Page 14 of Her Cowboy Baby Daddy
Except that the image of Hayley Parker’s not-yet-anchored greenhouse kept creeping into his brain.
How was it faring in this wind?
He walked through the empty house—his folks were on an overnight trip to Bozeman for medical tests prior to his dad’s surgery—and grabbed the phone book from the cookbook stand. There was no listing for Hayley Parker, or even for her late father, but there was a listing for the Lone Tree Ranch.
He called the number, and it rang until a mechanical voice came onto the line, informing him that the party’s mailbox had yet to be set up.
Spence hung up the phone and stared out the window at the trees bending in the wind. It wasn’t yet twilight, although the storm had darkened the sky as if it were, so why not take a drive over and see how things were faring? If Hayley’s ranch hand was still away, and if Spence had understood her correctly, the guy should still be in Missoula, then she was dealing with the greenhouse alone—and she might be doing that right now, since she hadn’t answered. Or she might not be home at all.
Yeah. No harm in a fifteen-minute drive to make certain everything was okay. He might not have stopped by to say hello, or to have thanked her properly for saving his ass, but he could do this.
The wind lifted Spence’s hat as he stepped out the door. He caught it and then tossed it onto the truck seat a few seconds later. The lights were on in the little house where Reed lived, but Spence didn’t bother telling his brother he was taking off. He hadn’t answered to anyone except for himself and his bosses for such a long time that the idea was kind of foreign.
He drove around a tree branch that partially blocked the county road, feeling more justified in his decision to check on the woman from whom he was asking a major favor. Yes, it might look like he was kissing ass, but he’d hate it if he didn’t check, and something happened.
When Spence pulled into the driveway of the Lone Tree Ranch, the place was dark, with the exception of occasional glimmers of light from beneath the barn’s double bay doors.
No power, obviously, so the light was probably from Hayley checking things in the barn. He stopped the truck, left the headlights on, and made his way to the barn door. There was no way to make his presence known without startling the shit out of Hayley, short of sitting in his truck and waiting for her to come out, and he was debating how to announce himself when the barn door opened and Hayley poked her head out, squinting at his headlights. He got out of his truck, ducking his head against the wind that ripped at his denim jacket. Hailey stepped back to allow him into the barn, then pushed the door shut against the wind, the beam from the flashlight she held arcing over the ground near her feet. Her face was barely illuminated when she turned toward him, but he could still read confusion.
“Spence. What are you doing here?”
“I remembered that you said your greenhouse wasn’t anchored down.”
“It is now,” she said. “I got the wind advisory a few hours ago and got to work cabling it to the ground.” The wind beat on the door like a battering ram, but Hayley didn’t seem one bit bothered. “Did you drive over tocheckon me?”
Spence felt warmth creep up his neck at her disbelieving tone. “I was worried about the greenhouse. I called the ranch number and got no answer. I thought you could use a hand.”
“I see.” The direction of her thoughts was obvious, even in the dim light.
He shifted his weight under her scrutiny. “I know it looks like I’m being extra-attentive after asking for a massive favor.”
“Well, I have seen you three times in less than three days after not seeing you for years.”
He smiled at her justifiably wary observation.
“That does look suspicious, but I promise you that I have no ulterior motive. You’re on my radar because of the dog and the water lease, but I’m not trying to sway you.” One corner of his mouth quirked up. “I would if I could, but that wasn’t my intention.”
“So if the water issue was settled, you would be here anyway?”
“Now that I know you live alone here on the ranch, yes.” Spence wasn’t used to having neighbors, but when he did, in RV parks and trailer camps and such, he was glad to lend a hand if needed. He would have worried about the wind and the greenhouse, and he would have driven over to check.
She gave him a thoughtful look, and he found himself studying the lines of her face as he waited for her to speak. Hayley Parker had grown into one attractive woman.
“The greenhouse is cabled down, and unless a branch or a tree falls on the house, all is well here.”
“I’m dismissed?”
“I appreciate your coming over. It was... nice.” Her mouth tilted ruefully. “I didn’t mean to sound dismissive.”
“Even though I’ve been dismissed.”
“Pretty much. I have everything under control.”
“You have no electricity,” he pointed out.
“Can you fix that?” she asked innocently.
Spence had to smile, and Hayley’s lips twitched before she said, “I have candles and lanterns. I’m fine.”
