Page 64 of Unforgettable Cowboy
Jenna raised her eyebrows, leaving Bailey to consider the adamance of her response.
“Do you know him well enough to be sure?”
She did and she didn’t bother to say it aloud.
“Is he trustworthy?Honest?No underlying agendas?”
Bailey nodded.Hayes was all those things.
“Then trust yourself.”Jenna gave a dark smile.“But also make certain you have an exit strategy.A good one.”
She patted the window frame and stepped back.“Keep me posted.”And in case Bailey thought her friend was talking about travel, she added, “Ping me on the trip, too, so that I know you’re okay.”
*
Hayes was elbowdeep in the pipe that led from the spring to the water tank, pulling out the leaves and debris that had plugged it.A trickle of water started draining into the almost empty stock tank as he flung gunk from his hand.Cool.He reached in again, just managing to get hold of the small nest of sticks that were holding more leaves in place and pulling it out.
As soon as that part of the blockage was clear, water began to flow, pushing out smaller bits of organic matter that had backed up behind the mass of sticks.He rinsed his muddy hands and arms then stepped back.Good to go.
He wiped the back of a damp hand over the bridge of his nose, then went still as he sensed he was being watched.
Had a freaking black bear crept up on him?He turned slowly to face whatever had his senses tingling, then let out a breath as he saw Bailey standing on the small rise behind the water tank.
He pushed the brim of his hat up to see her better.“You’re back.”Which he hadn’t expected.Had there been an emergency?Had Chance showed up?“Did you get the horse dropped off okay?”
She moved closer, her hands in her back pockets.“We did.Then Dylan drove into the sunset like the hero he is.”
“Nothing wrong with a good hero,” he said.
She came a few steps closer, taking her hands out of her pockets for balance as her boots sunk into the boggy vegetation around the tank.“So you say.”She smiled a little.“I like it when I’m the hero.”
“Only because you’re not beholden to anyone.”
“Yes.That and…”
He realized he was holding his breath as he waited for her to finish her thought.
“Will you come with me to Laughlin?”
Of all the things she could have said, that was not even on his radar.
She glanced away as she continued.“I know you have a lot to do on the ranch, but I thought that since Jordan is staying for a few days—”
“Are you sure?”
She met his gaze dead on.“It’s one weekend.”
“To be followed by…?”
“More.”
His heart jumped at the certainty in her voice.
“I’m still figuring out what it looks like to share a life rather than surrender to it.”Her tone grew thoughtful, and Hayes moved through the muck until he was close enough to take hold of her upper arms.
“You’ve learned from your mom’s mistakes.”
“I did, but those mistakes left a mark.My mom never dated again after Bruce.”She gave a dismissive shrug.“She did find a nice guy to hang out with platonically though.”
