Page 24 of Dashing for Love

Of course.

xx

I sign off with another cowboy emoji, then head back to Lucky. Part of me feels a bit dishonest that I’m keeping the cowboy thing going, but I’ve read plenty of cowboy romances and I take care of large farm animals. Close enough.

Still, by the time I’m back at the clinic and have changed into a set of scrubs to see a few pets for the rest of the day, I’m a little freaked out. After sending Reid a text, I scoop Killer into the sling that Willa insisted I use and find Reid patrolling the town square.

“Hey!” I close the distance between us.

Reid nods, one hand absently scratching under Midnight’s chin. “You finally succumbed to Willa’s demand that you wear Killer?”

I tip my chin at the sling around him that holds the black cat. “Just trying to be as cool as you, Officer MacKinnon.”

“Fuck off,” he says good-naturedly. “What’s got you so keyed up that you needed to come find me?”

“Dawn thinks I’m a cowboy.”

He does a double-take. “Come again?”

I sigh and relay the situation, which, of course, he finds utterly hilarious.

“Wait—you sent her a picture of a horse?”

“That’s what I said.”

“And then,” he laughs, “one of a cowboy hat?”

I cross my arms. “Reid. I’ve been telling you that for about five minutes, man. Are you gonna help me out or what?”

He keeps chuckling. “I don’t know why it’s so funny, but it’s just…” he wipes a tear, “damn funny!”

“Is it, though?”

This makes him laugh harder.

I try a different approach. “C’mon, man. You lived in Miami. You’re classy and I’m not.”

Reid doubles over, tipping Midnight into the grass. “I’mclassy? Wait till I tell Willa that’s what you said about me. Even better—wait till I tell Ox!”

I make a noise of frustration. “Youcan’ttell Ox.”

But the dude just hits a button on his shoulder walkie-talkie thing and speaks into it. “Ox. Go to private.”

“On it.”

Reid flashes a grin.

I glare at him. “I hate you so much right now.”

Ox’s voice comes through the speaker. “Talk.”

“Matty has this mystery woman thinking he’s a cowboy, and now he’s gotta dress like one at the masquerade ball later this week.”

Immediately, the sound of laughter crackles through the radio. “Oh shit,” Ox heaves, “that’s amazing.Matty? Acowboy?”

“Okay, now you two are just being mean. Besides, I’m on farms half the week!” I protest.

All of this just makes them laugh harder.

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