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“Isn’t that nice.” Nancy’s tone was courteous but she seemed a little disappointed and Cat secretly didn’t blame her for that. Wade Rogers was too attractive to fit the tame label of “family friend.”
The other woman handed Cat a pen and a receipt for the sugar. “Please sign here.”
“Thanks, Nancy.” Cat jotted her name and they left.
Going out the door of the commissary, she turned to Wade. “Brace yourself. The ranch telegraph will be clattering big time.”
“Because you bought five pounds of sugar?”
“No. Because I came in here with you. Around here, that counts as news.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Everyone will want to know who you are and what you’re doing here, so you’re liable to field a few questions.” Cat sighed. “As will I.”
Wade studied her with a sidelong glance. “Guess you don’t do much dating, Cat.” Startled, she lifted her head. He read the unvoiced question in her look and explained, “If you did, Nancy wouldn’t have been so surprised to see you with a man.”
Cat felt a little uncomfortable. “You’re right.” They were well away from the commissary by now, starting home across the expanse of the ranch yard. “Are you always so quick to read situations?”
“Oh, I’ve had a fair amount of practice. In my line of work, it’s an essential skill.”
“I imagine that’s true,” Cat replied.
They walked in companionable silence for a little while, Wade lifting his head to look up at the Homestead in the near distance, pillared and impressive.
“So, is it by choice?” Wade asked her.
Cat looked at him in confusion. “What?”
“That you don’t date. Or date rarely. Whichever applies.”
She really didn’t want to answer that truthfully, but she did, her voice low. “By choice, I suppose. Although there is a definite shortage of eligible candidates.”
“Especially ones brave enough to ask a Calder out.”
Cat laughed. “You’re underestimating the men who live in this wide-open land. Very little ever intimidates them.” Pausing, Cat shook her head with wry amusement. “How did we get on this subject again?”
“Maybe because we’re both wondering about it.” Wade paused. “At least I am. I think you feel a similar attraction. If I’m wrong, just say so.” He cocked his head. “Am I rushing things?”
“A little,” Cat replied. “But I don’t mind.”
His expression turned rueful. “This whole dating scene baffles me. Things have changed so much. I feel awkward as hell. Like I lost whatever technique I might have had somewhere along the way.”
The open confession disarmed her. “I know the feeling. I take it you haven’t dated much either.” She left the subject of the loss of his wife alone.
“No,” Wade said. “I barely knew where to start. A couple of friends offered to fix me
up, but I figured if I didn’t click with someone they thought would be perfect for me, my friends would get insulted. So that wasn’t an option. Then I looked into those online match-ups—” He shook his head with a grimace. “Not for me. How about you?” adding quickly, “if you don’t mind my asking.”
Cat laughed. “It’s okay. I did the same thing one night when I was feeling lonesome.”
“And?”
“I checked out the eligible men in my age range, but I didn’t post a photo or profile.”
“Maybe that’s why I didn’t find you,” he teased.
“No. I quit looking before I signed up. Between grown men who posted their prom pictures from when they still had hair and all the oddballs who described themselves as ‘fun,’ I just wasn’t interested.”
