Chapter Fifteen #2
“Don’t be silly,” he said with another of his brief but affecting smiles.
“You’re the first good thing that’s happened to me in ages.
That’s why I’m telling you all of this. So you can understand the place I’m coming from.
I’m taking a chance here. With you. No more games.
Just…how does normal look between us? Is this what a date might be like?
If so, I’m liking it so far. How are things on your end? ”
Her eyes flew shut as she processed the enormity of the question.
Things were looking like everything she’d ever wanted on her end.
Every fantasy she’d had, every dream about this man—he was laying it out for her like she could just pick it up and hold it all close to her chest. As if it might actually work out.
As if normal might be a thing she could strive for.
Except that wasn’t how her life worked. And she was still going back to school at some point. She wasn’t a dog trainer. This was not reality, not for her.
“Zero.” She squeezed his hand. “This is happening pretty fast—”
“I know.” He made a face and laughed self-consciously, running a hand through his hair.
“Told you. Making a mess here. You’ve made it clear you’re moving on and I’m so rusty at this.
I guess…I’m asking if there’s a chance you might consider staying in the area.
Or maybe coming back occasionally. To see me.
We can take it slow, no expectations. Make a solid plan for how to level up. Maybe make a spreadsheet or two.”
He flashed her a just kidding—sort of smile, and that was when her heart swelled. She was so far gone over him.
How could she not have fallen for such a man? He was so sweet and unassuming, but commanding and shiver-inducing when she least expected it.
“Are you suggesting we resurrect the wing it plan?” she said with a watery smile. “Because that’s right up my alley.”
“Good.” His gaze warmed as he contemplated her. “I want to take you on a real date.”
Oh man. She wanted that, too. So badly. What was wrong with this take it slow idea he’d come up with?
Why couldn’t she take the same kind of chance he was?
As long as she came clean and told him everything, nothing stood between them and whatever came next.
They didn’t have to commit to anything right this minute.
“You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in ages, too,” she told him honestly, letting her heart speak for her. “I’ve thrown up a lot of roadblocks myself, for the same reason.”
He absorbed that, a ridiculously pleased smile stealing over his features. “Which reason was that?”
“Because I knew how easy it would be for me to fall for you, too.”
Before she could guess his intent, he leaned across the table and captured her face with his fingers, then laid his lips on hers in a kiss that melted her bones.
There was a three-foot length of wood between them, but that didn’t seem to stop his essence from swirling around her, wholly encompassing her in a bubble of bliss.
“Maybe we could get to that date sooner rather than later,” he murmured.
Sheridan pulled into the lot at that moment, stealing his attention.
Oh man, she was almost out of time. Panicked all at once, she put a hand on his arm. “Zero, I have to tell you something. It’s important.”
“Okay.”
A line appeared between his brows she wanted to smooth away, but she kept her hands to herself for the time being. “I’m a college student. A PhD candidate. I took this job training your dogs because I’m between loans and I needed a place to stay.”
Zero firmed his mouth and waited a beat. “And?”
“And what?” She turned up her hands, staring at him, willing him to internalize what she was saying. “That’s it. That’s what I meant by other commitments. I’m going back to school, and it’s not something I can just give up. I’ve been working toward this degree for ten years.”
“So you’re telling me I get to date a college girl?” His mouth twitched. “I’m waiting for you to get to the bad part.”
She smacked him on the arm even as her heart lightened all at once. It was going to be okay. He was strong enough to handle her unconventional life, her history of drifting. Once he heard about the strides Hunter had made with the dogs, he’d be thrilled.
She’d make sure of it, just as soon as she found a way to mention it.
“I’m being serious,” she told him. “You have to keep this in mind. College is a lot of work, focus, and energy that I won’t have for you. No expectations—is that really something you can do?”
He waved that aside like he’d already considered it and dismissed the protest. “That remains to be seen, right? Besides, that’s the beauty of this plan. We’re winging it. No agenda. We’ll figure it out. Please be with me on this.”
That’s when she saw the plea in his gaze she’d missed earlier. “This is hard for you, isn’t it? This idea of not having a label or a plan or spreadsheets?”
“It’s…different,” he hedged. “But maybe it’s exactly what I need.”
Exactly what they both needed.
“There’s more.” A lot more. “About the dogs. I need to tell you—”
Sheridan beeped the horn, and Zero glanced over his shoulder, then stood, holding out his hand to her.
“For a self-confessed wing-it girl, you don’t seem to have a grasp on the concept.
Come home and stop worrying about the dogs, your job, school, the ranch, all of it.
That’s for tomorrow or whenever. No agenda.
Worry instead about what you’re going to wear on our date. ”
Home. The very sentiment crawled into her heart and made itself a place to live. Was it so terrible to believe she might actually find a real home this time? That Zero would be the one to offer it to her?
“If you’re sure.”
“Delilah.” He tempered his exasperation with a smile. “Work with me here. I need your allergies to planning to take the lead. Teach me, oh wise one.”
She couldn’t stop her own return smile.
He’d asked her to embrace winging it, so what was she supposed to do, force him to listen to her when he’d expressly told her they’d talk about it later?
She had to believe he’d be okay with the news half of his dogs wouldn’t be making the cut for working the cattle.
She’d buy him some new dogs that could herd cows.
Push off her dissertation for a few more weeks to train them.
It wouldn’t be the end of the world. As long as she could extend this bliss he’d plunged her into.
And that’s when she realized the wisdom of his statement—she really didn’t have anything to wear on their date, and that’s exactly what she worried about all the way back to the ranch.