Page 11 of More Than a Helping Hand

“How are you feeling?” She tips her head to the side and raises an eyebrow in a subtle motion toward my backside.

I rub it. “Good. Better now that you’re here.”

She rewards me with an eye roll. “I can’t figure you out.”

“Darling, what you see is what you get. Anything you want to know, just ask.”

She blinks and crosses her arms. “Why me? I’m short and chubby. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate myself, but I know when someone is out of my league, and they’d create a whole new sport for you.”

I put one hand on her car and lean in close. “Looking at you, I like what I see. And I don’t think leagues exist. That’s a myth.”

Her cheeks color a soft pink, and she breaks eye contact. “I’m just here to pick up Bailey. Parker is meeting me outside the mess hall. Then I’m headed back to the house.”

“You go in first. I’ll give you a three-minute head start. That way, this little tête-à-tête can remain a secret.”

“Good idea.” She glances around again.

I lean down until my face is next to hers, then point. “Walk around that end of the house and onto the porch, and the mess hall is right there.”

“Thanks.” She walks away, and just before rounding the corner, she glances back at me.

So I wink.

She is my kind of attractive, and the more I talk to her, the more attracted I am. Plus, her daughter is wicked smart, and I can see where it comes from.

Hopefully, Parker doesn’t hate me when he finds out I’m crushing on his sister.

I watch the time, and after the promised three minutes, I start walking. When Primrose and Bailey come into view, I pause. Bailey, who has her back to me, has her hands on each side of her mom’s face, telling her all the fun things she did at the barn.

Parker is grinning from ear to ear.

Primrose meets my gaze, and I hope this woman says yes when I text her and ask her out to dinner because I’m a goner. Done for.

Bailey senses that something snagged her mom’s attention and turns around.

She runs to me, and I squat down to chat with her. “DeeDee! I told Mommy that I didn’t want to leave until I could tell you goodbye.”

“I’m glad. It was nice meeting you, Bailey. Hopefully, you can come back to the ranch one day.”

She bobs her head. “Yeah. Mason said he’d show me the cows.”

“Great.” I stand and extend a hand to Primrose. “I’m Anderson. I work with Parker.”

Primrose has a firm handshake. “I’ve heard so much about you. Thanks for making her day special.”

“Anytime.”

Bailey pats her mom’s side. “Can Anderson come to the house and see all my cactus plants? I’ll put them on a table so that he can’t sit on them.”

Primrose bites her lip, trying to hold back a laugh.

Parker doesn’t even try. After laughing, he hugs Bailey. “I’m going to go back in there. See you later, okay?”

Bailey nods.

“See ya, Primrose. Call if you need anything. And I mean that. Don’t try to handle everything yourself.”

Primrose smiles. “Thanks.”

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