Page 11 of The Rancher's Addiction

Chapter Five

Jenny was just aboutfinished with the bathroom floor when she ran out of glue.She was annoyed that she’d had to stop because it had been going along relatively well, then she told herself to suck it up.

With a frustrated sigh, she pulled on her jacket and grabbed her purse and keys.

Several people waved at her as she passed on her way to the hardware store on Main Street, and it lightened her mood and melted her aggravation.

She raised her hand to Stanly, who stood behind the counter at the hardware store.She and the older man had become friends over the last few months she’d been living there.He was someone she secretly wished was her father.He was kind, helpful, and full of knowledge.He’d taken over the store from his father fifty years before, and he was still going strong.

She grabbed a bucket of floor glue, walked up to the counter, and waited while he was checking out another customer.A presence behind her caught her attention, and she turned with a smile.It quickly froze in place at the sight of Mac.She nodded and turned away, hoping he’d leave well enough alone.

“Hello, little lady,” Stanly said.

“Hi, Stan.How is your knee feeling today?”

“Better.That joint cream you told me about works great.Thank you.”

She set the small bucket on the counter.“Good, I’m glad.”

Stanly looked at the bucket.“Are you still working on the tile?”

“Yes.I’m just about done.”

“This is the wrong glue.Let me go get the right one.”

She held up a hand.“I can get it.”But Stanly walked away.The presence behind her seemed to grow, making her stomach twist and her body heat.

She pretended to study the back wall with the different stuff Stanly had hanging.

“Are you going to ignore me?”

Jenny stiffened.She took a few breaths, stiffened her spine, and turned.“Good afternoon, Mr.McKenzie.”

He grunted.“Is that the way we're going to play it?”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

His eyes narrowed.“I get it.You’re taking the fact I don’t trust your abilities as a vet, so you’re sore about it.”

She rolled her eyes.“If you think you’re the first person to doubt me, you’re wrong.I’ve had people bigger than you trying to put me down.I knew I would have to deal with skepticism when I decided on my career.I’m tougher than you think.”

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