Serious Cowboy (Cowboys of Duncan Ranch #2)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

When Zeke took Callie on what he imagined to be their last outing together, he had mixed feelings about no longer spending time with her. Going their separate ways was the smart thing to do. There was no denying that. All along, that had been his plan, and Zeke excelled at sticking to plans any time he made them.

But he might miss her company, too.

There was just something about the woman who—he didn’t know how to put it—somehow, she made him feel lighter. Less likely to expect the worst of all possible scenarios to occur. He’d been a jaded cynic for a long, long time, and he knew he always would be. But having Callie around caused him to wait a few seconds before anticipating the rain to wash whatever brief optimism up the river like a storm damaged limb.

That was why the topic she’d chosen for conversation blindsided him so thoroughly.

“It’s my understanding that quality assurance experts are the single most crucial element in the grocery food chain,” she said, and he blinked out the windshield at hearing all this as they drove along Main. “If that component is missing between the food being brought from farm to table or from the farm to a store, it all falls apart, doesn’t it?”

“Well, yeah, actually.” Despite himself, Zeke felt flattered. No one seemed to appreciate or even comprehend what he did for a living half the time, so it was nice to have someone immediately grasp it. “How did you know that?”

“I’ve been doing some research.” She shook her phone from side to side. “You never talk about the specifics of what you do on the Duncan Ranch much, and I was curious.”

He jutted out his bottom lip. “Didn’t think you’d find it all that interesting.”

No one else ever had.

“I do, though. I mean, it’s all connected, you know. Safe and healthy feed makes for healthy cattle, which makes for healthy byproducts like milk and butter. Which makes for healthy beef. Do you feel like you make a difference day to day?”

He nodded. He supposed he did now that he thought about it.

“See, that’s good. This job in Tim’s office is the most fulfilling one I’ve had yet because I know I’m helping to add to the positivity out in the world. Every time I can do something that makes a kid laugh or at least stop crying makes me feel ten feet tall. I’m sure your job does that for you, as well.”

Zeke hadn’t honestly considered his career in that manner, but the more he contemplated it, the more he liked the sound of it. Maybe his impact was more indirect—he wouldn’t see any immediate benefits himself—but it was nice to know he was playing his part to keep the food supply safe.

And it was a fact that wouldn’t have occurred to him at all without Callie. A woman who had snuck under his radar and become his friend.

“I’m taking you to dinner,” he blurted without thinking. Only after he’d spoken the words did he glance down and notice what he’d thrown on. It was nicer than what he wore ninety-nine percent of the time, so it should do. “After I finish showing you the town. You like barbecue or steak better?”

“I like both,” she told him, her icy pale blue eyes twinkling.

“But which is your favorite?”

“How about barbecue?”

“Barbecue, it is.”

He drove her through the part of Rocky Ridge that had Mountaintop Java, Salon 406, and Montana Jewels—it was no surprise to him that she asked to go inside the jewelry store—she peered into the salon’s window. A brunette lady stepped outside as if in a hurry, but upon seeing Callie there spoke up.

“You don’t have to stay outside if you want to take a look. We’re always happy to welcome a new client,” she volunteered, glancing from Callie to Zeke. “We take men, too.”

He straightened. “I have someone for that, thanks.” Salons seemed like a place he’d feel utterly uncomfortable in when he considered it. Didn’t women like to go there for some sort of spa day or something? Wouldn’t him being there for that be weird to them?

Callie snorted under her breath, and he had the distinct impression that it might be at his expense. “Maybe some other time. He’s just showing me around.”

“If you change your mind, let us know. I’m Joy, and the proprietor is Christine.” Then, Joy waved as she jogged away to a pickup with a smiley young man in a cowboy hat.

“Must be Aaron’s lady,” Zeke mumbled to himself, but apparently, Callie overheard.

“Aaron’s lady?”

“I work with Aaron out at the ranch. He’s one of the only supervisors who doesn’t have Duncan for a last name. He’s a nice kid and a solid leader.”

“Wow, I’m impressed.”

“Impressed? Why?”

“Because you legit shared something about who you work with. You don’t talk about yourself much. I don’t know if you’ve ever realized that.”

Why talk about himself? Wasn’t much worth sharing. Time to switch subjects.

“Hungry?”

Her smile spread from ear to ear, and the effect nearly hypnotized him. He didn’t know what it was about Callie Blum that hit him so differently, but she did. “Starving.”

Parking in the gravel lot of Three Sisters Barbecue Excellence, he peeked up at the facade. Normally when he patronized this particular establishment, he did the whole curbside pick-up thing, and it felt strange to head inside. As he escorted Callie in from the early December chill, he noticed that they’d updated the interior since the last time he’d eaten in.

The last time he’d been inside they’d sported a more rustic décor with cement floors and a rather industrial look. This time, they’d softened the overall atmosphere by adding some sort of polish to the floor, as well as a navy runner that welcomed customers in through the entrance.

The windows all had matching draperies pulled back at the sides and the scratched rectangular Formica tables had been replaced with round wooden ones as well as cushioned low-backed wooden chairs.

Posters of famous jazz, rhythm and blues, and early rock and roll musicians papered almost every inch of the walls. No matter where your eyes landed, there was something different or colorful to survey and study. Each table had been kitted out with laminated menus, a roll of paper towels, and a little caddy of sauces.

“Sort of Sweet, Pretty Spicy, Pineapple Tangy, Mustard Hot, and Vinegar Sharp,” Callie read the names aloud. “That’s quite a variety.”

“They’re all great, too.”

“Which one’s your favorite?”

