Page 21 of Stirring Up Trouble
This time was no different.
At my laughter, his face broke into a grin. “Don’t laugh at me. I’m trying to be nice.”
“You are, good sir. Thy hath brought great joy upon us.” I took a deep bow to accent my words.
This time, his laughter matched mine at the outrageous way I overcorrected. Together we shared a moment of peace. A hint of snatched time among the swirl of confusion I’d been buried under.
Maybe Elton was right. I could talk to Blaze about my feelings. It wasn’t a marriage proposal or anything. I merely wanted to know if this ache I felt had the potential to become more.
Was I brave enough to go find the man right this minute?No, absolutely not.
Would I be later?Eh, maybe.
Eight
Blaze
“We can go loweron the price if you want, Mr. Anders,” Hazel Grove, one of the horse trainers said. “I understand if it’s not to your liking. I’ll call my father?—”
“No need. The price is fine.”
I should have made an excuse about why I was scowling at her. I should have admitted my mind wasn’t in the moment.
But that would have meant telling her where my mind actually was and that wouldn’t do. No one needed to know about the man who had me losing my fucking mind.
Robin Joffry had taken every ounce of my focus when he’d shown up. I couldn’t hold a steady thought for more than a few minutes. Soon as I’d get into the task, I’d wonder where Robin was or what he was doing. I’d think about the people here at the arena and how they might speak with him.
There was part of me that wanted to walk right behind him scowling at every person we came across. I wanted to assert my dominance in a way they’d know not to speak to him unless it was about the rodeo.
It was ridiculous, yet I couldn’t seem to stop.
“In that case, I’ll get the papers drawn up for the sale. Thanks for reaching out to me about this. I don’t usually have anyone asking after any sheep for sale here.”
I bet she didn’t. And considering I hadn’t planned on getting any, it was a damn wonder I was leaving with half a dozen of them.
When I’d watched Robin and Elton move through the sheep pen earlier, I couldn’t ignore the way his eyes lit up as he checked the animals over. Before he’d gone in, his mouth had been downturned, and his shoulders lifted. His annoyance with something —or someone— was obvious.
Then he went to petting the sheep and it all fell away.
I knew then that I needed to get some out to the ranch.
We weren’t really a place to have said sheep at the moment, which meant I needed to contact my foreman, Keaton, to get things in order. He’d know exactly what we’d need to make this all look intentional.
While I sure as shit wanted to make Robin happy, I didn’t need to show my hand too soon. First, we had to sort out this thing between us. I needed to know how far he wanted to take things. Was he seeing me as only a potential hookup? Or did he want more?
I also needed to assess my own feelings deeper. Could I see myself being with Robin long-term? Prior to his arrival, I’d sworn off relationships altogether.
One look him, and I wanted to break all my rules.
I wanted a home with him. Wanted to give him my heart and have him trust me with his. I wanted forever.
My pulse skittered at the idea. What the hell did I know of forever?
Mama’s voice echoed through my mind:“Forever is yours when you find the person meant for you. It’ll all line up in ways you couldn’t even imagine.”
She was right about part of it at least. Robin was not at all what I imagined, even when I was looking for love.
But now I didn’t want anyone else. I only wanted him. My adorable vet with a heart too big for his own good.
