Page 48 of Unforgettable Cowboy
“Thank you!”
“Made a sale?”
“If I keep it up, I won’t have stock come Sunday.”She gave a tight smile before unwrapping the napkin from around the plastic flatware.
“Jordan wants to search Chance’s trailer.”Hayes casually bit into a heavily buttered roll.
Bailey gave him a sharp look, not certain if he was kidding or not.“I suppose you have a plan to do that?”
“Of course we do.I’ll keep Meyers busy by punching him, and my brothers will see if they can find your silver.”
Bailey glanced down at her plate, which she balanced in her lap, ready to set it aside if she needed to assist a customer.“Please don’t do that.”She stabbed a fry with her fork.
“Won’t be making promises I’m not sure I can keep.”Hayes gave her a serious sideways look.“I mean that.”
He wasn’t only speaking of punching Chance.He was talking about the two of them.Bailey felt her breath hitch.
What if she couldn’t uphold her end of things?What if she ruined this guy twice?
She was pretty certain that she loved him, but what did she know about love?What had she seen during her life with those close to her?She’d been so focused on protecting herself for so long that she hadn’t given much thought to the effect her actions had on others.
Pretty damned selfish, that.
Hayes gave her a gentle nudge and her head came up.Estelle was approaching from the parking lot with a cardboard box in her hands.
“I got here as soon as I could.”
“Thank you.I appreciate this so much.”Estelle had refused any kind of compensation, even gas.What she didn’t know was that she was going to receive a piece of silver jewelry before Bailey left the area.
Estelle lingered while Bailey opened the box.There were more pieces than she expected, and for once she was glad of slow consignment sales.She beamed her thanks at Estelle.“This will help so much.Thank you again.”
“It was not out of my way,” Estelle assured her before turning to Hayes and asking him if Wade was home alone.
“We’re bringing him to the rodeo tomorrow, but tonight he’s on his own.Jess is staying a little longer than usual to make sure he’s not wanting for anything.”
Estelle nodded her approval and it occurred to Bailey that the little woman might actually enjoy facing off with Wade.The man could certainly keep a person on their toes.Maybe Estelle liked a little spice in her life.She certainly showed no signs of regretting her decision to go to work for the Matthews family, regardless of she and Wade having differing thoughts on the future of the community.
After Estelle left, Hayes got to his feet.“I do need to check in on Wade.”
Bailey also stood.“I appreciate your help.”
“You can come back to the ranch tonight, you know.”
“I’ve got a bed right here and I like staying close to my display.”
Hayes didn’t like leaving her—that much was obvious—but they hadn’t laid eyes on Chance all night.“I’ll be careful,” she said.“Would you do me a favor and feed the mare in the morning?”
“I will.”He looked down at her and Bailey was strongly reminded of the end of her eighth-grade prom when her date of the evening had wanted very much to kiss her but hadn’t known how to go about it.Hayes definitely knew how to go about it but was keeping it classy in the vending area.
“Thanks, Hayes.”She wasn’t only referring to feeding Dakota Sunshine, and the rueful smile he gave her told her that he got her drift.
She settled back behind her table as he walked away, feeling a touch lonely.They were growing closer, but Hayes was smart enough not to press matters so as not to scare her away.
It was working.
That didn’t mean she was changing plans or anything.Her plans were her security.Straying from them meant flailing about in the unknown, and she was not up for that.
Yet.
