Every Bit a Cowboy by Jennie Marts

Author:Jennie Marts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2023-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Knox held his face straight as he watched Carley’s eyes go wide, then she blinked twice as she sputtered, “Um, gosh, I don’t…”

He couldn’t hold it any longer and busted out laughing. “I’m just teasing you,” he said, nudging her in the side. “You should see your face though. You looked terrified. But you can relax. I’m not moving in with you. But I am moving in next door to you. At least for the next few days.”

“You are? Why? Because of our engagement? Because I don’t think we have to get that extreme.”

“No, it has nothing to do with that.” He pressed a hand to his heart. “Although that does hurt a little that you’re so opposed to the idea. It has nothing to do with us. Bryn asked me to look after the horses and the animals at the rescue ranch while she and Zane are gone. She said I could stay in the other side of the bunkhouse,” he told her, referring to the duplicate apartment on the other side of the bunkhouse from her. “And since I have a hired hand who can help out around here, I figured it would just be easier to be on site for the next few days.”

And to be closer to you.

He didn’t think he could say that now. Not with the look of shock on her face she’d displayed after his joke. What was he expecting? For her to jump into his arms and cheer for the idea? That reaction probably would have terrified him.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to overreact. And I wasn’t that freaked out. Terrified seems a little dramatic. I was just more shocked by the idea.” She shook her head. “I’m not making this any better. Let’s forget your stupid joke and load this stuff into the truck,” she said, reaching to take the crate of animal gear.

“Good idea,” he said, hauling his bag toward his pickup. “But just so you know, Sadie and Rodney both like to ride shotgun.”

She laughed as they loaded his things and then all piled into the cab of the truck. Sadie took the center between them, and Rodney sat on the floor, his head on Carley’s knee. “Just so you know,” Carley told him, buckling in as he started the engine. “Just because I’m not ready for us to shack up, doesn’t mean I don’t think it will be fun having you next door for a few days.”

He couldn’t help his smile as he pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the rescue ranch.

***

It didn’t take him long to unload his things into the bunkhouse, then he and Carley sat next to each other on the front porch steps to watch Sadie and Rodney, who were having a ball sniffing out the new area and racing around the barnyard. The calf was a little more timid, but the golden retriever zoomed from one side of the yard to the other, taking in every scent, then running to the next spot.

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