Page 10 of Serious Cowboy

“It is. I had a very happy childhood. Did you?”

Zeke hadn’t expected the query, and as such was absolutely unprepared for it. He couldn’t get over how direct she was. There was no wondering what she was thinking because she said it all out loud, or at least that’s how it seemed. “Uh, not so much.”

“Oh,” Callie sat back, wilting slightly. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. They needed to change the subject.

“My turn again, right?” The positive bob of her head had him tossing her another inquiry. “I have a dog, true or false?”

“Well, you work on a farm for a living, so I’m gonna say true.”

He made the harsh sound of a buzzer, but then felt silly for doing it around others. Socially awkward as ever, it seemed. “Wrong, sorry. No pets for me. I don’t really have time for a dog.”

“How can you not have time for a dog? You could take him with you anywhere on the ranch.”

“That’s true, but I just never thought about getting one. Maybe one day I will, though.”

They continued to chat for an hour after that, and Zeke felt stunned at how fast the time went. Being in public and especially in a social group always taxed him, but being with Callie wasn’tnear as much of a challenge for some reason. Maybe it was because she was such a delight to be around.

Still, it was time to go.

“Can we get the check,” he asked the server who’d brought all their mini dishes. Yet when the server arrived, Callie tried to snatch it. “I don’t think so,” he chastised her.

“Um, excuse me, but I believe I specifically told you thatI’dtakeyouto lunch. You helped me, so this meal is on me.”

“Can’t.”

“Can’t what?” she asked.

“Can’t let you pay.”

“Why? Because I’m a woman? You helped me, and I need to repay you.”

“You don’t,” he countered. Not that he was against equal rights or whatever, but it just felt wrong to have her settle up the bill when he’d had such a good time with her.

Her pale eyes sparkled, and he wasn’t sure of why until she spoke. “Fine. But only on one condition.”

“What condition?”

“Give me a tour of Rocky Ridge.”

His impulse was to deny her. “Don’t you have family for that?” It came out more gruffly than he intended. “I mean, we don’t really know each other.”

“So what,” she objected. “I would hope after today that we’re starting to be friends. You were so kind to me and I appreciate it.”

“Any resident of this town would’ve helped you.”

“No one else did, though. Only you.” He didn’t know what to say to that. She gave him a verbal push. “Come on, Zeke. It’ll be fun.”

So, he agreed.

CHAPTER FIVE

Wasit true that Callie had purposely motored along to the same country lane she knew Zeke would be driving on his way home? Yes. And was it true that she’d considered faking a breakdown to garner his attention? Sadly, yes. Again, making her own opportunities to run into him had been on her mind.

Yet, that wasn’t what had happened.

What had happened was actually worse. And better, technically.

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