great idea,” she says. He swears he can feel her smirking through the phone.

“Let’s get breakfast Saturday. Susie’s Diner, at nine? I can pick you up.”

“I’m just around the corner, I can walk over. That sounds perfect, thank you for this.”

“It’s my pleasure, Maddie,” he says, a swell of anticipation filling his chest.

7

MADDIE

“Ihave one rule when it comes to dating. No cowboys. Thank Henry for that one. But apparently my body and brain have thrown it out the window since meeting Grey.”

She pitches herself down on her couch dramatically, balancing her phone on her chest now. Jules is cackling through the speaker, thrilled by her embarrassing story from earlier today. She had detailed for her best friend the way she froze when Grey offered to take her to dinner. She couldn’t manage a single word. This has never happened to her before, quick retorts were usually her thing.

“And you just stared at him with your mouth open?” Jules asks through laughs. “He must be a real heartthrob.”

“He is thedefinitionof a heart-breaking cowboy. He’s not getting a response about a date offer and he literally just shrugs and leaves the offer on the table like it’s no concern for him.”

“Well,” Jules starts to reply, deep in thought, “but did he leave it on the table? Just go in with the mindset that it’s fake. A set up by Arlo to help with your career. That way you’ll be as casual and as unconcerned as him.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to be that cool about this. My toes were about to curl purely from the grit in his voice when he said my name.”

“Then save a horse and ride that cowboy! And make sure you do the heartbreaking first,” Jules responds, clearly amused by Maddie’s problem.

She can’t tell Jules that what confused her the most was how he seemed genuinely upset about people treating her poorly. But an upfront plan to keep it fake and focused on helping her at work, that could be okay. Before she can lose her nerve, she hangs up with Jules and heads out for Susie’s Diner.

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