Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
DALLAS
I see a light on in the barn as I’m driving to Colt’s and park on the side of the building. I knock as I walk through the door. “Hey, you around?”
Colt pokes his head out of the tack room. “What’s up? You okay?”
Apparently, the look on my face must give away the fact that I am absolutely not okay. But I can’t honestly vent to Colt unless he knows the truth. “If I tell you something, will you keep it just between us?”
He wipes his hands and rests his weight on the desk near the wall. “Yep.” Then he crosses his heart.
“Rose and I only met the other day, and this engagement isn’t real. We’re pretending because of a situation she’s in. But no one can know that it isn’t real.”
“I won’t tell a soul.”
“Thank you. And I told you that so you’ll understand what I mean when I tell you I think I’ve made a horrible mistake in agreeing to this.”
He tosses the rag on to the desk and crosses his arms. “What’s the problem? Is she hard to be around?”
“Yes, but not in a bad way.”
He crinkles his nose. “There’s a good way?”
I drag my fingers through my hair. “Rose is pretty and intelligent. Extremely pleasant. And I enjoy her company.”
“Oh, yeah. That does sound bad. Horrible even.” Colt doesn’t even crack a smile.
I ignore his sarcasm and continue, “She modeled all these dresses, trying to pick out what she’s going to wear to the rehearsal dinner and wedding. And while they were all pretty, the last one…” I sigh as I lean against a stall. “She looked amazing. Stunning. And of course, that’s the one she plans to wear to the wedding. I’m starting to feel like I’m…” I pace, hoping the right word will pop into my head. But currently it’s mostly mush thanks to how fantastic Rose looked in that gorgeous blue dress.
“Attracted to her?”
“I only signed up for this to help her out. She needed me. But I’m too old for her. She’s only twenty-five. Eleven years is too big a gap. Plus, I don’t plan on getting married. Ever.”
“You don’t look thirty-six. I thought you were much younger than that.”
“It’s because I’m short and have a baby face. It’s a curse.”
“As for being attracted, it’s probably just because you haven’t dated in a while. It’ll fade as you spend more time with her and get more comfortable. Put aside the idea of a relationship. It’s off the table. Knowing that, you can just pretend and be friends.”
“You’re right. I think since I haven’t dated, I’m feeling discombobulated. But that’ll ease. Should I make it clear to her that I’m serious about ending the fa?ade in six months?”
“Nah, don’t bring it up. She knows the agreement.”
“Good advice. Thanks, Colt.”
He nods. “Anytime.”
I leave the barn feeling much lighter and less concerned than when I arrived. If I’d had this conversation with Tandy, she would’ve said something about leaning into my attraction and following my heart. I’m thankful that Colt took a more logical approach.
Rose hasn’t reached for my hand since I walked out after seeing her dresses. She hasn’t given any indication that she’s upset, and I’m hoping she’s not. But tonight, we have to play the part, so as we stroll toward the private dining room, I reach for her hand.
“Ready to be introduced a dozen times or more?” I brush my thumb on the back of her hand.
“I think so.” She inhales and forces a smile.
I pull open the door. “They’ll like you. No need to be nervous.” It’s easy for me to say because these are my friends. And I know that this group of people is as genuine as a gold bar in Fort Knox.
Primrose and Anderson are standing near the buffet table, and she tugs him down for a kiss. No one else is here. I should have planned better so that Rose and I weren’t the first couple to arrive.
When the happy couple spots us, they hurry over.
Anderson extends his hand. “It’s great to meet you, Rose. I’m glad you could make it.”
Prim hugs me, then does the same with Rose. “I was so surprised when Anderson told me about you. Dallas had us all fooled. We thought he’d be single forever.”
The doors open, and Prim’s daughter, Bailey, runs in with Parker, Bluebonnet, and Mr. and Mrs. Fields.
I whisper to Rose. “Parker is Prim’s brother, and the people with them, the older ones, are their parents.”
Bailey runs up to me and throws her arms around my neck. “Dallas, you’re here!” She drops her voice to a whisper, but not quiet enough that everyone around can’t hear. “And you’re smiling. I like it when you smile.”
“It’s a happy occasion. Of course I’m smiling. And I’m getting to see my favorite nine-year-old.”
Bailey extends her hand to Rose. “I’m Bailey. Are you Dallas’s girlfriend?”
Rose nods. “I am.”
“I think that’s why he’s smiling.” Bailey grins.
Mrs. Fields waves, then clasps Bailey’s hand. “Do you want to sit by me, sweetheart?”
“By DeeDee.”
Anderson scoops her up and points toward the end of the table. “I’m sitting by your mom at the end of the table, and I saved the chair beside me just for you.”
She gives him a giant hug before wriggling out of his arms.
All the others start arriving, and I introduce Rose over and over again. I’ve been hugged more tonight than in all the years I’ve worked at the ranch. It’s weird.
When Rose and I finally find our seats, she loops her arm around mine and whispers in my ear. “Bailey is adorable, and all your friends are so nice. You were right about not being nervous.”
I can feel people watching, so I kiss her cheek. “I knew they’d like you.”
Colt’s advice was good, but I wonder how long I’ll have to wait for the attraction to fade. Because so far, it’s still growing.
And tomorrow, I’ll be spending all day with her while she looks amazing in that blue dress. That is surely not going to help the attraction fade.