Page 20 of The Cowboy and His Beauty
"Yes," I confirm.
"I've never seen my wife in shock but I'm pretty sure she's in shock right now." he chuckles and then there's a little squeak from the other end of the line.
"I think I'm going to need you to explain," Sarah says.
So, I started at the beginning at the store and told her how he seemed vaguely familiar but I didn't recognize him but that's the sparks that were there. I told her that the reason I took dinner out to him was that I was trying to figure out who he was.
I tell her how well we got along and add about our time getting to know each other on the ranch. I tell her about the flirting and kisses and how he cut his hair, and that's where I put two and two together.
Then I tell her about heading into town, running into Ben, and our conversation. How I drove around the lake before coming back. I tell her about the barn and Dash and our conversation through dinner, right up to him walking me to my door.
"Wow. Just... wow," she says.
I know the feeling. "It's hard to combine Dash and Corey as one person, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is. Have you managed to do it?" she asks.
"I'm working on it, but for the most part, yes."
"Are you going to give him a second chance?"
"I'm want to see where things go, but there’s a strong possibility."
"I want to meet him as he is now." There’s some muffled noise and whispers in the background before she starts talking again. "We were looking at making plans for a few weeks from now, but I think we'll come up this weekend."
"I'll talk to him and make sure he's okay with that. If not, we can at least have a girl’s night at the lake house.”
“Better be up for it, and a girl's night is mandatory, no matter what."
"I agree."
"Plus, we're coming up to see Jesse and Natalie and their new baby. Ann Mae has not stopped talking about that little one, and I'm jealous that I haven't met him yet."
"Sounds like a plan. I haven't met him yet, either. And I haven't run into them in town. It seems they're keeping to themselves right now."
"Can't blame them. Newlyweds and a new baby. I’d hide from the world too,"
We say our goodbyes and I get ready for bed. I lie there and figure out how I'm going to approach this subject with Dash.
The next morning, I get up a little earlier, trying to beat Dash into the kitchen before breakfast, but no such luck. He's already there and has the coffee going.
I dressed up a bit today in jeans and a T-shirt, not my usual leggings, and did my hair instead of throwing it up in a messy bun.
"Shoot. I was hoping to beat you up. You've been up before me every morning this week."
Dash offers me a small smile and hands me a cup of coffee.
"Thanks." I take the coffee from him and head to the refrigerator to get my creamer when I realize he’s already added it. I take a sip, and the coffee is made exactly how I like it. "You've been paying attention."
"Hasn't changed much since high school, just no more sugar," he says, referring to the vanilla creamer I like in my coffee.
"What about your coffee? Still only half and half?"
"Nope. Straight black now. That's all you get on deployment, and you learn to love it."
I sip my coffee and think about my talk with Sarah.
"Out with it," Dash says, startling me from my thoughts.
