Page 32 of Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

And here I am. At the back of a cow.

I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad one.

Chapter fourteen

AUSTIN

The smells, the tension, and the woman beside me – everything happens so fast.

With one final push, the calf slides out. We quickly clear its airways and rub it down with towels, sighing in relief when it takes its first shuddering breath.

"We did it," Hayley breathes, her face filled with joy.

In our excitement, I don't know who reaches for who, but the next moment, we're hugging tightly. It's only when the cow moos, that we realize how close we are, our faces mere inches apart.

"You did well," I say softly, my eyes never leaving hers. I’m mesmerized and feel that I could never feel anywhere near this wonderful again. She’s beautiful, kind, intelligent, and as cute as a button all wrapped up in one sweet package.

I feel her heart pounding a beat that matches my own. I think, well I hope, that this situation breaks the ice and lets me into her heart a bit.

She wets her lips and her eyes drop. She doesn’t pull away, but instead she lays her head on my chest. Oh man, oh man.

The moment is broken by the shrill ring of my phone.

"Hello, Austin here." I greet, finally taking another step away.

It's the vet, letting me know he's arrived.

Hayley steps back, tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear. "I should go," she says. "The vet will know much more than I do."

As she turns to leave, I catch her arm gently. "Hayley, wait."

She looks back at me, and I'm struck by how beautiful she looks, even soaked and covered in hay.

"Thank you," I say sincerely. "I couldn't have done this without you."

She gives me a small smile. "As long as you promise to forget about the vegetable garden incident."

"Whatcha talkin’ bout, Willis?" I ask, making her, what? Maybe smile.

As Hayley walks away, I watch her go, feeling a slight shift in the air. I don't know what it is… but I think she just smiled at me.

Chapter fifteen

HAYLEY

I can feel my arms trembling, my clothes messy with rain and blood. After the intense experience of helping deliver the calf, my heart is still racing.

That night, long after, as I lay in bed, I continue replaying the moment over and over in my head.

“It seems I keep replaying a lot of things these days,” I mumble to myself, thinking back to how saving the calf wouldn’t have been possible if Austin had not been calm all along. Because for sure I may have looked and seemed in control, but inside I was a terrified mess.

After that night, I realize that on days I don’t go out of my way to avoid him, our paths seem to cross more frequently now. But what do I think now, when before I had been looking for revenge all along? It’s different.

One sunny afternoon, I'm walking along the fence line, lost in thought, when I hear excited barking. I see the two goldenretrievers bounding towards me, tongues lolling and tails wagging furiously.

"Whoa there!" I laugh as they reach me, nearly knocking me over in their enthusiasm. I kneel down to pet them, their fur soft under my hands.

"Come on boys, get back here!" Austin's voice causes me to look up, and I can see him standing across the field. Before I can stand up and possibly retreat, I look up to see him jogging towards us, a sheepish grin on his face.

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