“I toss them all on there. It just depends on the meat.” He liked to do the Pineapple one on his brisket, the Vinegar on his pulled pork, the Sweet on his chicken, the Mustard on his sausages, and the Spicy on the portobello angus burger they specialized in. “Really, you can’t go too wrong.”

With his encouragement, Callie tried a taste of each one as they perused their menus, crinkling her nose at the spicier ones. Once he heard her order the chicken with the brisket, he ordered the burger with an extra sausage and some pulled pork on the side. He wanted her to have a wholistic Three Sisters experience.

They had fun sharing their meals, and he especially enjoyed her reaction to each of the sauces after being mixed with the meats. This locales’ barbecue sauces were renowned around here because they were delicious, but they were also unique. He’d traveled and had barbecue in various regions of the country, but never once had he tasted sauces quite like these.

“Oh, my heavens,” she said, covering her mouth since it was full. “This is… yum …”

“I know, right?”

She lifted her chin and gazed over at him through her lusciously long lashes. “That’s a very modernish West Coast term, you know.”

He felt his neck grow hot. Was it? He remained quiet not knowing how to respond to her observation. At least until she reached out and pinched his forearm.

“I’m teasing you, silly.” He found he liked her teasing, though. Probably because it meant she’d initiated physical contact between them. “Anyone ever tell you that you take things a little too seriously sometimes?”

“Yes,” he admitted in absolute candor. He didn’t mind being transparent about that. But she just laughed.

“You’re a hoot, Zeke Knight. An honest to goodness hoot.”

Not knowing what to make of that description, he fell back on his standard response.

Nothing.

Callie simply shook her head. “What am I going to do with you?” she asked, and though he was sure it was rhetorical, he found himself gazing into her eyes. Her features warmed as he did, and for the first time in years and years, an impulse seized him. An impulse to reach out to her. To hold her hand. To embrace her. Maybe even kiss her.

Instantly, he pushed the desire away.

Yes, they were out on what had essentially become a date. And yes, they were having a fantastic time. But he knew where the end of that road led, and he didn’t have any intentions to go there. Not with anyone, but especially not his friend’s sister.

Yet the temptation to close the distance and take that extra step increased every time they were together. That first night when he dropped her off at home, she’d paused as if waiting for him to make some sort of move, but he’d made an excuse instead and left her standing there.

The next weekend when he took her snowmobiling, it had been the perfect casual time with perfect picnic food he’d bought from the Sip ‘N Shop. He’d wanted to hold her hand, tuck her hair back into her hat, anything to touch her, but he hadn’t given in.

Their third date, when they traveled all the way to Billings since the weather was decent, going bowling and seeing a romcom movie, she paused again. He was well in tune with her expressions and silences now, though this was unusual for him. Being in tune with anyone but his own moods wasn’t in his wheelhouse. He was more than unsettled by this change.

This time she’d looked at him on her front porch with an emotion framing her features that he could only describe as longing. And while it’d been difficult to deny her—particularly since the last thing he wanted to do was disappoint Callie—his exit was made easier by receiving a call from her brother, of all people.

“Tim,” he answered purposely so Callie would know who it was. She became silent even as she rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. “What’s up?”

“Been too long since you’ve been over to dinner.”

Zeke sighed. His buddy did this to him often. Tried to keep him socializing. The thing was that Zeke had been more sociable lately than he’d been in years. The wild part was that it was Tim’s sister he was being sociable with.

He knew his buddy would be annoyed if he found out about them sneaking around behind his back. But it’d been ridiculous of Tim to forbid him and Callie to see one another in the first place. She wasn’t some sixteen-year-old teen. She was a grown woman and more than capable of making her own decisions.

Zeke was more than capable of making decisions for himself, as well. Whether his best friend liked those decisions or not.

Besides, this wouldn’t ever be a permanent type of thing. They were simply having fun and hanging out together. Zeke had made certain of that.

“Maybe. But I’m willing to bet you need something else fixed while I’m at it.”

Tim chuckled. “Maybe.”

Zeke thought through his schedule that week and what day he had some extra time. “Wednesday. I can come Wednesday. You don’t have to feed me.”

“Sure, we do.” And Tim disconnected the line.

“Well, that was rude,” Callie declared.

Zeke frowned at her. “What was?”

“You two just hung up without saying goodbye.”

“All that hello and goodbye and small talk nonsense is a women thing. We fellas would much rather just get to the point.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that right?”

There was a challenge in her tone, and he knew he must’ve stepped in it somehow. But he wasn’t in the mood to give in right then, so he mimicked her pose. “Yeah. We don’t require extraneous words.” It was Tim’s straightforward mannerisms that had made Zeke accept him as a friend originally.

“Sounds like your mama didn’t teach you how to be polite.”

His mama.

Internally, Zeke froze. He never ever discussed his parents. Not his mother or his father. Not with anyone. The subject was too…

He didn’t like talking about it. About them .

“Must not have,” he dodged the topic, then promptly changed it. “It’s late. I should go.”

If he’d chosen to stride away without glancing at her, he might’ve gotten off scot-free, but as if she’d been watching him closely, she didn’t let him. Instead, she embraced him, looping her arms around his back and holding tight. His initial instincts had him wishing he could back away and break that bond, but the longer she held on, the better it felt.

At least until it made his throat feel thick and his chest twinge.

Zeke stayed still and quiet, afraid if he spoke his voice might crack. When it became safe some interminable amount of heartbeats later, he murmured in her ear.

“I really should go.”

She peeked up at him, her pale blue eyes too wise, too understanding. But eventually, after tightening her grip around him once more, she released him.

And he thought about that hug all the way home.