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“What made him come?” Ryan asked as he watched the truck drive farther down the gravel road.
“Ran into LouAnne today. She must have told him she thought I was dating Truitt. He came to let me know how displeased he was by that.”
My father and Ryan both laughed.
“What a dick,” Ryan said, then looked at me. “What in the hell did you ever see in him, Saryn?”
My eyes jerked back to the gravel road where the truck turned and was lost from my view. “He was a way out when I thought all I wanted was out.”
I looked down at the ground before I met my father’s eyes. He nodded. “Grass isn’t always greener in the other pastures.”
With a forced smile, I nodded. “Lesson learned, Daddy. Lesson learned.”
“So, is it true? You and Truitt?” Ryan asked.
“Does that bother you?” I asked.
He laughed. “Hell no. Couldn’t think of a better guy for you, Saryn. He’s one of the good ones. If you don’t take into account that he’s clumsy as all hell. Good thing you’re a nurse, I guess.”
“Seems to me he just has a bit of bad luck. I believe it was you who shot him in the foot with a nail gun.”
Daddy turned to Ryan. “What!”
Ryan waved it off. “It was nothing. I’m going to, ah…go see if Mom needs any help with anything.”
My father looked back at me for an explanation.
“I’ll tell you another day, Daddy. I’ve got dinner to cook and Lucy’s gonna be leaving soon, so I need to take advantage of her keeping Liliana occupied.”
He pointed at me. “I’m going to hold you to it. No telling what those two boys were up to. Enjoy dinner and call me if that asshole comes back. Next time I’m going to grab Ryan’s gun and shoot the man in the ass as I’m chasing him off my property.”
I tried not to smile, but a small giggle slipped through. “He won’t be back, he got what he needed to say off his chest.”
“Hope you’re right. I’ll talk to you later, darlin’.”
Once my father was headed back to the main house, I rushed into mine and started getting everything ready for dinner. Lucy walked into the kitchen and bumped my shoulder. “She’s watching a Disney movie and glued to it. I actually checked to see if she had fallen asleep sitting up with her eyes open and a smile on her face.”
I chuckled. “What’s she watching?”
“Frozen.”
“Oh, one of her favorites.”
“Do you have everything under control? It’s five, so I should probably slip on out before Truitt gets here.”
I glanced around the kitchen. I had the noodles ready to go, the eggplant was in the oven, and a freshly made peach cobbler was sitting on the kitchen island. I’d overheard Truitt back in high school say peach cobbler was his ultimate dessert.
Here’s hoping I made it like he likes it.
“I think I’m good. Thank you so much.”
We hugged and I checked on Liliana before walking Lucy out to her car. When we stepped out onto the porch, I heard a truck driving down the road. I held my breath until I saw that familiar Ford. I knew it belonged to the handsome cowboy I was having dinner with tonight. My stomach dipped in excitement.
“Look at him, showing up early,” Lucy said, sliding into her car and waving goodbye to me. She waited for Truitt to park before she quickly started off down the drive. Maybe she thought I was nervous and would chase after her and beg her to stay. She’d be wrong on that. The moment Truitt stepped out of his truck and looked over at me, my body tingled. It really ought to be a crime for a man to look so gosh-darn handsome.
My cheeks felt hot as I thought about all the things I wanted to learn about his body.
Lord, Saryn, stop with all that silliness, girl.
I watched Truitt walk around the passenger side of his truck. He opened the door and a silver lab came bounding out and running toward me.
“Rus! No, heel!”
The dog skidded to a stop, ran around in a few circles and waited for his human to walk up to him.
“Wow! Did you train him or pay someone?” I called out.
Truitt placed his hand over his heart as if I had wounded him. “I trained him! As if I’d need someone to train my own dog.”
At those words, the dog took off in a run and headed straight toward me. At full speed. Tongue flying out his mouth and not a care in the world.
“Oh, no,” I whispered.
“Rus! Stay! Heel! Stop! No! Shit! Brace yourself, Saryn.”
But before the silver lab could jump up and knock me down, he bounded up the steps, ran around me a few times and then sat. His tail thumped fast and hard, and his whole body seemed to vibrate with pure excitement. I bent down and quickly made a friend. By the way he licked all over me, I’d say we were best friends from the get-go.
