Page 35 of The Rancher's Addiction

She nodded.“There’s the original oak floor under the vinyl and carpet in the other rooms.I’m going to take it up and refinish it.Or at least try.”

“I can’t believe you have the energy for it.”

“It helps me settle.When I’m upset, I usually clean.It helps me think.”

“I usually clean out stalls, yell, or drink.”

She laughed.

He sat on one of the chairs at the small table she’d fit in the room, and his gaze followed her around the kitchen and watched her put two servings on plates.She put the big one in the microwave.They stood looking at each other for the minute it took to heat his meal.He could feel and see the tension grow in strength and the nerves she tried to hide.

The ding of the microwave had them both jerking before she took his plate to him.

“Here you go.Go ahead and start.I’ll get us something to drink while I’m waiting for mine to heat.What would you like?”

“Water is fine,” he said.

“Mmmm,” he hummed after he took his first bite.“Damn, woman, is there anything you can’t do?This is delicious.”

She laughed.“Yes.Quite a bit, actually.For starters, I can’t sew, keep an indoor plant alive, and you already know one.I can’t dance.”

He grinned.“Oh, I thought you did just fine.”

She snorted.“Because we barely moved.I tried line dancing at the bar the other night.I don’t know how many times I tripped or bumped into someone.”

He reached over the table and squeezed her hand.“I’m glad.If you were perfect, I would have disappointed you so much with all my flaws.”

“Why?What are you bad at?”she asked and took a bite.

“Oh, hell.Let’s start with communication.”

He grinned when she started to choke and was about to spew her food across the table.

She glared at him as she wiped her mouth.“I can agree with that.”

He laughed when she frowned at him.

“What else?”she asked.

“I’m not good at lovey-dovey stuff.”

“No PDA?”

His brows snapped together.“What the hell is that?”

“Public display of affection.”

He rolled his eyes.“Yeah, that.I hope that’s okay?”

“I’ve no idea.I’ve never really had a boyfriend.”

His mouth dropped open.“Like ever?”

“No, there was either no time, or the boys around me were dorks.I’ve gone on dates, but they never amounted to much.”

He didn’t know what to think of that.On the one hand, she wouldn’t be expecting a lot because she’d never had a relationship.On the other hand, he’d be the one to teach her how a relationship worked.He could even make things up.Damn, he really was a dumbass.

“Is there anything else?”she asked.

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