Page 5 of A Miracle for the Confident Cowboy

“Ineversaid—” Duke started with exasperation.

“You might as well have.”

He snapped his mouth shut and stared at her in disbelief. He most certainly didn’t call her stupid and he didn’t say that blogging was stupid, either. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he let out a long, slow breath. “All I said was that your job isn’t…” He trailed off. There was no use getting buried deeper into the pit he’d just dug for himself. “Look, we’ve gotten into dangerous territory again. How about we change the subject.”

“Fine by me.” She blew out a breath of her own. “Do you like animals?”

A strained smile returned to his face. That was a topic he could get behind even if it seemed pretty obvious. “Of course I do.”

She sighed. “I mean, other than horses.”

He shifted in his seat and leaned forward. “I know,” he murmured.

Her sardonic expression changed and she considered him thoughtfully. “Okay, cats… or dogs?”

Duke rubbed his hands together. This was going to be easy. Girls were almost always cat people and he was one of the few men who agreed with that sentiment. “Cats.”

Just like that, her expression returned to what it had been before. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

He blinked once, then twice. “No. I’m a cat person. I have one and he’s the best little guy ever.”

“Cats are narcissistic little deviants. Sometimes I wonder if they aren’t demons incarnate.”

Well, there went that option for connection. There was no chance that this date could be salvaged. He might as well let it go down like the sinking ship it was. “And I suppose you think dogs are so special?”

“Obviously. They’re loyal, social and playful?—”

“Andthey’re messy and they can be dumber than?—”

“Well, cats can’t be trained. They cough up furballs and… and they scratch the carpet for the fun of it.”

He scoffed at her statement. “I’m pretty sure a dog has more bad habits than you can shake a stick at. Dogs are dumb. They aren’t resourceful. A cat would figure out how to take care of itself if got locked out of the house. For the record, not all cats scratch the carpet.”

Her face was flushed now, though he couldn’t tell if it was completely from anger. He might have been mistaken, but she almost looked like she was enjoying their banter now. “I see it now,” she muttered. “The guy from England likes cats because misery loves company. I bet you just like the fact that you don’t have to do anything except empty a litterbox. What kind of commitment is that?”

“So, you acknowledge that I’m a Brit now?” he asked, amused.

“Sure.Andyou’re afraid of commitment. Which is why I’m more than certain that this isn’t going to work out.”

“This?” he pushed.

She pointed a finger between the two of them. “You and me. I’m sure you’re usually a big hit with the ladies. That accent of yours makes them fall all over themselves for you, no doubt. But that’snot me. I’d rather stick a thousand needles in my eye than ever have to spend another second with you.”

He had no response. He was too stunned to think of anything to say.

She placed her napkin on the table and stood up. “I can’t say it was a pleasure,” she murmured. With that retort, she stomped out of the restaurant.

Duke couldn’t believe what had happened. He watched her storm past the window on the sidewalk outside. Then she got in her car and drove away.

“So? How did it go?”

He jumped, finding Pippa scooting into the spot where Sophie had been. He frowned at her. “As grateful as I am that you thought about me, I’m going to have to say that you couldn’t have been more wrong in thinking we might have anything at all in common.”

She didn’t seem disappointed by his statement. Instead, she laughed and waved a dismissive hand through the air. “Oh, she’ll grow on you.”

“I certainly hope not,” he muttered under his breath.

Pippa must have heard based on the single raised brow. “You need to give her a chance. She’s new in town. She’s trying to find her place. When things settle down, you’ll see. She’s a real sweetheart.”

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