Chapter 9 #2
Wade did have a lot of nerve. He’d been told that many times, mainly, from the guys on the rodeo circuit with him.
Because he had nerve, he could perform stunts other cowboys wouldn’t dare try.
Nothing fazed him. And this gorgeous woman wasn’t going to, either.
He crossed his arms over his chest, mimicking her stance.
“Yes, I guess you can say I do have a lot of nerve, miss.”
“Well, I hope you know I intend to file a complaint with whatever company you work for. What lousy service!”
He frowned. Did she assume he was Jerry Alloman, the man who usually handled any internet problems for Rich?
“First of all, you’re right. I do have a lot of nerve, but not for the reason you think.
I stopped by the Filmore’s place to see how they were doing, and he mentioned Jerry Alloman, who usually repairs Rich and the Filmore’s internet tower, is out of town.
His father took ill in Houston, and he drove there this morning and probably won’t be back until next week.
Since I’m a childhood friend of Rich, I thought I’d be neighborly and drop by to see if there’s something I could do. ”
Wade paused for a moment. Seeing her confusion, he added, “So, in other words, I am not the internet guy. Just another neighbor who’s willing to lend a hand. But frankly, I don’t like your attitude, so figure out the problem yourself.”
Then he turned and walked back down the steps.
Dani blinked. She’d definitely been put in her place.
She had been standing by the kitchen window when she had seen Wade Harrison drive up and had assumed, quite erroneously, that he’d been the repairman she’d been waiting on for five hours.
Instead, he was a childhood friend of Richard’s and had come to help.
Now he was royally pissed, and he had every reason to be.
“Please wait, Mr. Harrison!” she called out, stepping out on the porch and hoping like hell that he wouldn’t get into his truck and leave.
She let out a relieved breath when he stopped and turned back to her.
Dang, her eyes had not been playing tricks on her.
Wade Harrison was one fine-looking cowboy.
From the top of his Stetson to the soles of his well-worn boots, and all those make-a-woman-drool parts in between, he was the stuff of fantasies.
Jeez. She’d thought Richard was good-looking, but this man was something else.
“You have something to say to me, miss?” he asked.
His voice, deep and husky, made her want to do more than just talk to him. “I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else,” she said.
“That’s no excuse. Even if I had been Jerry, you had no reason to be outright rude.
He doesn’t work for a company. He’s a full-time rancher like most people in these parts and isn’t at anyone’s beck and call.
He installed Rich’s and Mr. Filmore’s tower as a favor and makes himself available to repair it whenever it goes down.
Jerry is a good guy and would not have appreciated you talking to him that way. ”
Dani couldn’t help but lower her head in shame. He was right. She’d been rude. Her only defense was that during those five hours she had waited, all she could think about was Paula taking the Barker project away from her and giving it to Mason.
Lifting her head, she met his gaze. “You’re right. I was rude, and I apologize. I am truly sorry. Is there any way we can start over?”
He leaned against his truck and stared at her, and for a heartfelt moment, she thought he could see right into her soul.
In a way, she hoped he could. Then he would know that Thea Manchester Montgomery had raised her better than that, and that ninety-nine percent of the time, she was a decent person.
“Go inside and close the door.”
She swallowed. Was he telling her to go inside and close the door because he wouldn’t accept her apology and was leaving?
Obviously, he saw confusion on her face, so he asked, “You want to start over, right?”
She swallowed again. “Yes.”
“Then go inside and close the door.”
Finally understanding what he was saying, she nodded, turned, and went back inside, closing the door behind her.
Wade watched her, then, instead of taking the steps two at a time as before, he slowly walked up them, thinking that if he had a lick of sense, he would get into his truck and drive off.
He had a feeling this woman was trouble.
Did she have any idea just how good she looked in that sundress?
When she had stepped out on the porch, he thought she had the most gorgeous pair of legs he had ever seen.
He was a rodeo cowboy. Women threw themselves at him all the time, and there were times when he outright flirted with them.
But there was something about this sassy woman that threw him.
It was as if she had the word danger emblazoned on her forehead.
But then, he’d never refused a challenge.
She had a fiery temper, and he could just imagine what all that passion could bring to the bedroom.
Wade knocked when he reached the door, and she quickly opened it. And she was smiling. Damn. Those dimples made her even more beautiful. He tipped his Stetson. “Howdy, ma’am. I’m Wade Harrison, and Mr. Filmore said you were having problems with your internet.”
“Yes, I am, Mr. Harrison. Thanks for dropping by to help.”
He returned her smile. “Mr. Harrison was my daddy. Please call me Wade.”
She nodded. “And I’m Dani. Short for Danielle.” She then stepped aside. “Please come in, Wade.”
A short while later, when Wade had come back into the living room, Dani asked, “So, what do you think is wrong?” He seemed to know his way around the place and recalled him saying he’d been a childhood friend of Richard’s, which meant he’d probably been here several times.
