Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
DALLAS
I ’ve seen very little of Rose the last couple of weeks. Between the construction at the new location and the upcoming charity gala, she’s been busier than normal. I pop over to Rose’s house to feed Floofy when she’s working late, and I leave her plates of dinner she can warm up when she gets home long after I’m typically asleep. She graciously texts me every night when she gets home, and blurry-eyed, I check my phone when it beeps and then sleep a bit more soundly once I know she’s home safe.
But I miss her, so tonight, I have a bag packed.
I tap out a text to my favorite lady.
Me: Mind if I sleep on your couch tonight? I’ll have a hot dinner waiting for you at home and maybe offer you a foot massage.
Rose: I would love that. All of it. My feet are so sore. They feel like they’re about to fall off.
Me: Message when you’re on the way.
Wearing my sweats and a T-shirt I should’ve tossed long ago, I sprawl on her couch and go over my task list. Tandy wants to open by Valentine’s Day, and making that happen is my goal. I’m rarely at Stargazer Springs these days now that Carson has taken over. So that helps.
My tuxedo for the holiday gala tomorrow night is hanging in my closet, and while I’m looking forward to seeing Rose all dressed up and spending the evening with her, I am not looking forward to the tension headache that accompanies being in Mrs. Potts’s company. Or the stress that shows on Rose’s face.
More than anything, I wish I could snap my fingers and make Mrs. Potts a nice person, a mom Rose deserves.
These past months have made me miss my mom and dad. Mom would love that I’m spending more time with Tandy. And she’d be shocked to see Tandy and Matthew reunited.
But maybe that’s the relationship that keeps me hoping something will change, and that she can get her happy ending.
The line between fake and real feelings is blurry, but I’m choosing to ignore that for now. Sage’s wedding is the first weekend in February. And until then, we’re pretending. And maybe I’m just really good at it. Or maybe Colt’s advice sucks. I’m beginning to think the latter is true. But trying to sort that out now will only make things weird.
All I can say for certain is that I like spending time with Rose. I like who I am these last few months. In a nutshell, I like Rose.
When my phone beeps, I bolt awake.
Rose: Sorry I’m so late. Don’t worry about my food. I can warm it. Be home in a half hour.
Me: Be safe.
Rubbing my face, I roll off the couch and trudge into the kitchen. She will not be warming her own food at one in the morning. That’s why I’m here.
A half hour later, the jiggle of keys catches my attention, and I wipe my hands before walking to meet her.
Rose drops her bag beside the door, and I open my arms. There is no audience. And right now, I don’t need to play the role. But this is one of those blurry spots.
Exhausted, she falls against my chest. “I’ve missed you.”
“Same.” I scoop her up.
Startled, she laughs and holds on. “Do I look that tired?”
“You look hungry. And I have hot food waiting for you.” I set her in a chair, grab two cold Topo Chicos out of the fridge, and pop off the tops. “I used foil to keep everything hot.” I set the drinks beside the plates and watch as she pulls back the edge to see what I made.
Her eyes widen. “You made steaks?”
“It’s one of the few things I can make without messing it up.” I rub her shoulder. “Eat up. Then I’ll give you the foot massage I promised.”
“We’ll see.” She yanks away the foil and cuts into her steak. “This is so amazing.”
While we eat, she updates me on the last several days. Things with her dad are good. With her mom, things are more strained. But at least her mom is no longer ignoring her.
Rose empties her plate, then rests a hand on my arm. “My stinky feet have been trapped in these shoes all day. If your offer still holds, I need a quick shower first.”
“I’ll be waiting on the couch.” I dig out the foot cream I bought earlier today—or technically yesterday—and grab a towel.
A few minutes later, she comes down the hall wearing her cute fuzzy pajama pants and a tank top. “I feel bad that you’re awake in the middle of the night. But I’m really glad you’re here.”
I pull her right foot into my lap and cuff her pant leg. “What time do you have to be at the shop in the morning?”
She grins. “I don’t. The crew isn’t working on the new location this Saturday, and Dad is covering the delivery to the event. We aren’t even opening the shop tomorrow. Every year, we close on the Saturday of the gala. What about you?”
