Page 18 of Old-Fashioned Rancher

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my temple.

“Trying my best to impress the beautiful florist.”

I ducked my head to hide a smile, suddenly feeling shy and giddy all at once. I slipped my hand into Grady’s jacket, smoothing my palm up the warm, solid planes of his chest. He’d made an effort to dress up with a crisp white button-down shirt, and a suit jacket, but he still wore jeans like a true cowboy.

“Well, if that beautiful florist isn’t interested, you have my number.”

His gaze swept over me from head to toe with blatant greed. Heat prickled my cheeks and I turned away, flustered.

“I can’t think straight when you look at me like that.”

Grady rumbled a laugh and crowded closer, dipping his head toward my ear. His breath fanned over the curve of my neck, sending a shudder of need down my spine.

“You don’t have to think when I have you bare beneath me.”

I choked on my cider with a whine and jabbed my elbow into his ribs. I didn’t want to miss the Harvest Festival, but at this rate, the foreplay was getting unbearable.

“You don’t play fair.”

A faint smile touched Grady’s lips. Laugh lines crinkled around his eyes.

My heart twisted with a familiar ache. I was falling deeply in love with this man.

I reached up and placed my hand against his cheek, tracing my thumb along those laugh lines as if I could memorize them by touch.

A balled-up napkin sailed through the air and bounced against Grady’s back. It tumbled into the dirt. Avery stood a few feet away and gave a little wave. She held up a plate of food—fried chicken, apple fritters, and popovers.

“When you two are done being disgustingly indecent, come get something to eat.”

Grady offered his arm to me.

“Hungry?”

I hooked my hand into the crook of his elbow.

“Starving.”

While Grady and I browsed the selection of cakes, pastries, and muffins at the Bread & Butter Bakery booth, my ears perked up when I overheard part of a conversation at a nearby vendor.

“Never thought McCall would go for a woman like her.”

“He’s probably just having a bit of fun. After twenty years being single, it’s about time he sowed some wild oats.”

I froze and swallowed hard but I didn’t show any indication that what was being said had any effect on me. It was talk, that’s all. Empty, shallow talk that meant nothing.

The first speaker grunted.

“He’s too damn old to be playing games like that. Rolling around in the hay is a young man’s game.”

“Hell, with McCall’s well-fed bank account, all he’d have to do is crook his finger and he could have any woman half of Birdie’s age. He might not be a young man, but the sweet little thing warming his bed could be.”

Suddenly, my appetite vanished. I couldn’t hear anything else over the roaring in my ears. It took me a few seconds to recognize the heat emanating from a warm, solid body next to me. Feeling like I was moving through molasses, I lifted my head and looked up to see Grady standing over me.

Before I could process what was happening, he took my hand and led me over to the next vendor. Two white-haired men with pints of beer in hand stared at him in surprise with a wide-eyed look of guilt. They were definitely the ones who’d been gossiping.

“Duvall, Cyrus,” Grady said with a nod of greeting. “I’ve known you two since I was a boy. So, I’d like to introduce you to my lady, Birdie.”

Duvall and Cyrus sputtered for a split second.

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