4. Birdie
Birdie
Chapter 4
Idid my best to quell my disappointment when Grady didn’t call, even after two days had passed. He was a busy man, I reasoned. He had things to do, a ranch to run, a festival to plan in less than a week, and his daughter was visiting from college for only a few days. He probably didn’t have time to call.
On the other hand, a little voice nagged at the back of my mind
Had I been too forward? Maybe I’d misinterpreted things between us.
I closed my eyes with a groan and rubbed my forehead. God, I really hope I wasn’t getting tangled up in unrequited love, especially at my age. I didn’t need to pine after a man who didn’t want me in return. That would be…utterly mortifying.
With the Harvest Festival approaching so fast, I didn’t have the luxury to hide away and nurse my wounded pride over Grady’s silence. I’d been hired to provide floral arrangements, and I would do my job as promised. Whether my complicated feelings for Grady were involved or not.
So, on Wednesday morning, I headed out to the ranch again. This time, I had an entire caravan to accompany me, which meant there would be no chance of getting Grady alone. I couldn’t decide if that was good or bad.
When I arrived, there was a flurry of activity by the corral. Cowboys on horseback herded cattle in a haze of dust that lingered in the air. I recognized a few of the ranch hands from around town—Cody, who had bashfully visited the shop last month, blushing red to the tips of his ears as he requested flowers for the girl he was sweet on; Beau, the ladies’ man who finally settled down; and Bowen, who never failed to tip his hat with a politely mumbled, good afternoon, ma’am, when we crossed paths.
Then my gaze settled on the broad-shouldered figure barking orders. Despite the restless horse pacing back and forth beneath him, Grady sat easily in the saddle, overseeing the whole thing. The way he moved—confident, bold, powerful—was pleasing to watch.
“Birdie!”
I wrenched my attention away from Grady. Avery emerged from the barn, raising her arm overhead in a big, friendly wave. Her dark curls were tightly braided back, tucked under her Stetson, and her boots were coated with dust.
Behind me, the caravan rolled to a stop—six vehicles in all, carrying decorations, chairs, tables, tents, and sound equipment for the live bands that would be performing.
“I didn’t warn Dad that it’s set-up day,” Avery said as she approached. “He would find every excuse in the book to disappear if I breathed a word of it.”
“It looks like you have your hands full though,” I replied, nodding toward the corral. “Is this a bad time?”
Avery brushed off my concern, shaking her head.
“Not at all. Just a routine check-up with the vet. They’re almost done anyway. Then the cattle will be put out to pasture. I already told Bowen to spare a few ranch hands for the festival crew. We’ll need all the manpower we can get.”
Movement drew my attention back to the corral. Grady had pulled his horse to a stop, watching us with his mouth set in a firm line. Avery propped her hands on her hips.
“Here we go,” she said. “He’s gearing up to protest our nonsense. Stand your ground, Birdie.”
My heartbeat stuttered at the realization that I was about to come face to face with Grady again. I still remembered the solid expanse of his chest beneath my palm when I dared to slide my phone number into his pocket. I wanted to be frustrated with him because he hadn’t called for two whole days, but the physical reaction to his presence won out in the end.
Focus, focus, focus.
Grady nudged his horse into an easy gait, making his way toward us. I could have blamed my too-warm cheeks on the bright sun. Or the biting wind that nipped at my skin with the promise of colder temperatures in the coming weeks. Deep down though, I knew the reason why I blushed like a schoolgirl and it was entirely Grady’s fault for looking so damn handsome.
“Good morning, Mr. McCall,” I said when he was within hearing range.
“Birdie,” he replied with a nod. “Who the hell are these people?”
He lifted his chin in the direction of the caravan where volunteers scurried around, unloading equipment.
“This is the Harvest Festival Planning Committee,” Avery put in. “You would know that if you weren’t such a grouchy old hermit and actually participated in town events once in a while.”
I coughed a laugh behind my hand and quickly fixed a neutral expression on my face.
“They’re making sure everything is ready for this weekend,” I said.
“It’s only Wednesday,” he protested. “Why do they need to be here so early?”
“Remember what we talked about, Dad?” Avery said lightly with a pointed look. “You’re a generous and welcoming host.”
He grumbled something under his breath I couldn’t make out. His steely gaze swept over the volunteers before settling on me.
“Are you sure I can’t bribe you to be on my side in all this?” he asked. “My daughter has turned against me.”
I shook my head.
“Not a chance. I’m enjoying this too much.”
Grady sighed and dismounted from his horse. In the blink of an eye, Avery swept the reins out of his grasp.
“Since you two are perfectly capable of holding down the fort, I’m going to find Bowen and strong-arm him into handing over those cowboys like he promised.”
Grady started to sputter an objection, but Avery was already striding away with his horse trailing along behind her.
