Page 67 of More Than a Blind Date

I nod. “But she’s okay?”

Tandy rolls her eyes and slides a sheet of paper across the desk. “Take a look at this and tell me which of those animals we currently have. I want to make sure the brochure is correct.”

“Goats arrive later today, and I’m picking up the chickens tomorrow. The list looks good to me.”

“Fabulous.” She turns to her computer and starts typing. “Did you need anything else?”

“Nope.”

As I stackhay bales in the barn, I think about Colt’s advice and Tandy’s scolding. I robbed Rose of her choice.

I feel bad about that. But what’s done is done. If I can just see her and know that she’s happy, I’ll get through this.

After I’ve tackled a few more chores, I drive into Stadtburg. Rose’s car isn’t outside the flower shop. There are other cars there, but not hers.

So I swing by Reuben’s barbecue to grab some dinner before heading home. As I slide out of my truck, I spot Rose across the street.

As quick as I can—without massively breaking traffic laws—I drive over. When she sees me, she spins around and rushes into the lingerie shop.

I run to the door, and as I reach for the handle, Delaney locks it.

“Sorry. We’re closed. We open at ten tomorrow.”

I lean, trying to see around Delaney. Rose is in there. But why?

If she’s buying lingerie, it means she has a reason to buy it. The thought makes me ill, so I shove it aside.

“Please, I just want to talk to Rose.”

Delaney shakes her head and pulls down the blinds.

Tandy may not want to talk about it, but I intend to camp in front of her until she gives me something.

Without barbecue, I race to Matchmaker Ranch and find Tandy in her office. “I saw Rose, but she turned around and hurried away without even speaking to me. I need to know that she’s okay.”

Tandy stares at me, her look riddled with sadness. “When someone gets bit by a dog, they avoid that dog for a while.”

I’ve been trying to make myself feel better by imagining that Rose is happy, but this is Tandy’s way of telling me that Rose isn’t. “I’m the dog in that story.”

“Smart man. Now, shoo. I have work to do.”

I drive to the horse barn because I no longer want to be alone. “Hey, Colt. Are you busy? Want to go grab dinner?”

“Sure. I’m just wrapping up here. What sounds good?”

“Nothing, but I need to eat. And sleep, but I’m not sure how to manage that one.”

“Eventually, your body will shut down. Mind if I invite a few others to dinner? The guys at Stargazer Springs have been calling me since you can’t seem to answer your phone.”

“Yeah. Tell them to grab a big table.”

Colt rides with me into town, and the whole gang is at the restaurant, waiting. Even Sutton.

After we get food, I give the short version, admitting to the fake part and how it turned real pretty quick. And then I take the deserved ribbing. After a few minutes of that, the mood changes.

Dag slaps the table. “You messed up, but to fix things, you need a plan.”

“I don’t know if I even have a chance anymore. I stepped in it big-time.”

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