Page 23 of Dairy and Deadly

“That’s a low blow. But, yes.” Josh and the lone business partner he’d started off with, Decker Kingston, had essentially saved Johnny’s life after the twin tragedy. Their job offer had given him a much-needed reason to keep living.

“Then I’m calling in a favor.” Josh’s expression didn’t change. “After this, we’ll call us even.”

“We’ll never be even, and you know it,” Johnny grumbled. “Forget what I said about calling in a favor.” He stood, angry at his friend for asking this of him and angry at himself for agreeing to it.

“Is that a yes?” Josh stood and faced him.

Johnny nodded irritably. “Caro drove out to the farm earlier to invite me to some Valentine shindig at Chester Farm next Saturday.” He had zero interest in attending. Not that he had anything against Caro. She just wasn’t Ashley.

Josh’s grin returned. “And you said?”

“I said I’d think about it, which I have. Instead of letting her down nicely, it looks like I’ll be going after all.”

“Now we’re talking!” His employer rubbed his callused hands together in anticipation.

Johnny scowled at his movements. “Don’t expect me to act happy about toying with a woman’s feelings.”

Josh’s grin didn’t waver. “I’m one hundred percent confident in your ability to pull this off without any collateral damage.”

“Pretty sure you just insulted me.” Johnny wanted to stay mad, but he found himself trying to hold in a chuckle.

“I did not!” Josh’s expression relaxed into one of sublime innocence.

“Just for the record, I’m not half the things people around here seem to think I am.” Johnny stomped toward the door.

“Such as Heart Lake’s biggest heartthrob?” Josh called after him.

Johnny left the room, slamming the door harder than necessary.

The echo of his friend’s laughter followed him down the hallway.

Chapter 6: Her Un-Valentine

Valentine’s Day

Johnny waited as long as he could before driving to Chester Farm. Showing up early for the couples’ dinner and dance would’ve made him look eager, and that was a far cry from what he was feeling this evening.

He chose not to dress up, either. All he did was shower off the farm-fresh smell and put on a clean outfit. Since it was unseasonably cold, he tossed an insulated denim jacket over his plaid shirt and stepped into his favorite pair of black boots. On his way out the door, he clapped on a Stetson.

Anyone who saw him this evening would see one thing only — a dairy farmer. Not Caro Madison’s almost boyfriend. Not a guy working his way toward his first date with Farmer Monty’s new events manager.

The only woman he was working toward a first date with was Ashley Perkins, though his insides twisted at the thought of going on a real date again. Despite his reputation, he was way out of practice with that stuff.

After a short inner debate, he drove his work truck to town instead of his Jeep. He didn’t want to give Caro the wrong idea by anything he said or did this evening. He was already regretting letting Josh strong-arm him into doing this. The closer he got to Chester Farm, the more he was convinced that this was a bad idea.

A mile or so down the road later, his concerns were validated when a series of heart-shaped signs popped into view. Red and white balloons were attached to them, stretching in a colorful line across the final stretch to Chester Farm. The messages on them made him want to do a U-turn and return home.

BE MINE

KISS ME

SAY YES

YOU & ME

TRUE LOVE

You’ve gotta be kidding me!Caro had made it sound like the all-new Valentine event she’d organized was no more than a social gathering for folks in their 20s and 30s. She’d also claimed it was designed for both couples and singles alike, though the signs she’d posted sure didn’t align with that statement. She had no right to bait and switch a guy like that. It felt dishonest somehow.

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