“I only have a few things to take care of.” I planned around the event so that I wouldn’t be racing to get ready at the last minute. I’ll just use that extra time for sleep.
I squirt a little lotion into my palm and rub it on her feet. She sighs as I knead and massage. Then I switch to the other foot.
“Dallas, what happened with your ex?” Her question is quiet, hesitant.
And maybe because it’s the middle of the night and my guard is down, I open up. “She came from money. I had a full-time job and was doing okay, but she was used to a much higher standard of living. And for a while, she swore it didn’t matter.” I pause, remembering a period of time I’ve spent years choosing not to think about. “I proposed, and Colleen was happy, but her parents were not. And when she said it didn’t matter, I believed her. But one week before the wedding, that changed. Her parents told her that if she went through with the wedding, she’d be cut off. She had to choose, and she didn’t choose me.”
“She’s dumb.”
The unexpected response makes me laugh. “Looking back, it saved me a lot of heartache. She was happy as long as she was getting her way. I worked a job I hated because she thought it would be the best for us. It hurt when she dumped me, but marrying her would’ve hurt a lot more for a whole lot longer. And her parents ate the cost of the canceled wedding. I guess getting rid of me was worth it.”
“Why didn’t they like you?”
I wipe Rose’s foot with a towel. “The two reasons I heard were that I didn’t come from a good family. Good translates to rich in their lingo. And I’m short. Bad genes.” The irony is that because of the death of my parents, my financial status changed shortly after the breakup. I could have offered Colleen all that she was used to. But the blinders were off by then. This is information I decide not to share. Not because I don't trust Rose but because it doesn't matter.
She leans forward. “You aren’t serious!”
“Serious as a blister on the back of a heel.”
“Ugh. Those are the worst. And those people are insane. And awful.” She shifts into my lap. “And Colleen didn’t deserve you. Is that why you quit the job?”
“I quit when my parents died. For lots of reasons. Working was nearly impossible because of grief. And I decided life was too short to do something I hated. Then after a time, I applied at Stargazer Springs. Clint and Beau gave me a chance even though I’d never worked as a ranch hand before. They knew my parents, so I think that had something to do with it.”
She worries her bottom lip. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
I give a slight nod, inviting her to continue, but I’m a bit terrified of what she’s about to say. I’m happy with where things are currently, and that statement felt a lot like a we-need-to-talk bomb.
Still cuddled in my lap, she rests her head on my shoulder. “That night at the restaurant, I was in my car when the guy with the rose walked in. And when I stepped inside, I saw him walk out. I knew you weren’t the guy I’d been chatting with. But I wasn’t lying when I said I noticed you in the parking lot. And then I saw the rose on your table, and I acted like I hadn’t seen the other guy leave. I shouldn’t have deceived you. I’m sorry.”
I wrap my arms around her, relieved. “I bet your mom is sorry too.”
Laughing, she turns to look at me. “I’m serious, Dallas. I was desperate to find a fake fiancé, but what I really needed was a spine. And I found mine. And you’re a big part of that. Thank you.”
“I’m happy he dropped the rose on my table. Meeting you has been a highlight, Rose. I expect that we’ll be friends for a long time.”
She kisses my cheek. “I hope so. Now, you should get some sleep. You need to be ready to dance with me tomorrow night. And I cannot wait to see you in a tuxedo. That will be the ultimate Christmas present.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. I’ll still look like me. Just in a penguin suit.”
“You’ll look amazing.” She pats my chest.
Her smile falls away, and she swallows, her gaze still locked on mine. Moving at a speed that would make snails look like they’re racing, she leans closer.
For the last several months, we haven’t kissed when we’re alone. In the beginning we did a few times, and it made things complicated. But in this moment, I don’t care about complicated.
Arms still around her, I tighten my hold ever so slightly, and she understands that as consent.
She brushes her lips on mine, gently, hesitantly. And I let her set the pace. This kiss feels different. More connected. I’m an idiot for not shutting it down. But no part of me wants her to stop.
When I slide my hand up her back and into her hair, her lips part.
I’m not pretending anymore. And I can live with complicated until February.