Page 18 of His Cowboy

“You look really nice today,” he said.

“Thank you.”

“Dressing up wasn’t necessary.”

I grinned. “Every once in a while I need an excuse to get this thing out. It’s certainly not something I can wear to work. What is good here?” I asked.

“Well, honestly I usually just have whatever’s on special. Everything has been good. So far, no complaints from me.”

“It’s been a really long time since I had a good steak.”

“Let’s get you a steak,” he said.

I bit my lip. There were no prices on the menu. I opened my mouth to ask, and Reese shook his head, as if reading my thoughts. “Dinner’s on me tonight, Perry. Let me treat you to something special.”

“Okay,” I said. “Can I treat next time?”

“You packed the sandwiches for our last picnic. Wasn’t that you treating?”

I let out a sigh. “Making food from the fridge doesn’t count. Especially when you’re footing the bill for the groceries. I have money. I have a job. I can pay for things. I mean, I might not be able to afford this restaurant, but I could take you somewhere.” Probably a fast food restaurant. Or maybe one of those diners that sold breakfast all day.

Reese’s brow furrowed, and he reached a hand across the table. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted.

“Reese!” a voice boomed, and a shadow fell over our table. “I feel like we are two ships passing in the night. I’ve been here a couple of days and I haven’t even seen you yet.” Travis stood next to the table. He reached out a hand and Reese shook it. Travis clapped him on the shoulder.

“It’s good to see you. Your mare is looking really good,” Reese said.

“Thanks.” Travis looked over at me with surprised eyes. “Oh my, I’m interrupting a date.” He turned back to Reese. “Look at you, dating one of the ranch hands.”

My cheeks flushed. The man didn’t seem to have an indoor voice, and more than one person was looking our way. I didn’t think Reese wanted to hide our relationship, but that was different from shouting it from the rooftops.

Reese shook his head. “Perry’s staying at the house, and he has his horse boarded at the ranch, but he’s not a ranch hand. He works at the vet clinic. He’s a vet tech, going to school to be a veterinarian.”

“Really? Well hell, had I had more time the other day when I met you, I would have learned all of that, but traveling takes a whole lot out of me. Which horse is yours?”

I swallowed thickly. “Blossom,” I said.

Travis winced. “Well, hell, man. This is why I ought to just keep my mouth shut. I didn’t mean to say what I said about her. She’s… well, she’s a nice looking horse.”

“That’s all right,” I said. “She’s not for everyone.”

“What did you say?” Reese asked. A protective tone entered his voice.

Travis held up his hands in surrender. “Nothing I haven’t said to you before. None of us understood why you kept that horse on the property. Even if she did toss that nice foal one time. But I’m glad she has Perry now.”

“Foal?” I said. I looked to Reese. Blossom had a foal? When? Why hadn’t he told me?

Reese pinched his eyes closed.

Travis sucked in a breath. “Well, I know when I have said too much, and clearly I have, again. Reese, it was good to see you. Let’s catch up before I leave town. The facilities are looking great, obviously, and I do appreciate that I can train there.”

“Yeah, man, we’ll talk soon,” Reese said.

The waitress came by and dropped off water.

“Just two specials, please,” Reese said, and she was on her way again. His eyes bore into mine. “I think we’ve got a lot to unpack here.”

“I suppose,” I said. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back. It wasn’t much distance between us, but it was enough.

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