by Donna Alward
The screen showed his mother’s choices, three brunettes who looked too similar to his ex. He’d had a type but had learned five years ago it was the wrong one. He refreshed the options. A blonde equestrian standing beside her show horse. Too much work. Another brunette using the confederate flag as a dress. Not going there. A fresh-faced redhead with an impish grin.
He clicked on the profile of the vet from one county over. Divorced, no kids. Hadn’t been married a year. Sounded like someone he knew all too well. He tipped his hat and logged off.
“Did you choose three?” His mother turned his way as he made his escape.
“It’s handled.”
“You made a date already?”
“Mama, you’ll get your September date if I have to go hang out at Trophy Room. I’m not spending another year like this one.”
“Me either,” she muttered, returning to the dishes.
Chapter Two
Jacy locked her bedroom door, which she hadn’t done since she moved home after vet school. With both her younger brothers back at the ranch, she didn’t dare check notmy1strodeo.com downstairs. She lay atop her made bed and smoothed her hand across the first and only quilt she’d ever made. The collection of horse fabric had been clever to a pre-teen, but it seemed too busy now. But since it had taken her six months, she’d use it until it fell apart.
She opened the dating app on her phone and groaned. This dating thing was worse than a desk job. She propped herself against the pillows to peruse the hat tippers. She immediately set a filter to weed out everyone over fifty. Should have been more careful about that.
Cowboy number one had a great photo. He seemed to have been snapped unaware, staring out at a grassy pasture, a wide grin lifting his stubbled cheeks. Divorced, under forty, married less than a year, no kids. Ray Mitchell’s light brown hair had a little curl and his body looked great beneath the gray T-shirt. In fact, his whole profile made her think twice about hers. She shouldn’t have used the headshot her mother had snapped for the veterinary clinic website. Maybe she could get Carly to take one that showed more personality.
She shook her head. No, this wasn’t about showcasing herself. This was just about finding someone to hook up with. She winked at his profile and then scrolled to the next. And the next, and on until she’d told more men to look away than she’d thought possible on a profile that had only been active for six hours.
A woodpecker knock sounded from her phone as the app lit up with a message alert. It took her a minute to figure out how to access it.
“Duck or Beaver?”
When she saw the simple question, she had to smile. Most guys opened the conversation by either telling her she was beautiful or asking if her hair was naturally red.
“Black and orange forever!”
She’d much rather talk about her alma mater than discuss her hair. Unless he was a duck, because the school rivalry in Oregon was enough to keep him from being a contender. One university was known for football and lawyers while hers actually taught useful things.
“Animal Management ’05”
“Pre-vet med ’09 and DVM ’13”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down. Thank goodness she’d thought to shorten her name. He’d been on the OSU campus with Ace and Slade, but before she’d made it there. Bullet dodged.
“Did you Steer-a-year?”
“No extracurriculars. Worked weekends as a vet-tech, so didn’t have time for any clubs.”
“Clubs at OSU mean something different than at most schools.”
“Thank goodness.”
Her eyes widened and she wanted to reach into cyberspace and grab the text back. She didn’t need him knowing she hated places like that. Maybe he was looking for a fun type. Girls who wanted to sleep with a guy right off probably did that kind of thing.
“Agreed. Waste of time.”
“I’m more of the up-early than the late-night type.”
“Me too. Can I call you? I hate texting.”
Her hopeful heart gave a squeeze and then kicked up a notch. She needed to ask him out, put her plan into motion. She texted her number and prayed he didn’t have a squeaky voice.
The dinner bell sounded on her phone and her heart jumped. She cleared her throat before answering in what she hoped was a nonchalant tone. “Hello?”
“Jacy? It’s Ray.” He had one of those warm whiskey voices that she found so sexy.
“Hi.” Think of something to say. Something worldly, interesting.
“Hi.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She couldn’t help the laugh. He joined in and her pulse skipped at the sound of his mellow baritone.
“I don’t know who came up with internet dating, but they should have also developed a way out of awkward conversations.”
“Right? It’s all a gamble until you see the person up close and can see if they even resemble their profile. And even then, some computer nerd who never had a date wrote a program that thinks you and this person will get along. And then you go home thinking you’ve been punked by a TV show.” She wrinkled her nose. Rambling, so attractive.
“You’ve just described my last year. Do you look like your picture?”
“Mostly. My mom did it for the office website. What about you?”
“My mother took it when I wasn’t looking. She liked it.”
She cleared her throat. This could be a deal breaker. “Do you live at home with your mother?”
He gave a chuckle. “I’m not one of those. We’re on the same property, but I have my own place.”
Which meant he had a bed. She sighed in relief. “I can’t judge. My mother is down the hall and I’ve got two brothers downstairs.” Crap, she sounded pathetic. “But it’s only because I’m mobile for work. Sometimes I don’t make it back home for a few days, so taking care of my own place would be a challenge.”
“You don’t have to defend yourself.”
“I know. I’m just nervous. I’m bad on the phone.”
“So I’m not a fan of texting, and you’re not into phones. I guess that means we’ll have to meet in person.”
