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“Ooh, bossy.” Ellie nudged him in the side. “I like it.”
Lexi eyed Ellie as though she didn’t know what to make of her. Which made two of them.
“Lexi, would you like to look inside the barn?” Jackson asked. “We’ve got some stables at the back, and some pens we use when—”
Oh. That’s right. Brutus. He glanced at his watch. Had time slipped away that much? Jess Martin was due to arrive this afternoon, having declared the other day that she couldn’t yet determine what was wrong. She’d said she might know in a few days.
Those few days were now, so he’d have to forgo driving Lexi home. This didn’t sit well, especially when he now felt the urge to apologize for his sister’s blatant manipulations.
Maybe a quick tour of the barn would work. He directed her through on the Cliff’s Notes edition, pointing out things of interest, which didn’t take long. He figured a nurse’s interest levels would be way less than a rancher’s.
“Jackson turned this into a dance hall for New Year’s,” his ever-helpful sister said. “It looked amazing, with twinkling lights everywhere. It seemed like half the town was here.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Look at my photos.”
It seemed to take an age for the pictures on Ellie’s phone to be looked at and exclaimed over, and Jackson grew increasingly aware of the time. “We should probably get you home soon,” he said, when it seemed Lexi had seen every last one of Ellie’s photos.
“Sure.”
But when they went out the front it was to see a bright red Dodge pickup pulling in, dust lifting behind. “Hey, Jackson, Ellie,” Jess Martin said, lifting a hand. “I came to see how Brutus is. Hope you don’t mind that I’m a little early. I meant to tell you at church but got called out to a calving gone wrong late last night and slept in. But anyway, I’m here now.” She seemed to notice Lexi. “Hey. Jess Martin, veterinarian.”
“Lexi Franklin.” Lexi offered a smile.
“She’s the daughter of Peter Franklin, from the Bible school in town,” Ellie said.
“Pleased to meet you.” Jess grinned at Lexi then turned to Jackson. “Are you ready to show me how Brutus is getting on?”
He nodded, pivoting to Lexi. “Thanks for coming.”
“Thanks for having me.”
“Um …” He scratched the back of his neck. “I was wondering if maybe you might like—”
“Hey, Jackson, you mind if I just go down to the barn?” Jess said.
“Sure. I’ll be there in a sec.” He focused on Lexi, doing his best to ignore his sister and her mile-wide smirk. She sauntered off to his car. Typical. She’d insist on driving his vehicle, not hers, and he could bet a million dollars she wouldn’t put gas in it. He shook his head.
Lexi’s brow now wore a crease. “You should probably see to your … Brutus, was it?”
“My bull. He’s not doing well. We’d hoped he’d be a stud, but he’s firing blanks.”
She blinked. “Right. Well …”
Look at him making small talk, charming the lady with talk of his bull’s infertility issues. Man. He wished he could be smooth like Liam Darcy. “See you around, Lexi.”
She nodded. “See you around.”
Then she turned and walked away.
CHAPTERSIX
“Idon’t know what to think anymore.”
Lexi’s footsteps stilled. Judging from the hushed murmurs coming from the living room, her parents were having a Serious Discussion. She had no wish to interrupt.
“—she’s been a shadow of herself since the attack.”
