Page 14 of Stranded with a Bossy Rancher

He smiles. “I’ll tell her you said so.”

“Okay, I love you too.”

When he hangs up the phone, I want to ask him about it, but I don’t have to. He leans forward. “That was my sister. She heard about Feed Haven.”

I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand. “Already? That was quick.”

He laughs. “That’s what I said. She’s found us a new supplier, and she and Rhett are switching over too. A rep will be out to see us this week.”

Speechless, I can just stare at him. He doesn’t even seem upset by all the drama or overwhelmed by any of this, and I know changing providers is not an easy thing to do.

He reaches for my hand and holds it. “She also said she’s got your back. If you need anything, just call her.”

I grab the napkin and bring it up to blot at my eyes. It seems I can cry at the drop of a hat now. I clean up my tears and then reach for his hand again. “Thank you, E. For everything. For how you make me feel, for caring about me, for protecting me… It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

“E?”

I laugh. “Yeah, I wanted a nickname for you, but that doesn’t sound right. I actually thought about this the other night and came up with a good one, but I’m not sure you’ll like it.”

“Tell me,” he demands.

“Bear.” When he tilts his head to look at me, I rush and say, “Because with most people you’re like a bear, but with me, you’re more like a teddy bear. I didn’t think you’d let me call you teddy bear, so I thought Bear sounded right.”

When he doesn’t answer me right away, I start to retract it. “It’s stupid. Forget I even said anything.”

He shakes his head, and his voice is thick with emotion. “No, I like it. I like Bear. I’ve never had a nickname before, and I think it’s perfect.”

A small smile lifts at my lips. “Really?”

He nods. “Really.”

Our waitress brings our food and sets it down in front of us. As soon as she’s gone, Elliott moves his plate next to mine and comes around to sit next to me. He insists on holding my handthrough the whole meal, but I don’t mind. I’m finding that the more I get to know the bossy rancher, the more I like him.

CHAPTER 9

ELLIOTT

I holdher hand the whole way home, wishing that the night didn’t have to end.

There are so many things I want to say to Camille, but I’ve found myself holding back because I’m so afraid I’m going to scare her off.

As we get inside the house, before she can leave me to go to her room, I ask her if she wants to sit in the living room for a little while and talk.

She nods, and as we sit down, she opens her mouth and then closes it again.

“What is it?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

I scoot closer to her on the couch. “Talk to me. What were you going to say?”

She tilts her head back to look at me. “I’m trying to figure you out.”

I don’t mean to, but I can feel my guard coming up, and I hate it because this whole time, I’ve felt more at ease with her than with anyone. “What do you mean?”

She blurts out, “How are you single?”

I put my hand on her knee because I want to touch her every chance I get. “You’re sweet.”

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