She pumped her fist in the air. “I’d like that.”
“Where will you be this weekend?”
She pouted, not sure what he meant.
“You said you had to travel for work.”
“Oh, right. I’m at the wildlife park outside of Roseburg until Saturday morning.”
“Okay. Do you want me to drive up there or would you like to come here on your way south?”
“I’ll come there. Where do you want to meet?” A heaviness settled in her chest. She’d told him she lived on the opposite end of the state. If she went to him, her drive home would be an extra two hours. But if he came to her, there was a chance someone at the park might mention something. Lying sucked hard.
“Um, depends on when you’re free. Becky’s for coffee, Trophy Room for drinks?”
“Coffee is good.” That way she could still get home at a decent hour. She was expected to be home on Sunday, and if they went out for drinks, she wouldn’t be. Though she might be more relaxed if she knocked a few back before trying to knock boots. He spoke before she could change her answer.
“Becky’s at eight?”
“That sounds great.” She had so much to Google. Ray, directions, Becky’s. This was why she’d never tried to get laid before. Too damn much work.
“Thanks, Jacy.” He took a deep breath. “I’m going to be disappointed if your hair isn’t actually red.”
She tugged on her standard-issue ponytail. “You won’t be disappointed. I promise.”
Becky glared down at Ray as she poured his coffee. The disapproving expression had to be courtesy of his mother. She’d worn a matching one for the last two days, insisting that coffee wasn’t really a date. She’d bee
n so ornery about it, he’d tried to arrange to meet Jacy last night, but she’d been on mustang watch at the wildlife park an hour north.
“Thank you, Miss Becky.” He leveled his gaze at the cafe owner, wishing the town wasn’t small enough for everyone to know his business.
“She’s late.” Her ruddy face pulled lower. “Probably thinks you were kidding about coffee.”
“She’s on her way.” He ran his fingers over his phone, where he’d found a picture of a newborn zebra and her text, “Running late”, when he awoke.
“You sure? Because I put aside cinnamon rolls and I don’t want to waste them.”
He flipped over the empty coffee mug beside his and gave his best smile. “Warm them up.”
“Cream and sugar?” She laid the sarcasm on thicker than the meringue on her famous pies.
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
After an exaggerated eye roll, she made her rounds sprinkling sweetness on all the other customers in the crowded restaurant. Next time, he’d tell his mother after the obligatory date. He didn’t need the opinions of women who hadn’t dated this century on what constituted a date. Life had changed since dinner and a movie. No one took that kind of time anymore. Dating sites did the weeding out, and coffee or drinks decided if you might actually be worth a few hours. He didn’t like it anymore than they did, but the game played on.
Trailers and RVs lumbered down the highway in front of the restaurant. The parking lot had filled up as he’d waited. He sipped the scalding coffee and stared out the window, wishing he cared less. They’d had two abbreviated conversations since he’d asked her to coffee. Both times, she’d been in the middle of some sort of animal emergency. Maybe a colicky cow or lame sheep had trumped him again.
A giant black truck pulled off the highway, topped by an equally oversized cabover camper. Curiosity had him wondering just where that behemoth would park, until he spied a red-haired driver heading right towards his motorcycle and blocking it in. Not that he could make a run for it, but still.
He’d bet the roof light bar could illuminate an entire barn. Her truck made his look like a pasture wagon. He stood as she disappeared from sight and grinned when she pushed open the door. A vision even more enticing than her profile photo had hinted at.
Long red hair gleamed over her shoulders and she looked younger than twenty-nine with her fresh face smiling and makeup free. A blue and green plaid shirt covered most of her, a white tank top and dark jeans took care of the rest. She was shorter than he’d figured, with unexpected curves that had him wishing he’d pushed for a dinner date. She walked towards him, her smile brightening with every step of her mud-speckled boots.
“Ray?” She held out her hand. He took it in his, impressed by her firm grip. “Sorry I’m late. I meant to be on time. And then there was no parking space so I’ve blocked someone in.”
“It’s my bike, so you’re in the clear.”
Her pink cheeks darkened. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t trying to trap you, I promise.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He motioned to their booth and glanced back at a gaping Becky. His mother would hear about the pretty redhead before Jacy had her first sip of coffee.
Jacy bumped into the table as she slid in, apologizing again. “I’m messing this up, aren’t I?”
“It’s fine, really. Animals can’t tell time. I get it.”
“Thanks. I didn’t expect anything to happen while I was on watch. Having extra vets come in is really a precaution. I’ve been there a dozen times before with nothing to do but watch monitors. And then we realized the zebra was foaling so we headed out. It’s so amazing to watch them foal naturally, without intervention. We waited to make sure the foal could stand and nurse. She let us close enough to iodine the umbilicus before she decided the show was over. It’s one of those things that makes me think we ought to let horses foal in the field, but then I think of postnatal infections and what would happen if the mare needed help and we didn’t know and birthing onto straw rather than dirt and—” She sighed and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m rambling. Sorry. I do that sometimes. Okay, all the time.”
