Page 27 of Dairy and Deadly

He used her dramatic pause to lather on another compliment. “He thinks the world of you, you know.”

“I do.” Her features softened. “I think a lot of him, too. As cliche as it sounds, he’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a father.”

A warning bell went off in Johnny’s head at the realization that she might only be painting a scenario for getting closer to the guy. Too close, considering what was at stake.

The dance ended, but Caro didn’t let go of him. She folded her hands around his arm again and led him to the front of the room. “Since you’re my honored guest, you get to sit with me at the head table.”

As they reached their seats, she reached for the wireless microphone waiting for her beside her plate. Turning it on, she called out, “Are y’all having a good time?”

A cheer rose at her words.

She gave the audience a cheery thumbs up. Then she directed their attention to the big screen mounted on the wall. “While our catering staff puts the finishing touches on tonight’s feast, we’re going to play a game.” She paused dramatically. “With prizes!”

More cheering and clapping erupted. She waited until it died down before explaining the rules. The game required taking out their cell phones and following a big heart-shaped QR code to sign in. It turned out to be a trivia game about everything romance — dating stats, what to do or not to do on a first date, top destination weddings, and on and on. Most of the attendees joined the game, leading to a new round of fun and hilarity. The serving line opened soon afterward, and happy couples flooded to the line to fill their plates with chicken cordon bleu, filet mignon, and more sides and desserts than Johnny could keep track of.

The trivia game continued through the dinner hour. Caro didn’t participate in the game, which made sense for a hostess. She turned off her microphone and took a seat next to Johnny, leaning his way in a manner that most folks would likely interpret as intimate.

He mentally shook his head over the quandary he was in. Despite his best efforts tonight to emphasize and re-emphasize their status as just friends, she seemed determined to present a different picture to those gathered around them.

“This is great.” Despite the enticing aromas filling the air, his appetite shrank with each passing moment. “Something tells me this might become a new tradition in Heart Lake.”

“I hope so.” Caro’s voice grew unexpectedly wistful. “I like it here, Johnny. I truly do.”

He gave a dry chuckle. “You keep pulling off successful stunts like this, and they’ll recruit you to a bigger town in two snaps. More opportunities. More money.”

She raised and lowered her shoulders. “Money isn’t everything, Johnny. You can’t put a price on a night like this.” She leaned even closer to him.

“If you say so,” he joked, trying to steer them back toward lighter banter. “But I believe you charged fifty bucks a head for all of this?” Not him, of course, but everyone else.

Her eyes widened defensively. “This feast wouldn’t have catered itself!”

“No, it would not.” The scent of her perfume grew stronger. He leaned back in his chair to carve out a little more breathing room for himself.

His cell phone buzzed in his pocket.Finally!He dove for it, holding in a whoop of relief. As he scanned Josh’s text message, he held his phone at an angle that made it impossible for Caro to read it.

Emergency at the farm, dairy boy!

“Not good.” He made a big show of frowning at the screen. “Looks like I’m going to have to dash.” He glanced up from his phone with an apologetic look.

She pouted some more. “You did warn me.”

“I’m sorry to cut out early.” He pushed back his chair, scowling ferociously.

“It’s okay.” She reached up to smooth her hand over her updo, though he couldn’t see a hair out of place. “I don’t blame you for not wanting to leave things at the farm in the hands of someone so inexperienced.”

Inexperienced?He was surrounded by rockstars when it came to dairy farming. The combined experience that he, Clint, Tucker, and Hawk had was off the charts.

Caro gestured impatiently. “I was referring to the new girl you hired to look after the calves.”

Is that what she thought Ashley had been hired to do? He nodded, deciding to play along. “Thanks for understanding.”

She leaned his way again, adopting a conspiratorial voice. “Between me, you, and the doorpost, I’m not sure how long she’s going to stick around.”

“Oh?” She was clearly in the mood to gossip, and he was most definitely in the mood to listen to anything having to do with Ashley Perkins. However, he was supposed to be heading out to handle an emergency, so he stood and bent closer to invite her to share whatever was eating at her.

Though the noise around them ensured the privacy of their conversation, she cupped a hand around her mouth as she confided, “Things may not be asoverwith her ex-fiancé as she pretends.”

Johnny wasn’t sure what sort of reaction she was expecting, so he simply gestured for her to continue.

---