“Okay.” FOMO wins out once again.
She hops, clapping her hands together. “Excellent. We originally thought somewhere in Calgary, but the break isn’t going to be long enough to drive all the way there. You’ve been here for a while now, right? Any restaurant recs?”
“Actually, no. But Calgary is definitely too far, and even if it wasn’t I’ve only been there twice. Once coming from the airport, and once to this restaurant that felt more like it belonged back in LA than anywhere near here. We should find a real country place. I could ask Quint?”
Her pink-glossed mouth twists up at the corner. “You do that. But don’t take too long. We’ve got to get back by two for the walkthrough and set check.”
“It’s just one question. I think I can handle it.” Although the tension that built up over the course of our ride might say otherwise.
I lead Flash out to her small field, and she immediately goes back to eating without giving me so much as a farewell nicker. Then I make my way over to the breedingbarn, peering into stalls and doors. I thought I saw Quint’s lanky figure walking back this way, but I could be wrong.
I’m reaching for my phone to send him a text when I spot him rummaging through the big cupboard. He steps back, turning on his heel, and flashes me a surprised smile when he spots me in the doorway. He’s got a red first aid bag and a ball of pink bandage in his hands. I could make use of that.
“You want to help out, or just stand there ogling me?”
I startle out of my trance, pushing off the door frame I was leaning against. “I wasn’t ogling.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I don’t have time to help. Maybe you can teach me another time.” Although the idea of staying here with him is more appealing than going to a noisy restaurant with a group of strangers. But I do need to get to know them. This is a crucial time.
“I’d love to.” He looks up from the bag, staring me directly in the eyes, and then his gaze wanders over to the green tack box to his right. A flush creeps up my cheeks. Boy needs to be put in his place.
“That’s not what I’m here for.” I hate how off balance he makes me feel lately. It’s uncomfortable, but still oddly nice. “Do you have any restaurant recommendations? Somewhere not too far, to get some real Alberta cuisine. We’re doing a little cast get-to-know-each-other lunch.”
The bandages slip from his hand he’s laughing so hard. “Cuisine? Not sure about that.”
“Whatever. You don’t need to be rude about it.”
“I’m not even sure what you’d classify as ‘Alberta cuisine’ other than maybe a good steak or burger. Some bison. We do like our meat here.” His words are weighty, laden with innuendo again, which I absolutely do not have time for.
“Like, country, kind of…cowboy. I don’t know.” I hold up my hands, at a loss for how to explain.
“Did you know Chinese food is actually a staple here? Ginger beef was invented in Alberta.”
“What?”
“It’s true, but I assume that’s not what you’re looking for.” He bends down to pick up the wrap that fell to the floor and rolled away. He gets to rerolling it and it’s like his hands are magnets that keep drawing me in. Long fingers, calloused from real labor, but soft and gentle when he wants them to be. When I let him.
“Another day.”
“Well, if you want good food with a touch of that country feel, you can all head to the Riverbend Café. It’s about a twenty-five-minute drive, in the next town over. It’s in an old barn, painted red with white trim. That perfect stereotypical experience you’re looking for. But the owners are good people and the food is amazing. Get the steak sandwich or a bison burger and flapper pie for dessert. That’s a real prairie dish.”
“Thank you.”
“You can thank me with a piece of pie when you get back.” He tilts his head, studying me. “And maybe a kiss.”
I frown at him. “A kiss for mocking me?”
“No, for the excellentrecommendation.”
“Hmm, we’ll see how good it is. If it lives up to expectations, I’ll consider it.”
“You do that. Drive safe.”
“I’m not driving. I got the restaurant recommendation covered. Someone else can do the driving.”
“Smart,” he says.