“It’s fine. Better to talk about animals than the weather.” He reached out and rested his fingers against her flannel-covered arm. He liked that she was talking, filling in the usual silence that came before the job-interview portion of a first date.
Her shoulders relaxed. “I’m excited. And nervous. And severely under-caffeinated.”
Ray motioned toward the coffee, noticing how her hazel eyes shone. “There is coffee.”
“Good.” She wrapped her hands around her mug and lifted it. She took in a deep breath and smiled. “This stuff is so strong I’ll wake up in two minutes. I’ll drink, you talk.”
“I don’t have anything as interesting as a zebra happening in my life. My morning was chores and this afternoon I have to reposition a bull.”
“What kind?” She sipped at the coffee Becky served cowboy strong without wincing.
“Angus with enough Brahma to make him punchy. Bones spent two years on the circuit, so he likes to show off.”
“They’re fun to watch, but treating them is a nightmare.”
“Bones puts on a good show, but he’s highly motivated by food. Back in his day, he was impossible, but that’s the point of a bull. I wouldn’t want to draw a mild one.”
She set her empty mug down with a clunk. “You rodeo?”
“Not since college, and that was team roping. Bones is the first bull I trained. Why? Are you against the show?” As a bucking-bull breeder, he’d always been involved in the circuit. But there was more money in providing the livestock than trying to out-cowboy some dude in pearl snaps.
“No, I just didn’t realize you were in the game. I work some of the shows, that’s all.”
“And like any smart woman, you’ve learned not to trust a man married to the rodeo. I get it.” From her fake smile, he guessed that’s what had ended her short marriage. He couldn’t blame her a bit. “I’m not much for going to the show myself, unless it’s to see how our stock is performing.”
She gave a shrug as Becky appeared with giant warm cinnamon rolls dripping with icing and a refill of coffee.
“Anything else for you two? Cream, sugar?”
Jacy nodded, her shining hair swirling around her shoulders. “I would do anything for a plate of bacon.”
Becky pointed her coffee pot at him. “If you’ll go out on a second date with this one, I’ll bring you a mountain. What do you say, Ray? Think she’ll see you again, or should I up the ante and bring out pig candy?”
He leveled his gaze at her until Jacy’s lilting laughter broke through. “By all means, bring on the big guns.”
“I like her already.” Becky gave him a wink before retreating to the kitchen.
Jacy scooped up some icing with her fork and brought it to her mouth. She had soft full lips, perfect for kissing, or other things. Her eyes closed and she gave a little moan that sparked something in places that shouldn’t be active this early in the morning. At least not in public.
“Oh, that’s good.” Her hazel eyes glistened as she looked over at him. “Do you always get special treatment here, or is the waitress showing off for me?”
“It’s all for you. Usually, I get told I have to eat in the kitchen because they’re full. Becky’s had this place since I can remember, and she’s friends with my mother.”
“Who you don’t live with, but she knows you’re on a date. Or coffee. Because some people don’t consider coffee a date. Especially with girls who show up late and then block your only escape.” Her gaze dropped to the cinnamon roll and she worked at uncoiling it. “I should have said something quippy about how the next date is up to you, right? I’m not really up to speed on the dating treadmill. It never seems to go anywhere, so I tend to fall off as soon as I get
started.”
“I prefer to think of it as jumping off. Why use a treadmill when you can walk and actually get somewhere.” He cut into his roll and steam escaped.
“Exactly. Make the date, sit down, have the job interview and then repeat. Who needs it?”
“Apparently, us.” He grinned as her smiled brightened and a laugh bubbled up. She had a full-body laugh, the kind that required everyone in the vicinity come along for the ride.
She straightened her face in what had to be mock seriousness. “Can we skip the interview part? Because you’re totally hired.”
He lifted his fork and she knocked it with hers in a mock toast. They talked about nothing and everything while Becky eavesdropped under the guise of keeping their plates and coffee mugs full. He got to hear about her escape from a buffalo stampede while he offered up his bull-wrangling misadventures.
Awkwardness dissolved and he couldn’t take his eyes away from the way her hands flailed when she talked, or how she closed her eyes in enjoyment after the first bite of whatever decadent treat Becky bribed her with.
“I think I’m going into a carb coma.” Jacy leaned back against the booth, her alluring hazel eyes dancing in delight.
“So if I let you nap, does that mean lunch would count as a second date?”
“I think that depends on if I’m napping alone.” Her voice shook as she spoke. Her pink cheeks darkened, the blush creeping down her neck and towards her shoulders.
He tilted his head, unsure just how to read the comment. “I think it’s best if you rest up now. I was thinking we’d go on a ride later.”
Chapter Three
“Yes, please.” Her eyes widened and she tried not to smile too big. She’d done it. Propositioned this dream of a man and he’d taken her up on it. Her virginity would be a thing of the past by nightfall, and with the way he put her at ease, she just might enjoy it.
“I’d love to get out and enjoy the sun while it lasts. Forecast calls for rain on Monday.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “I’ll text you directions to my ranch, unless there is someplace you’d rather ride.”
