A cow?
“—she’s not a heifer anymore either, just hard to remember. I was keeping an eye on her because it was her first time, and she didn’t look toogood.”
Oh my God.
A cow?
I cover my face with my hands.
“Please ignore me. I would love the Earth to swallow me whole now. Have a good night. Congratulations on your baby cow and all.”
“Calf,” he mutters.
“Same, same!”
Quick steps approach me as strong, golden brown hands wrap around my arm. “It was a misunderstanding, that’s all. I don’t have a baby mama, or wife, or girlfriend, and I definitely don’t have a baby.”
“That’s your business, Dom. I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to intrude,” I whisper. But if it’s his business, why can I breathe easier now?
“I didn’t mean to laugh at you,” he says. “I was just taken aback. I’m tired. It’s been a long day, and it’s the first time I’m keeping watch over them myself. Last calving season, Arnie did it all.”
I don’t even know why I’m upset. It’s not like I have a right to his privacy or to his life.
I turn to face him. He’s so close to me that even with the musk of the day coating him, I can still smell his soap underneath. And pasture, because who am I kidding?
“I was just worried about you,” I say. There. I fixed it.
“Worried aboutme?” He sounds surprised, but in the best way.
“I haven’t seen you all day.” Might as well continue with the honesty.
A side smirk flashes over his face, making me shiver. “Missed me much, Riles?”
Who is this flirty man? I don’t have time to overthink this interaction at all, or whatever is going on with him.
“Nope, more like I needed to reach something way up high, and my favorite cowboy wasn’t there to rescue me from my own height again.” I try to shrug itoff.
His features change from what I thought was flirty to a solemn look again. This man is harder to read than a picture book, I swear.
“I got it, though, so no need to worry.”
He hums. “And that’s all?”
“Yup. You can go now. Go to sleep. I’m sure that mama cow and her baby will need you bright and alert.”
He nods, challenging me to keep my lie, but I don’t fall for the trap. I already revealed too much. It’s obvious I’m attracted to him, and if it wasn’t, my little outburst of jealousy made it clear.
He drops my arms but doesn’t leave my space. What is it with him today?
His eyes drop to my lips—my chest rapidly rises—then back to my eyes. I can’t take it. It’s all too much, and he’s too close, and I might do something stupid, like kissing those perfect, full lips behind his luscious beard if he doesn’t take a step back.
But he’s not.
So, I do the mature thing and open the door behind me.
“Goodnight, Dom.”
And then I shut it on his face.
