Page 96 of Dashing for Love

Matty

Me? Or Ox?

Reid

Why would Ox need to call me?

Matty

I don’t know. I’m confused.

Ox

Call him. The idea is good.

Matty

Give me an hour.

Iclick the screen off and take a deep breath, then blow it out. Killer’s head pokes out from the blanket he’s cuddled in on the couch, his out of proportion ears on high alert. “Just me, buddy.” He looks around, huffs, and drops his head onto the blanket. I swear, he might miss Goldie more than I do.

It’s taken me longer than I’d like to come to my senses, but I’m here now.

The app dings.

TELL US HOW IT’S GOING WITH YOUR MATCH!!!

I glare at it. How’s it going? The temptation to rate the app zero stars is high, let me tell you. But I’m better than that. And it’s not like this is the app’s fault. The app did exactly what it was supposed to do.

And speaking of doing what is supposed to get done, I pick up my phone and dial. When I finish that call, I make a second one.

The next day,Reid and I are in my truck on the way to Farmer John’s. “You ever ridden a horse?”

Reid shakes his head. “Do I look like the kind of guy who’s spent time on one?”

I snort. “No, but that doesn’t mean much. You could have done it when you were a kid at a camp or something.”

“Nope. You ready for this?”

“I just need to know that you’re good with a camera.”

Reid holds up the bag. “It’s pretty self-explanatory. Point, shoot. Also,” he holds up his phone, “this is pretty foolproof. Especially once I get the thirst-trap videos of you I’m planning on.”

I shift in my seat. “Yeah, about that.”

“Oh, don’t eventhinkyou’re getting out of it. I promise you, it’s going to work.”

“But JJ and I have written a whole article.”

Reid blows a raspberry. “Article, shmarticle. She’s not going to care about the words once the video plays.”

We pull up to the farm half an hour later, and I grab my vet bag out of habit.

Reid eyes it. “Yes—I like the way you think. We’ll get some videos of you shirtless and checking on animals.”

I stop. “Exactly how much of this idea was yours versus Ox’s?”

Reid laughs. “Exactlynoneof this was Ox’s. And remember—you’re the one who said you needed to make it front page newsworthy. I’m just working with what I’ve got.”

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