“I’m tempted to put that little troublemaker on the first flight out of here,” he muttered.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stifle my laughter.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Grady turned to look at me and arched an eyebrow.
“Is that a challenge?”
“Just calling your bluff. It’s obvious that you like having Avery around. You get along very well together. You would never do anything to get rid of her.”
He sighed, his bluster rapidly deflating like a balloon.
“She’s as stubborn as an ox.”
“Oh, so she takes after you then.”
Grady’s gaze snapped toward me. I beamed. He shook his head.
“You know, most grown men don’t have the guts to talk to me like that. And yet, you barely even flinch.”
I shrugged.
“What can I say? You can huff and puff all you want. I’m not afraid of a big bad wolf like you.”
I could have sworn something darkened in Grady’s eyes. Then he glanced away, scrubbing his hand over his mouth. Before I could get confused about what just passed between us, he reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out my card.
“I didn’t call,” he said, soft with chagrin.
For a moment, I remained quiet, mesmerized by the way he traced the edge of my business card with his callused thumb. He’d changed his shirt since our last meeting, which meant that he’d purposefully kept that card in his pocket for two days, carried close to his heart.
“No, you didn’t,” I replied gently. “And if I’m honest, I’ve been a little disappointed about it, Mr. McCall.”
“Since you’re conspiring with my daughter, I think it’s safe to say we can be on a first name basis. Agreed?”
A faint smile touched my lips.
“Agreed.”
Grady continued trailing his thumb along the edge of the card. That damned blush threatened to steal up my neck again. Why did my whole body suddenly become hot, tight, and achy all over at the thought of his touch?
“I’d like to make it up to you,” he said.
I raised my eyebrows.
“An apology? I didn’t think you were the type of man who did that sort of thing.”
“It’s a rare occurrence, I’ll admit.”
I considered for a moment, eyeing him.
“Did Avery force your hand?”
“I’m a grown man. I can make my own decisions.”
I paused. My gut told me that Avery didn’t know about the card in her father’s pocket. She hadn’t exactly been subtle about pushing us together, but it seemed Grady was pursuing me out of his own interest, with no prompting from his daughter.
“Lending a hand with the festival set-up would be a wonderful way to apologize,” I offered.
Grady looked like he instantly regretted his decision.
“Do I have a choice in the matter?”
“Of course you do. Although I don’t think I need to point out that every decision has consequences.”
“Meaning?” he prompted.
“My phone number has an expiration date, Grady. I won’t wait around forever.”
He nodded, sliding the card into his pocket again.
“I didn’t think you would. That’s why I spoke to my cook this morning. Lunch will be prepared for us at one o’clock if you’re interested in staying.”
“Is this more of Avery’s doing?” I asked.
“Despite my daughter’s best attempts to socialize me and turn me into a functioning member of society, no, this has nothing to do with her.” He shifted in place, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “So…will you join me?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The wealthiest, grumpiest bachelor in Ash Ridge had just invited me on a date. I felt like I had wings on my feet.
“I’d love to. Since it’s only nine o’clock in the morning, that gives us plenty of time for festival prep.”
Grady sighed.
“Where do you want me? I’m following your lead.”
“It’s your ranch,” I pointed out. “Shouldn’t you be the one giving orders?”
“When it comes to the business of cattle, I’ll gladly take charge. But this?” He gestured to the volunteers laying out one of the tents by the barn. “This is entirely outside my wheelhouse. You are much better suited to it than I am.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest. It must be difficult for a man like Grady to surrender control over his ranch, especially when he had been the one in charge for decades. The fact that he trusted me to manage the festival was an honor I wouldn’t take lightly.
“In that case, I’ll put you to work.”
The next few hours were a whirlwind of preparations. I couldn’t help noticing that the volunteers gave Grady a wide berth. He never smiled, and his muscled figure loomed over everyone else like a thundercloud threatening to burst at any moment. But he did every task without complaining that I delegated to him. I wouldn’t say he was excited for the Harvest Festival, but at least he’d seemed to reach some level of tolerance for it.
When lunch rolled around, Grady cupped his fingers to my elbow and pulled me toward him until my shoulder bumped against his chest. Startled, I glanced up to realize how close we were—his hot breath against my cheek, the way his ribs expanded against my side as he breathed in.
“Time to make good on your promise,” he said.
“Is it one o’clock already?” I checked the clock on my phone for confirmation. “I’ll just finish up here—”
“No,” Grady said, firmly. “You’ve been bustling around for hours, and I’m tired of running into all these goddamn people.”
A moment later, the clatter of a bell rang through the air. Avery cupped her hands around her mouth.
“Food! Come and get it!”
One long buffet table had been set up outside the bunkhouse, piled with hamburgers, pickles, potato salad, and corn on the cob.
“Did you do this?” I asked. “The planning committee usually orders takeout for lunch when we’re setting up.”
