Page 66 of Trusting a Cowgirl

He placed both hands on the back of his neck. It wasn’t too late to turn back. As much as he still believed this was the right decision, it was likely too soon.

Well, not too soon for him. He’d gladly go out and buy a ring if it meant securing a future for the two of them.

A heavy-sounding vehicle rumbled behind him and he froze. The next thing he knew, a truck pulled up beside him and the passenger side window rolled down.

The gruff man in the driver’s seat was probably one of the most intimidating men Riley had ever encountered in his life. He wore a cowboy hat that shaded his eyes, and his firm jaw was set in a tight, hard line. “You lost, son?”

Riley’s first attempt to speak came out barely audible, forcing him to clear his throat. “No, sir. I’m here to meet with Mr. Callahan.”

The man’s gaze swept over him before lifting to his face once more. “You looking for a job? Did Adeline send you? I keep telling her we’re fine.”

Before Riley could correct him, the cowboy sighed.

He gestured up the road. “Well, follow me. I’ll give ya an interview, but I ain’t making any promises.”

Riley held up a finger and his mouth opened, but no sound came out. The cowboy he could only assume was Grace’s father drove forward, leaving Riley in a cloud of dust. Riley waved his hand through the air to disperse the floating particles, then started his motorcycle. At least he hadn’t been kicked off the property yet. He had a reason to be here. If all went well, he could tell Grace she had nothing to be worried about and they could move on to the next step in their relationship.

Control.

That’s what he’d been missing from his life since retiring from his service in the military. He needed to find that balance again, and taking charge of his relationship was just the ticket.

Riley drove far enough behind the truck to avoid getting a mouthful of dirt but not so far behind that Zeke would lose him. They crested a hill and he had to stop or risk his safety.

The large house that loomed before him wasn’t just some small cottage. It wasn’t like anything he’d expected for a rancher to own. But then again, it was supposed to be big enough to raise several daughters.

There was a large porch that wrapped all the way around the building and the architecture made it look like it belonged in a storybook rather than a ranch out in Colorado. Grace was regular small-town royalty. No wonder the whole town gave him the stink eye when they saw the two of them together. More pieces fell into place as he continued thinking back to his conversations with the sheriff and Shane.

Shoot.

He’d made a grave mistake. He shouldn’t be here. He should have listened to Grace when she said to take it slow.

Riley twisted around to look back at the road from which he’d come. What if he turned back and went home right now? Maybe Zeke wouldn’t recognize him when Grace finally felt ready to tell her father about her boyfriend.

Okay, that was a stupid thought.

Of course Zeke would remember. Grace wouldn’t takethatlong to come around to his way of thinking. For all he knew, he’d be here within the week to meet him.

He’d done it now. This really was a very bad idea. What was he supposed to tell her father? That he loved Grace and he had every intention of marrying her?

His whole body went hot and cold all at once. He wanted to marry her. That was the one truth he could say without a doubt in his mind.

He was deeply in love with her. What other reason did he have for being all the way out here to speak to a man he’d never met before in his life? Riley was either crazy or in love.

Probably a little bit of both.

All he could do was hope he didn’t screw this whole thing up.

Riley balanced on his bike and put it into drive once more. He came up beside Zeke’s truck just as the man was climbing out of his vehicle. Zeke didn’t smile. He didn’t offer any kind of upbeat conversation. All he did was grunt and gesture toward the porch. “It’s not my usual setup but seeing as my daughter sprung this on me at the last minute, it’s all I can offer you.”

Riley shook his head. “You misunderstand, sir. I’m not here for—”

“Are you looking for work or not?”

He stood a little straighter. Technically if he were to stay, he’d be looking for work. Shane had told him there might be a scenario in which he could work there. But being here with Grace sounded even better. Riley straightened his shoulders and nodded. “I’ll be needing a steady job here soon.”

Zeke fixed him with a strange kind of look—one that said he had no idea what Riley could mean, but at the same time he wasn’t willing to make him explain. A man looking for a job wouldn’t be hunting unless he needed something at that moment. At least that was how Riley did things.

Riley shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and waited. It was as if the two of them were in a standoff. What was supposed to happen next? Zeke was the interviewer here.

---