Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Geraldine
I stepped out of the barn with Christian, my dress still clinging to me like a second skin, and water dripping from the hem onto my boots.
The air was warm now, the sun high and drying the yard, but I was a mess with damp hair, probably smudged mascara, and slick legs from the hose.
Christian grinned at me like he’d won something, and I couldn’t help smirking back, the buzz from our little detour still humming under my skin.
We’d barely made it ten steps when Cosmo rounded the corner from the feed shed, a sack slung over his shoulder.
He stopped dead, dropped the sack, and let out a low whistle.
“Damn, Geraldine,” he said, his eyes raking over me. “What the hell happened to you? Did you fall in the creek?”
“Close,” I said, id and wiped a hand across my forehead, and flicked water off my fingers. “Christian’s horse decided I needed a shower.”
Cosmo laughed, loud and bright, and walked over and put his hands on his hips. “It looks good on you, but you can’t stay like that. We’re meeting someone in an hour, a feed supplier from town. You’re coming with me.”
“Like this?” I said and gestured at my soaked dress. “I’ll scare him off.”
“Nah,” he said and grinned. “You’ll charm him anyway. But go change. Put on something dry and maybe not so distracting. Meet me by the truck.”
“Bossy,” I said and rolled my eyes, but I headed for the house, my boots squishing with every step.
Christian called after me, “Don’t lose that dress because it’s a keeper,” and I waved him off without turning around.
Inside, I climbed the stairs, the wood cool under my wet feet, and slipped into my room.
The mirror by the bed showed the damage because my dress was plastered to me and outlined every curve, and my hair was a wild tangle.
I laughed under my breath and peeled it off and tossed it over a chair to dry.
I grabbed a pair of jeans and a flowy red top from my bag, cute and not too fancy, and ran a brush through my hair and tied it loosely. That was good enough.
Downstairs, Cosmo was waiting by his truck and leaned against the hood with his arms crossed.
He’d swapped his work shirt for a clean one, dark blue and snug across his shoulders, and he straightened up when he saw me.
“Better,” he said and nodded. “You’re still hot, but less like you just wrestled a horse. ”
“Thanks,” I said and climbed into the passenger seat. “Who’s this guy we’re meeting?”
“His name’s Carter,” he said, and hopped in and started the engine. “He runs the feed store. He’s a grumpy old bastard, but I’ve got him wrapped around my finger. You’ll see how my charm works, so pay attention.”
“Big talk,” I said and smirked as we pulled out of the yard, the dirt road crunching under the tires. “Let’s see if you deliver.”
“Oh, I will,” he said and shot me a look, his grin wide and cocky.
The drive into Costa Solara was quick, just a few miles of rolling hills and white fences, and we parked outside a weathered building with a sign that read “Carter’s Feed he told me about the time he sweet-talked a vet into fixing a horse for free, and I told him about the customer who tried to return a dress she’d worn to a wedding.
The sun dipped lower and cast long shadows, and by the time we tossed our trash, my sides hurt from laughing.
“See?” he said as we walked back to the truck. “I’m good company.”
“You’re not bad,” I said and climbed in and brushed crumbs off my jeans. “Thanks for the tacos.”
“Anytime,” he said and started the drive back to Red Rock. The ride was quiet for a bit, just the hum of the engine and the wind through the open windows, until he glanced at me, his grin softer. “So, was this a date?”
I snorted and turned to him. “Dream on, Cosmo.”
“Come on,” he said and laughed and tapped the steering wheel. “Tacos, laughs, my killer charm? That’s date material.”
“In your head,” I said and smirked. “You’re fun, but I’m not calling it that.”
“Fair,” he said, and pulled into the ranch yard and parked by the barn. “I’ll wear you down eventually.”
“Good luck,” I said, and hopped out and stretched my arms over my head. “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”
“Challenge accepted,” he said and grabbed the feed sacks from the back and tossed me a wink as he headed for the shed.
I shook my head and walked toward the house, the taste of lime still on my lips.
He was a flirt, no doubt, and damn good at it, but I wasn’t falling that easy.
Still, the day was a win with tacos, a show of his charm, and enough laughs to make me forget my car was still dead.
That was not bad for a random afternoon at Red Rock.