“It was Avery’s suggestion. Our ranch hands eat enough for a small army, so she thought we might as well provide lunch for the whole festival crew.”
“She really has you wrapped around her little finger, doesn’t she?”
Grady narrowed his eyes but didn’t reply. He would never admit out loud that his daughter would always have his heart in her hands.
I started toward the buffet table but Grady steered me in the direction of the house instead.
“That’s for everyone else,” he said. “I have something different in mind for you.”
Before I could protest, Grady slid his hand down my forearm and laced our fingers together. My heart leaped into my throat. The heat of his rough palm felt scorching hot against my skin as he led me up to the porch. A private spread waited for us there, with golden brown pillowy bread rolls, thick cuts of steak, mashed potatoes swimming in butter and chives, and a blackberry pie glistening with chunky sugar crystals.
“This looks wonderful,” I said. “Thank you, Grady.”
“You should thank my cook, not me. He planned the whole thing. It’s been…well, a few years since I’ve entertained a lady like this.”
He removed his hat and combed his hand through his hair, smoothing it back—a surprisingly vulnerable gesture for a big, gruff man like him. I admired the fact that he maintained some semblance of humility, granting credit where credit was due. It would have been easy for him to dismiss his cook as nothing more than an employee.
When I pulled my chair out, Grady did the same and sat across from me. He held his hat for a moment awkwardly, casting around for a place to put it. Then he set it on the porch railing behind him.
My gaze shifted past his shoulder to see Avery, frozen mid-step, with a plate of food in her hand as she stared at us.
“I think your daughter just realized what you’re doing,” I said.
Grady turned around to look, then started cutting into his steak.
“Avery was bound to figure it out sooner or later.”
“And you’re not concerned about wagging tongues? You seemed like a private man to me. Ash Ridge is a small town and people love to talk. If you’re not careful, people will say the Harvest Festival is really a wedding in disguise.”
Grady paused. For a moment, I thought he might be reconsidering our date. Then he dragged his gaze up to my face.
“If you’re looking for an escape—”
“I’m not.”
“As I recall, you said you weren’t scared of the big bad wolf.”
I picked up my fork and dug into the fluffy mashed potatoes to prove my point.
“I still think you’re as harmless as a lamb.”
Grady choked on his food and cleared his throat.
“Harmless? I can safely say no one has ever accused me of that before.”
“It probably has something to do with the scowl permanently etched into your face.”
“Sounds like you’re calling me old,” he countered.
“Just a little grumpy.” I picked up a bread roll and cut into it with my knife until steam billowed out. “You still haven’t told me why you didn’t call, by the way.”
Grady paused, pushing a piece of steak around on his plate as he deliberated.
“Rusty, I guess.”
“Is that the only reason?” I prodded, curiosity getting the better of me.
“There hasn’t exactly been much room for romance where cattle are concerned. And I know cattle.”
I met his gaze across the table. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be to date again after getting divorced. Especially when the whole town would have their eyes on him, watching every move he made.
A gust of wind sent Grady’s hat flying across the table like a tumbleweed. When he scrambled to grab it, his elbow collided with his glass of water. Liquid sloshed across the table and splashed down his front.
Grady swore, pushing his chair back as he looked down at himself in dismay. I grabbed my napkin, pressing it against his damp chest.
He curved his fingers around my wrist. I froze and looked up.
Grady’s pupils dilated nearly full black. Only the slightest rim of stormy gray marked his irises. His heartbeat thrummed, strong and fast, beneath my palm.
I should pull away, I thought.
All I wanted to do was lean in and close that little gap of space between us.
“It’s a good thing we’re in public,” Grady said, his voice pitched low and rough.
My fingertips traced the buttons on his chest, traveled the coarse fabric of his shirt.
“Why?” I whispered.
“If we were alone, I’d have you in my lap right now, and I wouldn’t be a gentleman about it.”
My eyebrows shot up.
“Is that a threat or a promise?”
Grady’s grip on my wrist tightened, and he smoothed his thumb along the inside of my forearm. My breath lodged in my throat. Goosebumps rippled across my skin. Leaning over him like this, halfway standing out of my chair, it would be easy to make me lose my balance. Grady could simply tug on my wrist and I would tumble into his lap. Willingly.
“What do you want it to be?” he asked
I hesitated, stunned by the thrill of the moment. My dating record had been bland ever since I’d reached my mid-30s. I thought my days of getting swept off my feet were behind me and I would have to settle for something tame, mundane, and boring in my 40s.
Grady was far from boring.
“I think you should behave yourself as long as your daughter and your ranch hands can see you,” I replied.
He gave a thoughtful hum. Then he squeezed my wrist one last time and released me. I sank back down into my chair, fighting to catch my breath.
A promise, I thought. That was definitely a promise.