Page 38 of A Rancher's Vow
Her sweetness slammed into him with the impact of a two-by-four. Soft lips on his, innocent even with no tongue and nothing else touching. They could have been skin to skin, naked, for how much he wanted her in that instant.
Far too soon, Dustin pulled back. He took a deep breath through his nose, fighting to keep his smile one of a friend and not theI plan to ravish you laterthought that rushed through his brain. “Thanks for cheering me on.”
“No problem, boyfriend.” She offered him two thumbs-up. “This is for the next awesome thing you do, since I have to get back to the office.”
“How’s it going?”
She shrugged. “Fine. I’ll tell you more later. Now you need to get to work before I become the reason you get in trouble with someone, and by someone, I mean your uncle, who is giving us the evil eye.”
Dustin pulled off his cowboy hat and scratched his head on the side facing his uncle with his middle finger. “No problem, girlfriend.” He snickered. “We need cute nicknames for each other, because that just sounds silly.”
“I’ll put it on the to-do list for tonight. Brainstorming cutesy code names.”
Dustin put his hat back on. He tipped his head then turned back to the job at hand.
It shouldn’t have meant so much, their silly plans for the evening. It shouldn’t have meant so much in a bad way that Uncle Frank glared at him the entire way back to Adam’s team.
Focus on the good stuff,Kelli always told him.The bullshit will be there whether you think about it or not. Focusing on the good stuff makes your day a whole lot more enjoyable.
Charity was a good thing to think about.
8
Charity stopped by the mess hall for a drink to take with her and to steal a chair. She’d already had enough desk perching for a lifetime.
Sam hurried to her side when she propped the door open then went to pick up her chosen chair. “You need help with that?”
“No, I’ve got it. I’ll bring it back when I’m done.”
He held onto the opposite side as if keeping her in place. “Done with it where?”
“The office. Someone must have borrowed the one in there.”
The cook looked outraged on her behalf and then insisted on carrying it all the way for her.
“You have any favourite meals?” he asked en route.
“Spicy dhal. Naan bread. Barbecue anything.” Charity smiled as she opened the office door. “But everything you’ve cooked so far has been delicious.”
“Thanks.” Sam nodded sharply. “I’ll still see what I can do.”
It was nearly five when the office door opened, and a dirt-coated Dustin poked his head into the office. “In the middle of something or nearly done?”
“I’m finishing up this chart and that’s it for today.” Charity eyed him. “Pigpen.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Nope, not liking that one as a nickname.”
She snickered. “You headed to the shower?”
“Sort of? I don’t want to mess up the trailer shower, so I thought I’d hit the bunkhouse shower instead. Only I didn’t plan this very well. Can you grab me clean clothes and meet me? One of everything except boots. That will keep where we sleep less ranchy. Or raunchy, you pick the word.”
Charity eyed her list then came to the door. “Point me where I’ll need to go. It’ll be a few minutes.”
Dustin lifted his hand and showed her which entrance to use. “No rush. Trust me, it’ll take more than a few minutes to get off this grime.”
She went back to her chart and entered the last of the missing registration numbers. A final glance around the office proved she’d put everything back that she needed to. Despite the…well,spite, Frank Stone had shown, she’d had a successful first day.
The other success, she realized as she gathered Dustin’s things, was the quiet. She hoped they’d gotten things calmed down around Silver Stone. At least having Dustin nowhere in sight was a good thing while the rumour mill did its job and informed the masses of Dustin’s updated relationship status.
