Page 19 of New in Town

“Oh great, I’d love to meet him and thank him as well,” she replies, wondering if Grey is one of the guys out with Brett.

Laurel grins at her then adds, “He’s not the only guy who will make sure he’s in before you leave.”

Her stomach flips at the confirmation that she’ll get to see Grey again today. It’s silly to want to see him, she tells herself. He’s a cowboy, and absolutely not her real boyfriend. Yet she doesn’t miss the insinuation in Laurel’s comment, and the thrill it causes in her chest.

They step further into the stables and her mouth falls open in amazement. The iron wagon wheel chandeliers, crisp white shiplap, and endless aisle of stalls are magnificent. She approaches one of the stalls and reaches her hand up to the bay quarter horse that resides in it. Standing probably fifteen hands tall, she estimates, the horse has a rich brown coat and a shining black mane. Maddie strokes him, murmuring about how handsome he is.

From behind her, Laurel breaks the trance she has fallen into with the horse. “That’s Bullet,” she says with another knowing grin.Bullet. The recognition from dinner the night before washes over her.

“He’s Grey’s horse,” Laurel says in confirmation of Maddie’s thoughts. With likely more than twenty full stalls around her, she had picked out his horse. She scrunches her nose, wondering if it means something.

Of course it doesn’t. I simply approached a horse. I’m here to work,she reminds herself. Then turning to Laurel, she asks, “Where should I begin?”

Laurel looks over her shoulder to the first stall they passed. “Let’s start on one end and work our way down.”

They do just that. And as the pair make their way through the line of stalls, they chat. Maddie finds that she is really enjoying talking to Laurel. There is a warmth to her energy that makes her feel immediately welcome.

Time passes quickly. Before she knows it, she is on the last horse. She feels content getting to do the work and be with the animals. Happy to not be living in the constant pressure of only emergency situations. It feels good to be working with horses specifically too.

She hadn’t found an opportunity to work with any large animals since taking the emergency vet job in Denver a year ago. Running her hand along the flank of the white mare before her, she once again feels the lightness she experienced last night. She could get used to house calls like this.

“That’s it for Opal,” she calls to Laurel.

“Great! Let’s go relax,” Laurel replies, moving to grab a pair of waters from the tack room. She steps back out into the aisle as Maddie emerges from Opal’s stall and motions for Maddie to follow her outside. They make their way to the benches by the nearest corral when Laurel asks,“Howareyou liking it here so far?”

“I’m liking it,” Maddie starts as Laurel gives her a questioning look. “Well, today I am,” she laughs. “And there are definitely things I’m enjoying. Enough that I hope people can accept me and we can make this work.”

“We all have your back here. Grey didn’t even need to convince Brett to call you over Arlo, you know. He’s not the only one wanting to help you.”

“But he is the one who brought it up?” she asks, her pulse quickening at the mention of Grey.

“He is,” Laurel confirms. “And Grey isn’t typically one to ask for things.”

She wants to know more about him, she wants to find significance in what Laurel is saying. Before she can ask though, the sound of ATVs alerts them to the approaching crew. Four men are riding in, one being a shirtless Grey.

She doesn’t have the sense to hide the way she’s staring at him as he nears, taking in his glistening six pack and bulging biceps. His jeans sit low on his hips, the cut of a V in his muscles leading down to what’s hidden below his belt. And then there is that dark taupe cowboy hat he wears way too well.Coming to a stop, Grey uses takes his shirt in his hand and wipes the sweat from his brow.

Likely able to feel her stare, he looks up, and his eyes find hers. She freezes, knowing it’s too late to look away or play off the way she was just drooling over him. Her face burns red, and he flashes her a slow, cocky smile, tipping his hat at her and winking.Damn this cowboy, she thinks. Her mouth is completely dry despite the water she was just drinking.

11

GREY

He isn’t the most experienced guy when it comes to women, but he knows when he is being checked out. And from the way Maddie blushes, she seems to like what she sees. He takes this as a small victory as he lifts the spare lumber from his ATV and slings it over his shoulder.

“Sothat’sMaddie,” Brett says from behind him as they make their way into the barn used for storage. He drops the wood into a waiting pile and turns to see Brett smiling smugly.

“What’s that mean?” he asks.

“Just that it makes sense now.”

“It’s not like that. We have an understanding. An arrangement.”

“Is that what they call it these days? I didn’t think you were that kind of guy,” Brett taunts.

“No.” He pinches the bridge of nose and sighs. “I mean the dates arefake. She needs a reason to be seen around town and get to know people. I am there. That’s all.”

“You don’t go to town this often, and you hate being out in social settings. Why not ask one of the other guys to do it?”

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