Page 140 of Giddy Up, Daddy

Well, now I’m curious if nothing else, so I let her pull me onto my feet and drag me out the door. When we come out onto the sidewalk, there’s an expectation in the air. I can feel it, but I don’t understand it, or the weird looks people are giving me.

And then the crowd parts. And I see them.Them.

Bo and Nate are standing in the road dressed in full-ass four- piece suits, complete with ties around their neck and boutonnieres on their lapel. Roses.

If that was all… If only that was all. They are standing in front of a full-ass carriage, being pulled by two of the most stunning Ahkal Teke horses I’ve ever seen. They are decked out, their manes shining, gorgeous garlands of roses around their necks. And the carriage is adorned with similar wreaths. There’s a chauffeur I don’t recognize.

When they see me, the crowd goes silent. I step toward them, or maybe I’m pushed. “What… What is going on? What are you doing here?”

“We’ve come to woo you into giving us a second chance,” Bo states.

“We’re hoping you’ll come with us, just… on one more date. So we can talk.” Nate is more diplomatic.

“What?” Crazy, wild laughter bubbles from my lips. I’m stunned at the spectacle, stunned that it’s for me. It’s proposal-worthy and all they want is a date. I don’t know whether to be swept off my feet or totally turned off. “I can’t… I’m on the job. I won't get off for another hour.”

“Well, see, that might be something we’d known If we’d had the chance to get to know you.” Bo’s smile is devilishly charming and even though I’m trying to be aloof, my heart flutters.

The crowd collectively groans.

“She can go!” Jeffrey calls.

They cheer. What is this life?

Bo and Nate smile, and step up, each on one side of me, offering their arms. “You heard the man. Let’s go, M’lady. Your chariot awaits.”

They start to guide me to the carriage, and I falter, pulling back. “I can’t.”

Their faces fall.

Bo speaks first. “Please, Elle? No pressure beyond dinner and a conversation. We just have some things to say and more to ask. We want to get to know you.”

Nate chimes in, “Sex is off the table. We want to do things right this time. You’re worth not rushing.”

I can’t help the stab of regret that twinges when Nate announces that sex is off the table. I know he’s not wrong, but it doesn’t even matter. “No.” I laugh, taking two steps back and pointing to the wreaths. “I mean, I really can’t. I’m allergic to roses.”

My declaration visibly stuns them and they both blink as they process, then Bo steps into action with a wide grin. “Well, see, that’s the kind of thing we’re hoping to get to know. The aim is to woo you, not put you in the hospital.”

“Can we get someone to take away these floral arrangements?” He snaps his fingers, and Mack appears out of the crowd with Kilches King, one of the mayors, and another man I don’t know. In minutes all the flowers have been disposed of. The picture the carriage and horses make is no longer as grand, but it’s not going to make me break out in a rash either.

Once they are gone, I allow Bo and Nate to help me into the carriage, one of them on each side of me, and we literally ride off into the sunset. Not on horseback, mind you, but close enough.

Chapter Nineteen

Elle

They mentioned dinner, but the carriage keeps going past any restaurants, and onto the main road out of town. I wonder how a horse-drawn carriage is allowed on a main highway, but decide Blue River tends to buck the rules. Or maybe they got a one-time concession. It wouldn’t surprise me. They made me feel like a princess, and they could charm the skin off a snake. They’d certainly charmed the pants off me, and I'm about to let them again.

The carriage turns off the main road, and I realize we’re going to their house. Curious. They’d said a date and no sex. I’d assumed we’d be in public.

We don’t make it to their house though. The carriage carries us past the barns, down to the river, right up to a scene that is straight out of a fairy tale. Or at least a romance book. Near the river, under a pair of magnificent oak trees adorned with hundreds of twinkle lights, is a small bistro-style table, with a pretty red tablecloth. It’s set with fancy china and there are three chairs pulled up beside it.

My mouth drops open at the stunningly thoughtful scene as Bo leans behind him, and extracts a huge picnic basket.

“What in the….” I gasp. “What did you guys do?”

“We tried.” Bo says with a grin. “Hold please.” He jumps down and runs toward the table, plucking something from the center. A vase with roses. I bite back a smile.

He runs it down the river a ways, and sets it down beneath a tree, before running back.

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