“Because of my hair,” she said, accepting the fact.
“And you were new in the school. That’s the way it is in small schools. I was new once, too, so I know what it’s like.”
She didn’t want him to understand. She didn’t want them to have anything at all in common. “Then you’ll understand when I say that I have work to do.”
“Checkmate. You win this game.” He stood, but didn’t move toward the door. “This doesn’t let you off the hook though. I’m serious about you getting out more. I’ve traveled all over the country and beyond. Desperation is a great little town, but you can’t really know how great until you have some perspective. The same is true in life.” His sudden grin was devilish. “And dating.”
She couldn’t believe he was still thinking of that. “You’re equating extensive travel with dating? How do you come up with this?”
“The more people you get to know—through dating—the better your perspective, just like travel.”
“Oh, really? Well, I’ll keep that in mind the next time I plan a vacation,” she said, knowing she really didn’t care.
“In your case, I’d say you need to start small. Locally would do, and I’m more than happy to help with it.” He turned and walked to the door, but before stepping out of the office, he turned back. “Looks like we’ll be back in the field on Monday, if the skies stay clear. I’ll see you then.”
Kate could only stare. When he was gone, she breathed a sigh of relief. The tingles that always went off when he was around could go back to sleep. She was happy where she was, working the land and making extra money with her accounting business and a little cooking. She didn’t need him or anyone else to provide entertainment. Or happiness.
WITH THE FIELDS still too wet to get into with a combine and the Saturday morning baking finished, Kate decided to take the rest of the day off and do nothing. Sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through one of Trish’s bridal magazines, she heard voices and looked up to see her aunt limp into the kitchen on her bad knee, with Dusty right behind her.
“Pull up a chair and make yourself at home,” Aggie told him with a wave of her hand in the direction of the chair near Kate.
Not wanting to be near him, after his appearance at her office two days before, and considering the effect he had on her, Kate jumped up. “I’ll get that laundry finished.”
But Aggie stopped her. “No, you keep Dusty company while I finish it.”
“But your knee—”
“Gotta keep moving or it’ll stiffen up more,” Aggie said, as she disappeared into the hallway.
Knowing how bad-tempered her aunt could be when her knee was hurting, Kate did as she was told. Aunt Aggie’s stubborn streak sometimes precluded common sense.
“I would think you’d be out getting more perspective on the world,” Kate said, without looking at Dusty, as she returned to her chair and pretended to read the magazine.
He pulled out the chair next to her and sat. “A friend of mine’s riding in a rodeo over in Altus.”
“That’s nice,” she said, as unaffectedly as possible.
“I thought I’d see if you might want to go along.”
She continued to flip through pages and prayed he couldn’t hear how her heart had suddenly started thudding. “Sorry, but I have—”
“Dusty, would you like some pie?”
Kate looked up to see her aunt standing in the doorway and wondered how much she had overheard.
“That’d be great,” he answered.
Aggie limped to the cabinet and opened it, pulling out a large plate. “What kind? Peach, apple, cherry or pecan?”
For a second, Dusty didn’t speak, his brow furrowed in thought. “Peach. No, apple. No, make it peach.”
Chuckling, Aggie placed the plate and a fork on the table. “Cut him a piece of each, Kate.”
Kate again did as she was told and went to the counter, where she removed a dishtowel covering the four pies. After cutting a large piece of peach and apple, she turned to Dusty. “Are you sure you don’t want to try the cherry and pecan, too?”
“Maybe later.”
She hoped there wouldn’t be a later. The sooner he left, the better. But if the gleam in his eye was any indication, later wasn’t that far away. “Hand me the plate, would you?”
He jumped up to pass her the plate with a smile that made her breath catch, and then returned to his chair. “Now, back to my question.”
“What question was that?” Aggie asked, taking her usual seat across the table.
“I answered it,” Kate said, “or tried to.” She shot a look at her aunt. Had Aunt Aggie been listening outside in the hall?
“I asked Kate if she’d like to go to a rodeo in Altus with me. You might know the friend who’s riding. Shawn O’Brien.”
“Of course we know him,” Aggie said. “And all the O’Briens. I’ve known Tanner since he was born, and Kate and Trish both know his wife Jules. What event is Shawn competing in?”
“Bronc riding, like his uncle. I didn’t know Tanner well until we met up, years ago, on the circuit. Shawn and I have team roped together some.” Dusty turned to look at Kate. “So how about it?”
“I usually spend time with the family on Saturday,” Kate began, “so I’m sure you understand—”
“No need to do that,” Aggie said. Standing, she walked to the door and grabbed a set of keys hanging from a hook. “I thought I told you we planned to pay Hettie a visit. You know how much she loves your pies, and I haven’t had a chance to see her for a while. Trish has been looking forward to it.”
As if on cue, Trish stepped into the kitchen, her purse in her hand, and took one of the pies, before she hurried to the door with nothing more than a quick smile.
Kate glanced at Dusty, who held a forkful of pie on its way to his mouth, his smile reaching from ear to ear. She wasn’t sure what to think. This was the first she knew about a visit to Hettie Lambert. “But—”
“Why don’t you go on along to the rodeo with Dusty, Kate?” Aggie held the door open and Trish stepped outside. “We’ll be gone most of the day. Trish wants to stop at the library before it closes. No need for you to stay here alone, when you can get out and enjoy yourself.”
“No, I can’t—” But her aunt was out the door, down the porch steps and almost trotting to the pickup, in spite of her bad knee, and Trish was already waiting at the truck.
Kate stood at the door and stared after them as they drove away. She couldn’t imagine what Dusty might be thinking.
When she turned around, she saw that he had finished the first piece of pie and had started on the second. Setting his fork on the plate, he looked up at her, his grin challenging. “Afraid to spend time alone with me?”
She wasn’t about to let him think that and offered a confident smile of her own. “Not on your life.”
“Then let’s go,” he said, pushing away from the table and getting to his feet.
“I’m ready. Lead the way.”
His gaze swept her from her head to her toes and back up again. “You’re sure about that.”
“Of course I am.”
He glanced down. His grin sent her heart racing. And she realized what he was