Standing in the store on Friday, he says, “Come out tomorrow morning. I want to take you for a ride.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “An actual ride. With me and Daisy,” he says with a laugh. “I mean, we could do the other thing too…” he trails off.
“Really, Cash? I would love that! Yay!” I do a little dance around. I haven’t ridden since I was a kid and the idea of riding out onto his beautiful land with my real-life cowboy makes me so excited. “What time? Like seven?”
“Well, I’m up with the sun every day so really anytime but don’t you want to sleep in? It’s Saturday.” He grins widely at my enthusiasm.
“Oh, so like…eight? I could bring breakfast,” I insist, bouncing on the balls of my feet.
“Sure thing, Hurricane.” Kissing the top of my head, he heads out and I settle in for a long day, anticipating tomorrow with butterflies in my stomach.
A few hours later, I’m feeding baby chicks who have grown a lot in the last week, murmuring softly to them and rubbing their little downy feathers, when the bell dings over the door.
“Welcome to Pete’s!” I yell in the general direction of whoever came in, but I get no reply. Dusting my hands off, I head to the register to make sure I’m not needed.
“You good, Matt?” I ask my coworker who stands behind the till. He has this small-town cutesy charm, like you see in movies. Not too far off from the way Cash acts, except, way more innocent. He’s cute and a few of the town girls pop in to see him sometimes. He’s younger, mid-twenties, I’d guess.Brown curly hair piled in a bun on top of his head and steel grey eyes. His relaxed demeanor is disarming.
“Hey, yeah. Living the small-town dream, baby,” he answers as he gives me a double thumbs up and a sarcastic smile. Laughter bursts from my lips.
Mirth still flowing between us, I look up and see my ghost turning the corner, a fifty-pound bag of dog food slung over his shoulder.
Duke approaches the counter, his body tense. As Matt rings his dog food in, I stand silently beside him. Duke watches us, his eyes narrowed, shifting between my face and Matt’s like he’s a detective on a case.
“Hey, Duke. How’s life treating you?” Matt asks as he presses buttons and processes the sale.
“Fine,” Duke snaps with open hostility.
Matt’s eyes widen at the edges a little. Compared to Matt, Duke is an imposing figure. Muscular and a good bit taller, hat on his head pulled low and a giant bag of food over his shoulder. I understand Matt’s reticence.
“Uh, okay.” Matt rubs his neck awkwardly. “Here’s your receipt. Have a good one.”
Duke ignores him, gives me one more long look before spinning on his heel and heading out the door.
“I’ll be right back, Matt.” I chase Duke into the parking lot.
“Hey, Grumpy, wait!” I command him, trying to keep up with his longer legs. He doesn’t slow and his shoulders are rigid. “Duke, please. Wait.” The note of pleading in my voice must touch him because he stops finally.
“What is it, Caroline?” he asks me, his voice tired, defeated.
“What is it? Why were you so...so...hostilein there?”
“Is it Little Matthew Gates?” he questions, pained.
“Is who, Matt?”
“The guy, the other guy?”
Without even thinking of the consequences, I laugh, incredulous. Duke turns to walk away. I grab his arm to stop him, the laughter dying.
“Matt? No. He’s like eight years younger than me. He’s just my coworker. Maybe my friend but that’s it. I don’t even have his number.” I can’t believe he thinks that.
“Fuck, Caroline.” He scrubs his hand over his face. “I’m sorry. This whole thing has me so on edge that every man I see feels like my competition, even men I don’t think you even know. I’m not a jealous man. I’m just not.” He shakes his head. “But you’ve brought out this possessive streak in me and I don’t know how to deal with it. Maybe it is better we cool off.”
He turns to his truck, throwing the food in the bed before I even have time to register it.
Saturday morning, I head over to Lizzie’s early, hoping she’s making breakfast. She has, by far, the best coffee in town.
“Lizzie?” I call out as I get into the B&B.
“Callie? In the dining room, hun.” I see her sitting at the table, breakfast spread out and the smell of her magical, rich, and warm coffee permeating the air. Nothing in the world has ever made me feel as cozy and welcome as this house. “What’re you doing here this early?”
