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Audrey gestured for me to keep going. “And?What else?”
I gave a little huff and held up my hands. “I’m still getting to know the guy. Cut me some slack. I think he’s a little slow to open up.”
“Oh, I get it. One ofthose. Say no more.” She put up a hand to me and reached for the water pitcher to refill her glass.
“Wait, what? What are you talking about?”
She batted her thick eyelashes and gave me a sly grin. “I call that type ‘The Sleeper.’ Seems nice and civilized, and thenwhoosh! Before you know it, you’ve got yourself a real heartbreaker.”
“I don’t… I don’t want a heartbreaker.”
“Yes, you do! Thereis, in fact, a good way to get your heart broken. Think of this.” She pantomimed a video screen with her hands, her eyes animated. “You walk in the door, say you’ve been gone all day or something. You’re tired. So tired your knuckles are dragging, and you can’t see straight. What do you want to come home to? Option a: A bower of roses and a half-naked cowboy holding a champagne bottle.”
I giggled. “That would wake me up.”
Audrey quirked a brow. “Option b: His mother making dinner for him in your kitchen and complaining that you buy cheap cookware.”
“Ew! Where did you even come up with that one?”
“That was just to see if you’re paying attention. Now there’s option c: He’s got dinner on, the kids are asleep, and when you collapse like a rag doll on the couch, he slips behind you and rubs your shoulders. Then, when you’re nice and relaxed, he carries you to bed, snuggles you against his chest, and just holds you until you drift to sleep.” She finished with a wicked smile and a nod.
“Um… Let me wipe the drool off my chin.” I picked up my napkin to fan myself. “You weren’t kidding.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Audrey sighed, pretending to dash a little perspiration off her brow. “That, my friend, is how a guy shatters a girl in all the best ways. He’ll make you cry, but they’ll be happy tears. You’ll be worried every time he leaves the house, but it’ll be because you’re praying he comes home safely, not that he’ll be faithful. You hold out for the guy who can break your heart like that, and when you find him, trust him enough to let him do it.”
She chugged more from her glass, then held a finger up as she swallowed. “Oh. And find out if he has a brother because I’m in the market for one of those, too.”
“Hah! I thought you didn’t like cowboys.”
“I don’t. But didn’t you say Austen is a California guy?” She lifted her shoulders daintily. “West coast men are practically all savages, but I might be able to make that work.”
I laughed and tossed my napkin on my plate. “I can’t imagine there could be two of those floating around, but if they’re out there, maybe we’ll get lucky. I mean, why not us, right?”
“Exactly. Why not us?”
I thought about what Audrey had said the whole way home, and the rest of the night. I thought about it for weeks, actually. I didn’t know where she’d learned this wisdom about men, but she made perfect sense. That was the kind of man I could love for my whole life.
Was Austen that man? He’d rubbed my sore muscles at the work party, which had been really sweet, like he was trying to look out for me and make me comfortable. But the rest of it… actually, the roses and champagne guy sounded more like Austen. No doubt about it—he’d be the one with the huge bouquet and maybe the expensive gifts and the promise of a fun night on the town or something more… exotic at home.
That would be exciting, but I liked the idea of the guy who’d just take care of his woman—no fuss, no demands, and no need to make a show of it. Just a quiet, gentle hero who wanted a partner to wade through life with. One who thought romance was more about what you did than what you said or what you bought. And the only face that kept coming to mind belonged to Dusty Walker.
But he didn’t seem to like me like that. There had been that one moment when we were laughing together over the kids and I touched his arm, when I thought I read tenderness and promise in those blue eyes of his. But that was all I could be sure of. Like Morgan had said, he was sweet and kind to everyone, and his reputation in town bore that out. He didn’t treat me any differently… did he?
Maybe I should try to find out. I was bundled in bed, with Dakota curled up at my feet. He liked to hog the bottom of the bed, and he’d get mad if I tried to get up. Crazy dog. It was late, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep unless I at least reached out to Dusty. Could I do that without sounding stupid? Or desperate?
I bit my lower lip and whispered, “Come on, girl. He doesn’t bite.” I picked up my phone and typed. Maybe I’d just send a shot over his bow, so to speak. Just something to start the conversation.
-Morgan said you were buried at the ranch. Sorry you couldn’t make it today.
I didn’t expect a reply until morning, but ten seconds later, he answered.
-Bad luck, I know. We’ll be slammed for a while with Marshall out.
I thought for a second, then typed again.
-Well, the kids missed you, especially the boys. Any idea when you’ll be back?
Was that enough? Should I say that I’d missed him, too? That might be coming on too strong. Dusty was a shy kind of guy. I’d wait to see what he said.
