Page 21 of More Than a Blind Date

His gaze meets mine, then bounces down to my lips for a second. “Pretty sure I kissed you back. But you don’t owe me kisses for helping you.”

“I only kissed you because I wanted to. I like you.”

Staring at me, he drags a hand through his hair. “Do you want to look around more?”

“No, this house is wonderful. I’m excited to move in. And I want to add another condition to our deal.”

He gives me a side look as he puts on his hat. “What?”

“Who did you know that was like my mom?” I can’t believe I told this man I liked him. I’m never this forward with guys. But being near him ignites bravery in my soul. It’s also possible that my overwhelming attraction is making me stupid.

After shooing the cats, he opens the door and nods toward the truck. “My ex-fiancée.”

That is not what I expected. Now I’m even more curious. “What happened?”

“She dumped me.”

I cannot wrap my brain around that idea. Dallas is charming, kind, and sexy. And he kisses like a dream. Who would walk away from that?

“Why?”

He locks the door and rests a hand on my back as he leads me to the truck. “That information was not part of our deal.”

CHAPTER 10

DALLAS

Colt nods a greeting as I walk into the barn. “Hey there. When will you be full time here?”

I’m splitting my time between ranches until Clint finds a replacement for me. “Not sure yet. Soon, I hope.”

There is a ton of stuff I want to get done here, and my evenings are spent working down that list. But Rose has added a wrinkle to my routine.

“You don’t have to do everything all at once. You can add cattle, goats, or whatever else Tandy wants around after she starts matchmaking. Believe me, people who are meant to fall in love won’t care if there are cute goats roaming around the cabins. They’re goats. Pretty sure Cupid isn’t a goat.”

“Is that your way of telling me not to get stressed over everything I want to get done?”

“Yep. Spend time with your lady friend.”

I haven’t said anything to Colt about Rose, so this remark is curious. “Tandy told you about Rose?”

“No, sir. I just saw you with someone the other day and guessed that she’s your girl.”

“My fiancée actually.” The words roll off my tongue more easily than I expected, which is good.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks. I proposed just the other day. Her parents aren’t so happy about it, so she’s looking for a new place. Plans to move into Tandy’s at the end of the month, but the next two weeks will be interesting. I’m taking care of her cat, and Rose comes over every day to see him. I’ll introduce you the next time she’s around.”

“Sounds good. And I have a spare room if needed.” Colt doesn’t even look up as he speaks.

I like Colt, but there is no way I want Rose living at his house. Tamping down my irritation at his offer, I try to answer diplomatically. “She doesn’t know you, so I’m not sure she’d be okay with?—”

Colt whips around and waves his hands. “No. You completely misunderstood my offer. I offered my spare room in caseyouwanted to crash there for a couple of weeks. Then she could stay with her kitty. I wasnotsuggesting that she move in with me. No.”

I chuckle, both from relief and because of Colt’s expression. “That makes much more sense. And I might take you up on that. I’ll talk to Rose.”

“And I’m sorry she’s having trouble with her family. That’s rough.”

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