Heck, he even called him “Rich,” and Richard had once told her that only his close friends did so.
He had gone from room to room, checked several outlets, and even inspected the breaker box.
He spent the longest amount of time in the office where she’d been working.
Not wanting him to think she didn’t trust him inside the house, she had taken a seat on the sofa in the living room and flipped through several of Libby’s fashion and etiquette magazines.
You could take a stylish and chic woman out of New York, but you couldn’t completely take New York out of the woman.
“I got some good news, and I got some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?” he asked her.
“Tell me the bad news first.”
“Okay,” he said, sliding into the chair across from the sofa. She tried not to notice how well his jeans molded to a pair of taut thighs. Or the sexy cleft in his chin. She hadn’t noticed it earlier, but with him sitting so close, she was definitely noticing it now.
“The bad news is that the issue has nothing to do with the tower. Mr. Filmore and I figured as much when you said the internet here was down, because Mr. Filmore’s internet service is up and running.
That means it’s a connection problem here.
I have pinpointed where it is, but unfortunately, it’s an electrical issue that I can’t fix. ”
He paused for a moment, letting the news sink in.
“I contacted the closest electrical company and asked to have you put on their schedule. Unfortunately, a tornado hit Canton last week, and every electrical truck in the area is there, trying to help restore power. It might be weeks before they get back here.”
“Oh, no,” she said, tossing her head back to stare up at the ceiling. An image of Mason’s gloating face filled her mind. After a few minutes, she looked back at Wade, who was staring at her. Clearing her throat, she asked. “So, what’s the good news?”
“Chances are Jerry will be back next week, and he can take care of it then. Mr. Filmore said you were working from home while you’re here.”
“Yes, that’s right. I have a very important project that I need to complete by this Friday,” she said.
“Then I think I have a solution.”
“What?”
“I have full internet service at my ranch, which is just a few minutes from here. While I’m home on leave, I need to catch up with a lot of ranch chores, and my office is available.”
He was inviting her to use his office at his house? “I can’t do that.”
“Sure, you can. Like I said, I won’t be there to get in your way. How many hours do you think you’d need each day?”
“Since I didn’t get anything done today, that means I’m a day behind. If I split the day up, I probably can finish on Friday by working four to five hours a day. Probably, six on Friday. But, I can’t take over your home like that.”
“You won’t be taking over my home. You will be using my office. It’s no big deal.”
Although she didn’t see a ring on his finger, she decided to be safe rather than sorry. “What will your wife say?”
“I don’t have a wife. Nor do I have a girlfriend. We broke up last year.”
“Oh. My boyfriend and I split a few months ago.” Why in the world had she told him that?
“Do you think the two of you will get back together?” he asked, meeting her gaze.
“Definitely not. What about you and your girlfriend?”
“Nope. There are times when two people just aren’t meant to be together.”
“Don’t I know it?” She tilted her head and looked at him. “You said you were home on leave. Are you in the military?”
“No, I’m with the rodeo.”
“The rodeo?”
“Yes. I’m a cowboy with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.” He smiled broadly, then added, “It’s known as the greatest show on dirt.”
A rodeo cowboy? Dani could believe it. His swagger said it all.
For years, she’d watched her dad, who’d always walked with a sense of discipline and purpose, like, if given the order, he would start marching in at any moment.
As Wade had walked through the house, she had been watching the way he moved.
He had a bowlegged stride that clearly showed he was a cowboy through and through. She would love seeing him perform on a horse, and she bet he looked good doing any kind of stunt.
Forcing the imagery from her mind, she asked, “Who takes care of your ranch when you’re on the rodeo circuit?”
“My foreman and housekeeper. They are married and have been with my family for years.”
“Family? Your parents live with you?”
“I lived with them, since the ranch was theirs. But I lost them both a few years ago, at the same time, to Covid.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks. So will you take me up on my offer and use my office?” he asked, standing.
“If you’re sure there won’t be a problem?”
“None that I can see. My housekeeper, Elena, arrives at nine and doesn’t leave until around five. You won’t even notice she’s there.”
Dani stood. “Then I will gratefully accept your offer. Thanks for being so neighborly.”
“That’s the Texas way. And like I told you, Rich and I go way back.” He checked his watch. “I need to get going. It’s almost dinner time. Elena keeps my food warm and gets upset if I’m late.”
She walked him to the door. When they reached it, she said, “Thanks again. What’s your address?”
He rattled it off to her as he grabbed his Stetson off the hat rack. “By the way, you probably won’t see me again until Wednesday or Thursday. It’s branding time at my place. If something comes up, and you need to reach me, Elena will know how.”
“Okay, and thanks for everything. Goodnight, Wade.”
“Goodnight, Dani,” he said, tipping his hat in farewell.
After he left, she closed the door, then leaned against it, released a deep breath, and whispered, “Be still, my heart.”