Chapter 6 Rhett
six
Rhett
“Idon’t think this is the one. I need a yard for Tater.”
I’ve viewed four rental properties and one house for sale today. None of which met enough criteria for me to write a cheque.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cuglietta, but maybe we need to up the price range to find something?”
Running a hand down my face, I sigh. “I was afraid you might say that. Let’s call it a day, and I’ll get back to you on that if that’s okay?”
“Of course. You have my number, and I’ll keep watching for something in the meantime.” He pats my arm. “New properties come up every day. Don’t be discouraged.”
“Thanks. I know it takes time. I’m just anxious to get settled.”
We say our goodbyes, and just as I slide into my truck, my phone rings with a call from Hunter.
“Rhett, hey. Sorry for the call when I told you to take the afternoon off, but I need your help with the computer system. I think I fucked up your schedule.”
“Fucked up how?”
“Uh…erased it entirely?”
Fuck no. Not the last week of work. He couldn’t have. Could he?
“I’ll be right there.”
Instead of driving back to the ranch, I point the truck towards the rodeo facility. Hunter warned me he wasn’t computer savvy, but there’s no way on this planet he uninstalled the scheduling program by accident. I hope.
But if he did, I might be in for a long evening of backtracking and making calls. If that’s the case, I should arrive prepared.
Before I can overthink the move, I pull into the parking lot of The Thirsty Cow first. Since I apologized to Diamond, I’ve felt better about my behaviour. He’s a close friend to the men I work with, and it would be in my best interest not to have him hate me.
He also seems like a lot of fun. If I ever get to know him, that is. I’ve not been back to the coffee place that everyone loves since the first time because…well, because I needed time to figure my shit out.
The moment I step into The Thirsty Cow, it’s almost like the energy around me shifts. Laughter and conversation greet me along with the aroma of something so mouth-watering I know I’ll need to ask what it is before I leave.
And there he is.
Diamond’s gaze meets mine before I even reach the order counter. He waves and smiles before touching the shoulder of the man he’s speaking with in what appears to be an apology for leaving the conversation.
He strides across the floor towards me in his cowboy boots and jean shorts.
A branded T-shirt with The Thirsty Cow logo on it in the prettiest shade of blue that makes his eyes pop.
Whatever the fuck that means, but I heard it on a TV show once, and I think it fits.
A man shouldn’t look as good as he does in shorts and a T-shirt.
Yet here I am, practically drooling and wondering if a smile really tops an orgasm’s endorphin release or not. Good lord, I think I’ve been alone too long to even consider that question. And I really need to stop reading those health science magazines.
“Hey, sug. This is a surprise. When my horoscope said my stars were aligned, I didn’t realize it meant to draw in the sexy new cowboy in town.”
His eyes twinkle in a way that spells trouble, but I feel the corners of my mouth pull into a small smile.
“Do you know when you smile, it could literally make a single person’s day better?” Diamond says.
I wonder if he knows I was thinking something similar before walking in here. “Is that a scientific fact?”
Diamond leans over the counter towards me, and I catch the scent of him. Roses maybe. Definitely floral and something sweet. Maybe it’s just the scent of the bakery. “Not scientific. Just a personal observation. You smiled, and it just made my day infinitely better.”
A small laugh huffs from my lips, and I don’t miss how delighted Diamond is about that.
I’m not ready to dissect all the feelings his statement just invoked, so I let my gaze flick to the giant flower arrangement on the counter.
Roses and other flowers I don’t know, all white, sit in a pretty blue vase, and I step over to smell them.
Not quite the same as the scent of Diamond, but still nice.
“These are pretty.”
“You like them?”
“Sure. As much as one can like flowers, I guess. They suit you.”
I don’t know what I’m trying to say or what I even mean, but I’m hyper aware of Diamond’s gaze on me.
“I’ll take that as a compliment and assume it means you think I’m pretty.”
He is. Very much so, but I can’t just flirt with him the way he does with me. He makes it all so effortless, and I don’t even know if this is a game he plays with everyone or not. What if I tried to flirt back for real, and it was just a joke to him? No, I’ll keep that to myself for now.
Clearing my throat, I change the subject to something with fewer questions. “I need whatever Hunter usually drinks, and I guess I’ll try something you recommend.”
