Page 4 of Bride ’N Boots

Arden laughed and I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my mouth.

“You’re heading to Dark Timber Ranch?” Stratton asked.

Arden frowned. “Yeah. How did you know that?”

“I know this road well, becuase I work there.”

“You’re kidding,” Arden said.

“Nope. Ah, you know what? I remember Jo saying something last week about a photoshoot in the barn. But I completely forgot about it.”

“You work at Dark Timber Ranch?” I asked. “That’s a small world.”

“The smallest,” he agreed. “Good thing today is my day off. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to help you with the photoshoot.”

“Must be fate,” Arden said, shooting me a glance.

“Fate,” I snorted. “Oh please.”

Arden pulled onto the property and parked. “I’m just going to tell Jo we’re here and not to worry. Maisie, take him to the barn and get him into the clothes.”

Arden hopped out the SUV and was traipsing up the steps of the ranch house before I was even reaching for the door.

Stratton helped me out and I kept the skirt of the wedding dress lifted so the hem wouldn’t get stained with mud.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Sure thing.” Stratton closed the door and we headed in the direction of the barn. “So, about this payment . . .”

“Oh, right, let’s talk money.”

“I don’t want money,” he said.

“So you’re doing this out of the kindness of your heart?” I asked with dry humor.

“Hardly.” He shot me a grin. “I want a different form of payment . . .”

“Don’t you dare proposition me,” I warned. “I will punch you square in the eye; photoshoot be damned.”

“Feral. I like that,” he quipped. “And no. I wouldn’t dishonor you like that. That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you want?”

“A date.”

“With Arden? Sure. I can⁠—”

“With you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You.”

“But men always want to date Arden.”

“I’m sure they do,” he agreed pleasantly. “But you’re the one I want to take on a date.”

I paused, not wishing to examine the warmth that curled through me at his words. “A date with me is not on the table.”