Page 26 of Unforgettable Cowboy
He gave her a surprisingly gentle smile.“Maybe I should go?”
“Maybe,” she agreed.
He put his hand on the door handle of his truck but didn’t open it.“Promise me one thing.”
She knew what he was going to say.“I’ll let you know if I run into Chance.”
“Or if he runs into you.”
She nodded and her expression must have convinced him.
“See you tomorrow?”
Parts of her wanted to do a lot more than see him, but she would have those parts battled into submission before their next meeting.
“You will.I’m looking forward to seeing Wade.”
He laughed again.“I sure hope Estelle says the same thing after a few days on the Tree Fork.”
Chapter Seven
Hayes left thehouse late, having spent a good half hour getting Wade settled and Estelle lined out.She and Wade had politely greeted one another before retreating to their neutral corners—Estelle in the kitchen and Wade in the recliner in front of the television—leaving Hayes again wondered at Wade’s insistence that Estelle was a force of nature.Apparently, they’d served together on some county committee and had strongly opposing views.Hayes could feel the tension in the small house, but as long as Wade minded his manners and didn’t try to bully himself onto a tractor or something, then Hayes was happy to let things play out as they would—as long as Estelle didn’t quit.
Bailey had arrived early.He’d seen her truck drive by when he’d been showing Estelle around the kitchen and laundry room, answering questions and agreeing that the crumpled horse blanket could be moved outside.When he finally made his way out of the house, the television was playing just a little too loudly in the living room and, in response, Estelle had cranked up the volume on the small music device she’d brought.He wondered how the battle between eighties classics andLonesome Dovewas going to play out during the day.However it ended, he was going to look into headphones for Wade.Possibly that afternoon.He didn’t feel it was his place to tell Estelle to plug in.
“Are you okay?”Bailey asked as he approached the corral where she’d just finished grooming Dakota, making him realize that he was already thinking about how he was going to sucker someone else into a caretaker role if the worst happened today.But it hadn’t happened yet, so he cleared his expression.
“Estelle’s still on the payroll.”
“That’s good news.What’s it been?An hour?”
“Just about.”He let himself in through the gate and ran a hand over the golden mare’s smooth coat.Bailey had the horse shining, and he recalled the way she’d taken care of her barrel-racing horse back in the day.He also recalled how she’d felt in his arms yesterday, those sexy lips glued to his.
“Do you have a horse?”
“I travel too much.”He noted the regret in her voice.
“But you have a horse trailer.”
“Glorified travel trailer.The better to secretly transport my friend’s horse.”She stroked the mare’s silvery mane.“I bought the trailer from Jenna when I started seriously hitting the gear shows.I set up my work and sales area in the back and live in the front.It works well.”
A silence fell, the kind that was hard to puncture.But puncture it, he must.Hayes wanted to set things straight before they headed out that day.
“About yesterday.”
Bailey’s expression didn’t change as she said, “We’re not kids anymore.”She sounded very much like she had when she’d schooled him about Wade needing help.
“What does it take to crack your composure, Bailey?”
She smiled at the question.“I don’t know.The threat of commitment maybe?”
“That’s one thing I’m not asking for.”Which he’d made clear yesterday.
“Yeah?”Her eyebrows lifted in a challenging way.
“No job, no home of my own.”No woman.“I’ve failed in all the commitment areas.”
“Such a disappointment.”
