Page 119 of Giddy Up, Daddy

I don’t even notice the weary look on my bestie’s face as I rush out the door.

Chapter Five

Nate

“Are you sure about this?” I ask as I pull on my dress boots. We talked briefly about beginning to date, about finding a mom for Amelia and a babygirl for us, but it had all happened so fast. Bo’s like that though. He believes in fate and signs, and he’s sure that this woman he met at Sadie’s matchmaking office is the one for us.

What he’s not sure about though is what’s making me nervous. Bo’s so full speed ahead sometimes, he tends to bury the lead and he’s not actually sure if Elle knows there is anus.

She could think she’s going on a date with just Bo. I told him to call her and clarify, but he says it's fine. I love my Daddy but sometimes I doubt his sanity.

“I’m sure,” Bo insists in answer to my question. “I have a good feeling about this.”

I shoot him a look, but finish getting ready in silence. Bo’s already ready of course.

“And the mayors are okay watching Amelia?” I trust Kilches King and his wife and co-mayor Calliope implicitly, but Amelia has barely had time to get used to us. I don’t want her to feel abandoned.

“They are more than okay. I think they’re starting to think about having a little one of their own. This will be good practice for them. They practically begged me to let them babysit,” Bo assures me, stepping closer, and wrapping his large hands around my waist.

“I could just stay home with her,” I argue, even though they already have her, and it's kind of a moot point. “You could go on the date by yourself so there are no surprises, and just kind of drop the news about us, see how she takes it.”

Bo raises one eyebrow and gives me that bossy look he’s perfected. “You know what I always say. Begin as you intend to continue.”

“Yeah.” I sigh. He always does say that, usually in a very Daddy-like context. I kind of hate it. Tonight is no exception.

I grab my hat, run a comb through my hair and place it on top of my head. Bo comes up behind me and sort of crowds me out the door.

I still have a bad feeling about this, but I guess we’re doing it. We head out and once we’re on the road, some of my misgivings fade away and I find that I’m actually kind of excited. Because it could be a disaster, but if it’s not… it could actually be really great.

Bo drives me crazy, but he actually has really good instincts most of the time. I’m praying that this isn’t the exception to the rule.

Bo

I’d never admit it to Nate, because he’s already freaked out enough as it is, but I’m actually nervous too. I was so taken by Elle and so used to the fact that most of the beefcakes in town areactually paired up with each other, just as we are, that I kind of forgot the fact that it’s not common knowledge and unless Sadie has filled her in, there’s no way a newcomer like Elle would have known.

I hope and pray Sadie did fill her in. Otherwise, this Blue River Beauty is in for quite a surprise.

I turn down Main street and pull up in front of the renovated apartment complex on the outskirts of town—the one where they’ve put all the Beauties up.

I know from texting with Elle that she’s in apartment 5, so I pull up on the side of the road, turn off the truck and look over at Nate. “You ready for this? You’re going to love her.”

“I probably will. But is she going to love me?”

His cynicism is back and I know how he feels. Now that we are here, the excitement in my chest has become a lump in my belly.

There’s nothing left to do now, but find out how this is going to go.

Shooting Nate a nervous grin, I open the door and hop out, come around to the passenger side and open his door. Before he unbuckles, I lean in and press a kiss against his cheek.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say. But I have no idea if that’s true or not.

I guess we’re about to find out.

Chapter Six

Elle

I’ve never been so nervous for a date before. I know what to wear out for a night in New York, but a night out in Blue River is beyond anything I can fathom. What are we going to do? Do they even have nice restaurants here? All of my clothes feel wrong, but they’re what I have so I settle on a yellow sundress with a vintage cardigan over it, and the cheapest flats I can find. They’re still three-hundred-dollar shoes, but I’m praying Bo doesn’t know enough about fashion to realize.

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