Page 24 of His First Baby Rodeo

“All right,” Jeff said. “Talk to me, El. What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I mean, we were going to drop by the ranch tomorrow to visit you two. We had no idea you were going to be at the fair. What are you doing here?”

“We’re just having a little fun,” El said, bewildered. “You didn’t think I was going to be working round the clock, did you? Is that what this is about?”

“Of course I didn’t think that,” Jeff said. “But I also didn’t expect to come down here and find you two on a date.”

“Oh my God.” El burst out laughing. The laugh sounded false to her own ears. She had been thinking of it in those terms herself, of course — Jeff was right on the nose. Still, she tried to protest. “It’s not a date. It’s just a night off.”

“Right, okay,” Jeff said. “You guys drove all the way from Boldspringstogetherfor a random night off at the state fair, where he went on to win you one of the biggest prizes at any of the game booths — I mean, what are you even going to do with that thing?”

“I’ll put it in my room. What’s the big deal, Jeff? It’s just a stuffed dog.”

“It’s too big to fit through the door of your room!”

“Don’t exaggerate. What’s your problem, anyway? You don’t want us to have fun?”

“See, even the fact that you’re being this defensive about it tells me that you know what I’m talking about.” He fixed her with a gaze. “You have feelings for him, don’t you?”

El groaned. Her brother had always been able to see right through her. “They’re notfeelings,” she said. “He’s just… fun. Good-looking. A distraction.”

“A distraction?”

“I haven’t dated anyone since Dean,” she said, blushing a little. “It’s nice to get out.”

“You’re not still hung up on Dean, are you?”

“God, no. Getting rid of him was probably the best decision I ever made. But I haven’t felt like getting back out there. You know that.”

“I do know,” he agreed. “I’ve wanted you to. I thought it would probably help you. But I never wanted to push.”

“Yeah, you were right not to,” she said. “I don’t know if I was ready. I still don’t know that I am, really — are you annoyed that I’m having fun with Mac?” She felt anxious, suddenly. She hadn’t thought about this. Mac was a good friend of Jeff’s, after all, and if for some reason things went sour between her and Mac, Jeff would be forced to take a side. “I don’t think Mac is taking it seriously,” she added quickly. “You don’t need to worry.”

“I’m not worried about him,” Jeff said. “I’m worried about you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never seen Mac take a woman seriously in all the time I’ve known him. I don’t know if he’s even capable of getting his heart broken. But you… well, you’re different.”

“Don’t treat me as if I’m made of glass,” she warned him.

“That’s not what I’m doing at all. I know how strong you are, El, believe me. I saw you pull through that Dean thing. Hell, you were the one who ended that. That took guts. I know you’re strong, don’t worry about that.”

“Then what is all this about?”

“Even strong people can get hurt,” he said. “And I don’t want to see that happen to you, El. I love Mac. He’s my oldest friend. But I have never seen him take a relationship seriously, and I just don’t want to see you invest too much in him. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’m not going to get hurt,” she said. “We’re just colleagues blowing off a little steam together. It’s no big deal.”

“Except that you’re flirting.”

“Jeff, I’mnotflirting,” El said.

“I saw you from across the midway, batting your eyes at him. Flipping your hair.”

She felt herself blushing. “Look, it’s just fun not to think too hard. There’s nothing serious between us.”

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