Page 33 of Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

"I see you've met the welcoming committee," he says as he reaches us, slightly out of breath.

I can't help but smile. "They're certainly friendly."

"Got them about five years ago," he explains, reaching down to ruffle one of the dog’s ears. "They're a great company, but they have a bad habit of escaping to greet people they like. This is Duke and that is Rusty."

“I don’t think I have met them one on …” I pause, remembering that night when I did meet them one-on-one, so to speak.

The embarrassing night,I shall not mention.

“Do you mind them being close to you?” Austin asked.

"No, of course I don't mind," I assure him, standing up and petting their heads. "They're adorable."

There's a moment of awkward silence, and I realize it's the first time we've been alone since the night in the barn. The memory brings a flush to my cheeks.

Austin clears his throat. "So, uh, how are you settling in?"

"Pretty well," I reply, surprised to find I mean it. "It's... nice being back here."

He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's a beautiful place to grow up.”

I looked at his face, expecting to feel some sort of sarcasm from his words but the sincerity in his voice caught me off guard,and I find myself studying his face. Has he always had those little crinkles around his eyes when he smiles?

One of the dogs chooses that moment to flop onto his back, demanding belly rubs. I laugh, grateful for the distraction.

"Your dogs are so adorable unlike their owner," I joke before I can stop myself.

Austin's eyebrows shoot up, and I immediately want to crawl into a hole.

WHAT.

THE.

HECK

But then he laughs, a deep, genuine sound that makes my stomach do a little flip.

"I don't know," he says, his eyes twinkling. "I’m known to be very charming at times."

I roll my eyes, but I can feel a smile tugging at my lips. "That’s what everyone says. If only they knew the true Austin."

"Ah yes, nothing like a home stealer and a distasteful man," he quips.

We both laugh, and I'm struck by how easy this feels. The hostility that marked our earlier interactions has faded, replaced by something warmer, more familiar.

Over the next few days, I find myself running into Austin more often. Sometimes it's just a wave as we pass each other on the property, other times it's longer conversations that leave me smiling long after we've parted ways.

I mean, it’s nice having a friend on the property. I don’t have to fight all the time. That’s probably why I feel so relieved.

Then what about yesterday?I’m recalling when I had decided to take a swim in the lake. I'm floating on my back, enjoying the cool water, when I hear splashing nearby. I turn to see Austin’s dogs paddling towards me, along with a shirtless Austin not far behind.

"Sorry!" he calls out. "They saw you and decided to join in."

I was about to reply when one of the dogs, swims right up to me and starts licking my face. I spluttered and laughed, trying to fend him off.

"Bad boy, no Rusty!" Austin scolds, but he's laughing too. He reaches us and gently pulls him away. "I swear, they have no manners."

I wipe my face, still giggling. "It's fine. I probably taste like lake water anyway."

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