Page 27 of More Than a Blind Date

Dallas smiles. “I agree with Daphne. You should wear that to dinner.”

“Okay.” I hurry back down the hall. He finally had a different response, but it was probably because I said something about wearing it, which indicated that it was one of my choices.

So when I show off the last dress, I only say, “This is the last one.”

Dallas just stares. He doesn’t say anything at all.

Daphne glances at him, then at me. “That’s the one for the wedding. One hundred percent. Don’t you think, Dallas?”

He nods. “Yeah. For sure.” He stands. “I need to talk to Colt about something. Y’all make yourself at home. I’ll be back in a bit.” And the man hurries out the door without even picking up his cowboy hat.

The door closes, and my shoulders slump.

Daphne laughs. “Girl, I’m not sure why you are looking like a wounded puppy. He likes the dress. A lot.”

I’m hurt but try not to show it. “He didn’t say a word.”

“He practically ran out of here. That is what’s most telling.”

“He has a ranch to run. Colt is the wrangler. I’m sure they have stuff to talk about.”

“That ‘I need to talk to Colt’ was his version of ‘I need some air.’ And I bet that he’s talking to Colt about your blue dress.”

“That’s ridiculous.” I go back to the bedroom to change back into my normal clothes, and deep inside, I hope Daphne is right. Not about talking to Colt, because I know that’s not what they’re talking about, but about Dallas liking this dress a lot.

The ink blue minidress with the lace overlay looks like a regular dress on my short frame. And it does more to give me a shape than what I normally wear. The push-up bra I’m wearing helps too.

After changing, I flop onto the couch. “Have I mentioned that I’m nervous?”

Daphne counts on her fingers, then shifts to her toes. “So many times that I’m losing count. Don’t overthink it.”

As if that’s even possible.

CHAPTER 12

DALLAS

Isee a light on in the barn as I’m driving to Colt’s and park on the side of the building. I knock as I walk through the door. “Hey, you around?”

Colt pokes his head out of the tack room. “What’s up? You okay?”

Apparently, the look on my face must give away the fact that I am absolutely not okay. But I can’t honestly vent to Colt unless he knows the truth. “If I tell you something, will you keep it just between us?”

He wipes his hands and rests his weight on the desk near the wall. “Yep.” Then he crosses his heart.

“Rose and I only met the other day, and this engagement isn’t real. We’re pretending because of a situation she’s in. But no one can know that it isn’t real.”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

“Thank you. And I told you that so you’ll understand what I mean when I tell you I think I’ve made a horrible mistake in agreeing to this.”

He tosses the rag on to the desk and crosses his arms. “What’s the problem? Is she hard to be around?”

“Yes, but not in a bad way.”

He crinkles his nose. “There’s a good way?”

I drag my fingers through my hair. “Rose is pretty and intelligent. Extremely pleasant. And I enjoy her company.”

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