Page 29 of The Wedding Ranch
She eyed him surreptitiously. He didn’t seem dangerous, and everyone seemed to know him. That had to mean something. She could think of worse ways to spend the evening, and if Mister made a mess of the house, she wasn’t ready to deal with that yet anyway. “Okay, then. Yeah. Let me change my shirt. Thanks for the offer of the ride, Diane.”
“No problem. You’re in good hands with Ryder. I’d be more help to the steer,” she teased.
“She’s the veterinarian,” Ryder explained.
She looked around to see where she could go and change into the clean shirt. “I knew that, but I didn’t put it together until she told me. I took my dog to her when we first got to town.”
He pointed out the tent toward the building next door. “The ladies’ room is over there. I’ll wait here for you.”
Chapter Nine
Ryder waited while Lorri changed her shirt, and stood there second-guessing why he’d insisted she stay at the fair for a while. It wasn’t his job to care for her in the first place.I should’ve let Diane give her a ride home. What the heck has gotten into me?
The internal banter had only just begun though.
I tackled her pretty good trying to get her out of the way. Watching over her for a couple of hours is the right thing to do.
Has nothing to do with the fact she’s beautiful? No. Just to be on the safe side. A good neighbor.
She’s lovely. Even covered in dirt with wood shavings in her hair. But I’m not interested. I only have room for one woman in this heart.
“Great. I’m talking to myself and answering myself too. That’s it. I’m officially crazy,” he mumbled.
Maybe it’s appropriate we’re going to go build birdhouses. I’m cuckoo.
He kicked his boot in the dirt.
“Good as new,” Lorri said, interrupting his self-assessment. “This shirt is the softest material I’ve ever worn.”
“Looks good.” He cleared his throat and lifted his eyes from the logo on her chest, leveling his gaze with her deep green eyes. “That shirt is made from recycled milk jugs or something eco-friendly.”Milk jugs? Really? I’m a blundering fool.“The Wedding Ranch is very aware of cause and effect on the environment. Recycling. Reduced carbon footprint. All that.”
“I’d read about that. Here’s a fun fact for you. I actually created the logo that’s on this shirt.”
“You know Reece and Ross?” She was a little shorter than he realized now that she was on her feet.
“No. Not exactly.” Lorri shrugged. “They must be the owners. They wouldn’t know me either. I work for the graphic arts firm out of Raleigh that was contracted to do the work. I was living there—in Raleigh—when the project came in,” she explained.
“Small world.”
“It is sometimes,” she agreed with a smile that was beautiful even though her lips were still bluish.
“Yes.” He cleared his throat. No need to tell her he was related to them. He probably wouldn’t see her again after tonight. “The shirt works. Good.”
She nodded.
“So, new in town?” He started walking toward the big block building.
“Is that your best line?” The toying edge to her comment came across as playful.
“Yeah. Guess so. I mean, I know everyone in this town, and I haven’t seen you before.”
“So, it was a statement?” Lorri commented. “Not a question?”
“Right. That and Tinsley told me that you lived down from her mom which means you moved into Mill Creek Highlands.”
“Yes, I did,” she said. “From Raleigh.”
“Right. You said that. I could’ve guessed you were from Raleigh though. You have that city attitude to you.”
