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And then it hit me—Ben was the same man I’d seen that first night I arrived. I remembered his broad shoulders while shutting the trunk of his truck. The night wasn’t so bright and even the lights outside didn’t do justice to visibility.
No wonder his face had felt like a half-remembered dream. He had looked good even then, but now, in broad daylight, he was simply captivating.
I couldn’t deny the chemistry between us either. That electricity in the air, those stolen glances that held more meaning than they should’ve. What was I getting myself into?
I’d just gotten out of a disastrous relationship, and now here I was, inexplicably drawn to a man who was quite possibly my new client. I should be focusing on my veterinary work, not allowing my mind to wander into uncharted territories.
The image of the grand ranch house he had shown me flashed in my mind. The sheer scale of the transformation he had accomplished was impressive. And it had distracted me that night, back when I was nursing my own wounds over a failed wedding.
How could I’ve been so enthralled by the architecture that I forgot my own heartache? Maybe because Ben's presence seemed to have a way of making everything else fade into the background.
I sighed, pulling into the driveway of Aunt Nelly's house. Sitting in the parked car, I rested my forehead against the steering wheel.
"Olivia, you're here for the animals," I reminded myself sternly.
"You can't let yourself get distracted."
But my heart didn't seem to be listening. The tension between us was undeniable, and no matter how much I tried to rationalize it away, I couldn’t escape the fluttering in my chest whenever I thought of him. As I finally stepped out of the car and into the house, I knew that navigating this new chapter in Dallas was going to be far more complicated than I’d ever anticipated.
The sun had dippedbelow the horizon by the time Aunt Nelly returned from the hospital, her tired expression speaking volumes about the long day she'd had.
As Aunt Nelly settled into her favorite armchair after a long day at the hospital, I seized the opportunity to share my ranch visit with her.
"Hey, Aunt Nelly, so… I went to the ranch today," I said with an excited grin.
Aunt Nelly looked up from her newspaper, her tired eyes showing a glimmer of interest. "Oh, you did? How’d it go?"
I leaned forward, animatedly recounting my day at the ranch, leaving out any personal thoughts about Ben. "It was quite an experience. The ranch is massive, and the cattle are adorable. I helped diagnose a sick cow, and I think I made a positive impact."
Aunt Nelly smiled warmly. "I'm proud of you, dear. It's wonderful that you're putting your veterinary skills to good use."
"Yeah, it felt good to help," I replied, trying to sound casual.
As our conversation flowed, I decided to probe Aunt Nelly for more information about the ranch and its owner. "Aunt Nelly, How’d Ben manage to transform that factory into such a lush ranch? It's quite impressive."
Aunt Nelly's eyes lit up with reminiscence. "Oh, that's a story. He had a vision, and he worked tirelessly to bring it to life. Ben has always been a hard worker, and he had the right people helping him.
The place used to be a factory owned by Agro America, and he bought it after they shut down. I remember when it was just empty buildings and barren land."
I leaned in, eager to learn more.
"And the animals? How’d he end up with so many different kinds?"
Aunt Nelly chuckled.
"Well, Ben started with just a few cattle, and then he gradually expanded. He added horses, pigs, chickens, and even some exotic animals like llamas and alpacas. He's got a team of experts to take care of each group, and he's put a lot of thought into creating suitable environments for each species."
I nodded in fascination.
"That's incredible. It's clear he's dedicated to his animals."
Aunt Nelly's gaze turned contemplative.
"He’s. And you know, Olivia, he's done a lot for this community. He sponsors local events and has employed many people. He's well-respected around here."
I listened intently, absorbing every detail.
"It sounds like he's made quite an impact."
