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She stepped over to the truck and opened the door. “What are you doin’ here?” she drawled out. He wore a pair of jeans and that same dark gray T-shirt she’d helped him put on that morning. He wore a big, black cowboy hat that made her pulse pound out several loud beats, and even if he wasn’t a full-time cowboy who trained horses, he sure looked the part.
Mike lifted a big white bag with the Hilde’s logo on it. “Daddy and I just went to lunch, and I brought something for you, because I figured you wouldn’t have eaten yet.”
“Michael Hammond,” she said, her eyes now glued to that bag. “Is that a brisket sandwich?”
He chuckled as he nodded. “Now, take this so I can unbuckle and get out.”
5
Once Mike had gotten out of the truck, he turned back and faced his father. “I have my phone, okay? I’m gonna be a couple of hours, I’d imagine.”
Daddy nodded, his eyes skating past Mike to where Gerty was putting her lunch in her truck. “Michael,” he started, drawing out the name in a long drawl Mike had heard before.
“I know,” Mike said quickly. “I’ll be careful with this girl, Daddy.”
His dad’s dark eyes scorched him. “Son, she’s no girl. You best be careful with that woman.”
Mike swallowed and leaned further into the cab, because he didn’t know where Gerty was. “I like her, Dad,” he whispered.
“Obviously,” Dad said, also keeping his voice low. “It’s not a crime, but you’ve already got a lot on your plate.” So much more was said than just those words, and Mike heard them all. His father had always spoken like this, and Mike had learned to interpret from an early age.
Son, you’re moving into a new phase of your life here.
You have shoulder surgery in a few weeks, and a major healing phase after that.
You’re starting to train as the CEO of the family company, literally next week. You think you can add a girlfriend to that?
Maybe you’re not thinking clearly, Michael.
Yes, Daddy had said a whole lot more than “you’ve got a lot on your plate.”
“I know,” Mike said again. “Daddy, can you lecture me later, please?”
His dad smiled and nodded. “I’ll get Momma in on it with me,” he said with a chuckle. “So you best enjoy your afternoon with Gerty while you can.”
Mike backed out of the cab and shut the door. He turned to find Gerty waiting only a couple of paces away, smudges of dirt on her jeans and tank top. She wore thick-toed boots and the brightest smile in the universe.
“My daddy thinks I’m a fool,” he said, unable to straighten his own smile.
Gerty’s slipped. “He does? Why?”
“Because I’m literally going to have shoulder surgery in three weeks.” He moved closer to her as his father backed out and drove away. “And I told Hunt this morning I’d start working with him at HMC a couple of days a week, and I don’t even live here in Ivory Peaks.”
When he stood right in front of her, he took her hand in his. “And here I am, standing with this gorgeous woman, bringing her lunch, and hopin’ to start something with her.” He lifted her hand to his lips, touched her skin to his for a moment, and kept his head down as he lowered her hand. “I’m definitely a fool.”
“You’re having shoulder surgery in three weeks?” she asked.
“That’s what you got out of what I just said?”
“It’s a big piece.”
Mike met her eyes, and they both grinned again. Hers once again fell away quickly. “Mike, I’m—I—I told you I just got out of a relationship. I wasn’t lying. I’m….”
“Not ready to date,” he said. “I think I remember you saying that too.”
She nodded, her throat working as she swallowed. Mike wanted to erase her anxiety, and he leaned closer to her until she tilted her head back and he could press his cheek to hers. With his mouth right at her ear, he whispered, “You set the pace, baby doll. Okay? If you wanna go slow, we go slow. If you just want me to bring you lunch sometimes, I’ll do that. If you don’t, you just say so, and I’ll bow right out of your life for however long you want me to.”
“I don’t want you to bow out of my life.”
