Chapter 2
Chapter Two
LOLA-MAE
Standing on the front porch of the main house, I hesitate to touch the doorbell button. I don’t know why, but it feels huge—this moment. This is my new boss. He’s invited me to dinner and will likely just tell me all about my new job.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not nervous. It’s one thing to drive almost eight hours here to Granite Falls. It’s another thing to actually physically be here, in a place where I know nobody and nothing about my new life.
The sense of adventure and excitement I felt driving here has completely left my body. Now I’m just a big ball of total anxiety. My finger hovers over the doorbell, but I can’t do it.
But then I don’t have to, because the door swings open, and there, standing in front of me, is the stoic cowboy from earlier. My heart slams against my chest, my stomach flips and flops, my thoughts swim around inside my head.
In an attempt to appear unfazed, unscared, and brave, I plaster on a big fake smile. Maybe I come off as stupid, though, because I’m standing in front of the stranger getting ready to walk into his house and sit down to a meal… alone with him.
“Come on inside,” he announces with a grunt.
I watch as he spins around and walks away. I stand in the doorway for a moment, watching him in silence until he disappears around a corner, and only then does my body shift forward.
Forcing myself to cross the threshold, I close the door behind me. My feet move through the house as I bite the inside of my cheek, the wooden floor creaking beneath my feet.
This house is…
For lack of a better word.
Amazing.
But as amazing as it is, I just cannot picture the man who greeted me at the door actually living here, or rather, decorating it… because this looks like every farmhouse I’ve ever seen in a Hallmark movie.
Standing in the living room, I take in the floral sofa, the warm wooden end tables, and the matching coffee table. There is even a floral rug. I tear my gaze away from the floral, cluttered, amazing living room and look over to the door where the noise is coming from.
I make my way toward that door, but stop when it opens, and he is there, standing directly in front of me. Harlan Blackmoore. And he’s carrying a plate with a couple of sizzling steaks on it. The smells fill the air around me and make my stomach let out an ungodly loud noise.
“Have a seat,” he says, jerking his chin to the left, where there is a table and two place settings laid out.
“Mr. Blackmoore,” I mutter, unsure of what else to say or do.
“Harlan,” he grumbles.
He turns toward the table and walks over. I watch as he sets the steaks down, and then I take in the rest of the table. There are two potatoes, a bowl of something green, and bread rolls. It not only smells amazing, but it looks delicious, too.
I’ve never had a man cook for me in my life, but even if I did, I would never expect this.
“Come on. I know you’ve got to be starving.”
I am.
HARLAN
I watch as she sits down at her desk. Last night was a little awkward, but mostly because I’m awkward. I don’t date, can’t remember the last time I even had a meal with a woman alone.
I liked it, though, having her in my family home, sharing a meal, talking. Everything was surface-level, but that’s not a bad thing. She told me about her hometown, Marro. I’d never heard of it before, but when I came across her profile, I looked it up. It’s small, really fucking small.
I thought Granite Falls was minuscule, but we’re a thriving metropolis compared to Marro.
“So what is the most important thing I need to work on?” Lola-Mae asks.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I stare at her for a moment. She’s dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a tight shirt that’s tucked into the waistband. Her long dark hair is up on top of her head in a messy bun, and her green eyes are wide as she waits for my reply.
“Bills first,” I announce. “I think I’m late on a couple of things.”
“Bills first,” she repeats, nodding once in confirmation.
Pushing off the wall, I take a step toward the door. I can’t be in this room with her. I can’t be in this confined space where I keep getting whiffs of her shampoo.
I’ve never been so attracted to another person the way I am to her. I need some space. I need to breathe. I need to get my head on straight.
I need my cattle.
And I need my horse, Spirit.
“My cell number is on the desk there,” I say.
Lifting my hand, I extend my index finger to point at the bright-green sticky note where I scribbled my number. Then I walk out of the office and head straight outside to take care of my cattle, because at least I won’t fuck up when I open my mouth. They don’t give a shit what I say.
As I walk toward the barn, I decide to saddle my horse and check the fence line. I don’t need to do that, but I need something to take my mind off the sexy little woman in my office. This was a mistake. I should have looked at her picture. Should have researched her a bit more.
I didn’t, and now her bedroom is just a few yards from mine. My cock is going to be in a constant state of erection. This can’t be good. I’m a thirty-five-year-old man. I should not be feeling these things, especially not for a twenty-four-year-old.
But I’m feeling everything.