Page 26 of Ride a Cowboy

“Janice,” Porter said, looking far too pleased when he plopped himself back down on the low cart and wheeled himself under the truck once more. Bastard had found an escape. Porter had been telling Hank for weeks he was going to have to be more forceful with Janice. Simply telling the woman he wasn’t interested in dating her clearly wasn’t enough.

Thing was, Hank’s daddy had raised him to be respectful of women, and he was afraid nothing short of hurting Janice’s feelings was going to convince her to move on.

Janice held out a loaf of homemade applesauce cake. “I was baking this morning and thought I’d bring you by a treat. I know how you love my applesauce cake.”

Hank took the loaf and thanked her. One of the main reasons he’d started taking so many meals at Sparks Barbeque was to avoid Janice, who’d stopped by almost nightly with a plate of food for him right after Sharon’s death.

“I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight. I’m making your favorite,” she added, “fried chicken.”

Hank took a deep breath. Time to let her down. Again. “I can’t, Janice. I’ve got plans with Macie.”

Janice tilted her head. “What sort of plans?”

“A date.”

“Another one?”

He nodded. “I’m going out with Macie now.”

Janice laughed as if he’d told a funny joke. Hank wasn’t sure how to react to that. Half the time, he didn’t have a clue what Janice was thinking.

“She’s a bit young for you, isn’t she? Is this some sort of midlife crisis thing?”

He shook his head, fighting hard to hold on to his temper. “Not at all. She’s my girlfriend.”

Janice didn’t appear to pick up on his tone. A wise person would have known he was annoyed, and backed off.

“Well, I’m sure she’s the perfect person for you to dip your toes back into the water with. After all, she’s a professional dater, isn’t she? Figure you’re about the only man in Maris she hasn’t gone out with.”

Hank heard a soft groan from beneath the truck behind him. Porter was listening to every word, and even he knew she’s just crossed a very big line.

“I don’t think that’s true at all. And I’m not dipping my toe in anything, Janice. Macie and I are dating. And it’s serious.” At least, it was in his mind.

He was worried he might still have to convince Macie his feelings were sincere. For as confident as the woman was, Macie had mentioned not being his type a couple of times since their first date. Apparently, she felt the shadow of Sharon hovering over her. He supposed that was to be expected. He had been married for a long time. Obviously it was going to take him more than just three days to convince Macie she was his type too.

Janice smiled, almost indulgently. “I understand.”

Hank was fairly certain she didn’t. But this time he was determined to put an end to whatever foolish nonsense she’d cooked up in her head that had her thinking he was ever going to ask her out. “You do? You understand that she’s my girlfriend and that, much as I appreciate the meals and the baked goods and stuff, it’s really not appropriate for you to keep stopping by like this?”

Janice nodded and pointed at the loaf of applesauce cake. “Of course I do. Enjoy that.” With that, she walked back to her car. “I’ll see you again soon,” she called out as she got in and drove away.

Porter slid back out from under the truck.

“Thanks for the support there, buddy,” Hank said, sarcastically.

Porter gave him a shit-eating grin. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t realize you needed help.”

“Jackass.”

“You’re going to have to be more direct than that, Coop.”

Hank suspected his friend was right, but the contrary part of him spoke up instead. “What’s more direct than telling her Macie is my girlfriend and to stop coming by?”

Porter shook his head. “Not sure, but there’s no way she would have acted as breezy and carefree as she just did if she’d really given up on you. That woman’s tenacious as a bulldog with a bone.”

“Last six times she’s been here, I’ve told her I don’t want to date her. Ever. I’m not sure what the hell else I’m supposed to do. Tattoo it on my forehead?”

“Not sure even that would be enough. Woman is fixated on you and this future she’s created in her head—with your dead wife’s permission.”

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