His blue eyes widen, and he smiles so fucking bright you’d think I just told him he won the lottery. “You trust me, handsome? For real this time?”
Despite myself, I chuckle. “Yeah. Make me something that’s your favourite. Oh, and what smells so good in here?”
Diamond grabs two take-out cups from a stack nearby and speaks over his shoulder while he makes my drink order.
“I think it always smells good in here. Sugar, cinnamon, spices, chocolate…it’s always something, and I love it.
” He deftly uses the coffee machine, tapping containers, dumping grounds and steaming things.
I’d probably need a degree to do whatever he’s doing.
“But today it’s something new and yummy. ”
He sets the two cups in front of me and marks an H on one cup. “Taste yours now, please. Tell me if I found something you like.”
Bringing the cup to my lips, I meet Diamond’s gaze as I take the first taste. The coffee is smooth and not bitter. He’s added something foamy, and there’s a flavour that shouldn’t be in coffee, but I like it.
“Banana?”
His eyes light up. “Do you like it?”
With another sip, I nod. “Yeah. I think I do. It’s like drinking banana bread, which should be gross, but…” Diamond hangs on every word. “I really like it.”
I have no words to describe the glow Diamond beams at my admission. It’s like a fuzzy, warm sweater and the thrill of a secret first kiss.
“Let me get you and Hunter a sample of the new cookie to take. It’s strawberry, white-chocolate shortbread.”
He slides two cookies into a cellophane bag and slides them across the counter.
“Thank you.”
When I remove my wallet to pay, he immediately places his hand over mine.
“This one is on me.” When I shake my head, he insists. “Please. We both made horrible starts, and I want to apologize. It’s the least I can do.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, but if that makes you keep smiling…okay. Thank you.”
Diamond smiles and nods. “Smiling is my default. You caught me on a bad day last time. Besides, the best way to keep you coming back is to give you a taste for free, right?” He winks again, and a thrill runs up my spine.
“Better get that to Hunter before it’s cold.
He’s an absolute monster when his coffee is cold. ”
“Thanks for the tip.”
Diamond opens his mouth, like he wants to add something, but instead he nods and squeezes my arm as he excuses himself to serve a group that just entered and sat at a table right away.
I watch for a moment as he effortlessly makes them welcome.
Yes, there’s touching and that teasing grin of his I might be obsessing over, but his gaze lifts to meet mine a final time before I turn and leave.
Until now, I didn’t know it was bothering me so much to be snubbed by him. Not having his acknowledgement by either a touch or a glance was a weight I carried. Which I know I deserved the first time here. But it feels like maybe I’ve patched the potholes and we can have a smoother ride now.
I don’t know what kind of ride, but at least I don’t feel like a huge asshole anymore.
After parking at the training facility, I exit the truck with both cups and the cookies and let myself in through the side door to the office. It’s more like a suite than an office, but if I’m spending a lot of time here, I’m not complaining.
Hunter sits behind the computer, his hair a mess, and when he sits back and runs his fingers through it again, I know why.
“I am so fucking sorry, Rhett, if I just lost all your work. I should’ve just waited for you.”
“Here.” I pass him the cup with the H. “Diamond said it’s your usual and you should get it before it’s cold.”
He takes the cup with a chuckle and drinks before he sighs. “He’s not wrong. But here, try to find your program. Please find it.”
He leaves the desk chair, and I take his place while he flops on the full-size sofa across the room.
Hunter said he wanted a quiet and comfortable space for any of us to use.
Mostly me, since I’m in charge of the schedule and most of the marketing because of my university business degree, but any of us can chill out here with the sofa, a small fridge, and a decent-size bathroom with a built-in shower.
Like I said, it’s more of a suite than an office.
“Tell me what happened and what you were doing.”
Hunter explains how he was trying to add an extra month and hit delete when it wasn’t what he wanted. Then the screen showed nothing.
“Okay, let me look in the back end, but I don’t think you deleted the entire thing, Hunter.”
As I’m clicking around and closing the dozen different browser windows he has opened, I sip the banana coffee absently.
“So you stopped by The Thirsty Cow on your own? Can I assume you and Diamond are okay now?”
“I think so. Oh, that reminds me.” Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the cookies and slide them across the desk. “He made a new cookie and gave me one for each of us.”