Page 6 of Old-Fashioned Rancher

I laughed and shook my head.

“Avery told me you’d say that. The battle lines have been drawn, and I’ve chosen my side. I’m also a member of the Harvest Festival Planning Committee, so I’m looking forward to this event. You’re outnumbered, Mr. McCall. And you can’t change my mind. Coffee?”

I pressed one of the cups into his hand. He gave it a skeptical look.

“Black,” I added before he could ask. “No cream or sugar.”

“Another tip off from my meddling daughter, I assume?”

Grady took a sip and dipped his head in a brief nod of bare approval. I bit the inside of my cheek to hide a smile, pleased that he liked it.

“She was quite informative.” I held up my own cup. “Besides, I had a feeling you weren’t a caramel white chocolate macchiato type of man.”

“That doesn’t count as real coffee. That’s a cup full of sugar.”

“And it’s delicious. Pastry?”

I held out the bag with the Bread & Butter Bakery logo on the front. Over the years, I discovered that even the most difficult, irascible clients mellowed into nearly docile kittens at the first bite of a pastry still warm and fresh from the bakery.

Grady eyed the bag for a moment before he grudgingly took a danish.

“Why don’t you give me a tour?” I suggested. “Let me see the lay of the land. Then I can offer better suggestions when it comes to selecting floral arrangements.”

Even though it was a perfectly reasonable business suggestion, I couldn’t help feeling a little curious. I drove by the McCall ranch all the time, but I’d never seen it up close and personal like this before.

Grady cleared his throat and lifted his chin in the direction of the barn.

“Bunkhouse and barn are over there. House is behind you. The rest is forest and open fields.”

“That’s not a tour, Mr. McCall.”

When I moved closer, his gaze locked onto me, watching, steady. My throat tightened and my courage almost gave out. But I forged on and hooked my arm into Grady’s elbow.

“A gentleman who entertains a lady should be ready and willing to show off for her,” I added. “So, go on. Try again. Impress me this time.”

When I gave his bicep a squeeze, he croaked a flustered cough. I never treated my other clients like this. There was a thin line between friendly and flirtatious, and I always remained safely in the friendly camp.

In Grady’s case, I gladly obliterated that line without looking back. Now I hurtled full speed into flirting territory. My resolution to remain strictly professional was in shambles.

“Avery put you up to this, didn’t she?” Grady countered, shaking his head. “I told her I didn’t need any help finding a date.”

“Hold your horses, mister. No one said anything about a date. Not even Avery. Ever since I showed up, you looked like you wanted to make a run for it. So, I’m merely providing a little guidance to help you out. I’ve lived in Ash Ridge long enough to recognize a man who doesn’t spend much time in the company of a lady. You have no clue what to do with yourself.”

Grady hesitated.

“Is it that obvious?”

I patted his shoulder.

“It’s written all over your face. Now, try again and take me on a real tour this time.”

Grady began to move. But I didn’t budge, letting my hand slide away from his arm. He glanced back with a frown of confusion. I raised my eyebrows, waiting for him to catch on.

“What?” he said, exasperation growing in his tone. “What am I missing now?”

“An invitation.”

Understanding dawned on his face. Grady gave a heavy sigh. Then he returned to my side and offered his arm.

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