Flirting with Love (8 page)

Elisabeth spent twenty minutes filling a basket with goat’s milk, butter, fruits, and vegetables, and by the time she was done, the woman behind the counter had finished helping customers and was busy shucking corn.

“You’re Cora’s niece,” the woman said as her eyes slid down Elisabeth’s dress, landing—and remaining—on her heels.

Maybe I should stick to my cutoffs and boots.
“Yes, ma’am. Elisabeth.”

“Elizabeth, I’m Wren.”

“That’s a beautiful name. Actually, mine’s E-
lis
-abeth.” She hadn’t had this issue in Los Angeles. Everyone had funky names.

Wren arched a brow, but didn’t comment.

Okay, that was it.
Elizabeth
it was. She didn’t need to further alienate herself from the community over a letter. She shrugged off the mounting frustration from a day of being looked at like she was an alien and forced a smile.

“I love your setup. Would you ever consider selling some of my fresh fruit pies if I used your fruits?” The idea had just come to her, along with a whisper of hope.

“We don’t sell pies.” Wren’s eyes never left the register as she rang up Elisabeth’s purchases.

So much for that idea
. “It was just a thought. What hours is the store open?” she asked as she gathered her bags. She picked up a flyer about the county fair from a stack on the counter and stuck one in a bag.

“Honey, this is Trusty, a ranch town. What hours aren’t we open?” She
harrumphed,
with a shake of her head and a mocking smile as she turned back to the corn she was shucking.

Another big, fluffy dog walked lazily into the barn. Elisabeth’s heart squeezed. This was her lucky day. She’d found a place to buy fresh dairy, fruits, and vegetables
and
got to put her hands on a few cute pups. It had been hard not to go crazy over Storm, but she hadn’t wanted Ross to think she was more interested in his puppy than in caring for her piglets.

“May I pet your dog?”

“Be my guest.”

She felt Wren’s eyes on her as she set the bags back down and crouched to love up the dog. His fur was so thickly matted that she couldn’t bury her fingers beneath it. “What’s his name?”

“Barney.”

Elisabeth kissed Barney’s nose. “Hi, Barney. You’re so handsome. I bet you love it here with all this room to roam.”

Wren smiled, and it softened the scowl that had drawn her graying brows together. “He likes to chase the rabbits and get all mucked up, that’s for sure.”

“Do you brush him?” Elisabeth turned her face so Barney could lick her cheek.

Wren’s silence drew Elisabeth’s eyes. The scowl was back in place.
Oh no
. “I didn’t mean that like it probably sounded. I groom dogs.”

“Well, if you’re looking for business, it’s a waste around here. He’ll just look like this again ten minutes after you’re done.”

Elisabeth refrained from going into a speech about how it was bad for the dog’s skin and his fur to remain matted.

“I can only imagine. How many dogs do you have?” She’d counted three.

“Six. Didn’t have the heart to give the litter away.” Wren shook her head again, this time at herself, Elisabeth imagined.

She rose and gathered her bags, formulating an idea on the fly. “Thank you for everything.”

Elisabeth skipped going to Ross’s to deliver the thank-you cupcakes. She didn’t need one more person to look at her like she didn’t belong. Granted, both Ross and Kelsey hadn’t looked at her like that, but she didn’t want to chance it. Even though Ross had looked at her like he wanted to kiss her when he left the other night, she knew how fickle men could be. Wanting a woman one minute and then changing their mind the next. Maybe
sneaky
was a better word. Maybe men know
exactly
what they were doing from square one.

She laughed at herself. Ross didn’t seem sneaky at all. A man with a sensual edge? Definitely. Hot, sexy, interested? So damn interested the air between them nearly caught fire when he was around. She pushed thoughts of him aside and set to work making flyers for her idea. If she was going to make a go of her pet bakery and spa, she needed to get the word out. Surely everyone didn’t believe that dog grooming was a waste of time.

ROSS WAS CLOSING up shop when his phone vibrated with a message from his sister.

Mom and I are having dinner at her house. Join us?

He glanced out in the yard at Sarge and Ranger. Knight was standing by his feet, his favorite place. He’d planned on going for a run and taking Knight with him, but that had been a farce. Sure, he wanted a run, but what he really wanted was to run by Elisabeth’s house on the pretense of checking on the piglets again. Lame, he knew, but hell. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her all day. She’d mentioned talking with Emily, and he wouldn’t mind pumping his little sister for some information.

He texted her back—
Sure. Be there in twenty minutes—
then went to answer a knock at the front door. Elisabeth stood on the porch with a basket in one hand and a smile that made his stomach do some funky flips.

Ross couldn’t help but roll his eyes down the sexy little sundress that accentuated her curves and stopped midthigh. She had on heels that made her legs look a mile long and brought her almost eye to eye with Ross.

“No piglet today?”
Holy Christ, you look hot.

Knight pushed past Ross and sniffed at the basket.

She knelt to pet him. “Not today. I brought goodies for your pooches as a thank-you for taking care of Kennedy and checking on his littermates. And for helping with Dolly. And the fence. And for the coffee.” She sighed and smiled again. “Thanks for being there for just about everything, Ross.”

He laughed as he stepped outside and slid his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out and touching her. He liked her in those heels, her lips so close to his. “Well, that’s really nice of you, but you already shared your wine with me.”

“I know.” She rose to her full height, and when her hand grazed her dress, some of Knight’s fur remained on the fabric.

“Sorry about his shedding.” He brushed the fur from her hip.

“Dog fur doesn’t bother me.” She glanced at his hand, still brushing her hip.

Oops
.

Elisabeth held the basket toward him.

“These are pupcakes for your dogs.”

“Pupcakes?” He wrinkled his brow as he took the basket from her. “My boys don’t need sugar in their diet.”

She thrust out a hip. “No dog does, silly. No sugar or unhealthy fats. I use a touch of honey for sweetener, and it has all-natural ingredients like cooked chicken and cornmeal. Trust me, you could eat these, but I don’t suggest it. They’re frosted with mashed potatoes and decorated with carrots.”

“Mashed potatoes and carrots?” His dogs would love that, even if they didn’t need it.

“Yeah, see?” She withdrew a small box from the basket and removed a pupcake, complete with swirled icing and tiny flecks of orange. She held it in her palm, and Knight wagged his tail and craned his neck to sniff it.

“Settle.”

Knight sat beside him.

“That was really sweet of you, but you didn’t need to go to the trouble.” He eyed Knight. “You can give it to him if you’d like.”

She knelt with another smile that lit up her eyes, and it shattered any chance he had at remaining unaffected. He was trying his best to ignore the fact that she smelled like heaven again, and something sweeter, which could have just been her in general.

Elisabeth popped back up again and reached into the basket. “I have to admit, I’m not completely unselfish.” She waved a flyer in front of him. “I was wondering if you’d put these on your counter for your clients.”

He tucked the basket under his arm and read the flyer. “Trusty Pet Bakery and Spa?”

“Yes.” She bounced on her toes a little, and it made him smile. “I’m still coming up with a name. I’m thinking about something that I can combine with the pie business, like Trusty Pies & Pet Pampering, but first I need to see if I can get this business up and running or not. This name cuts to the chase, so I’ll know pretty quickly if it’s an epic fail or not.” Her tone grew serious. “You’re the only vet in town, so I was hoping you’d share my flyers with your clients. I’m also going to hang out at the dog park and visit a few stores tomorrow to spread the word.”

Ross sat on the front porch step and patted the space beside him. As she sat down, her hair fell over one shoulder, and a few strands clung to her cheek. He reached up and moved them away with his index finger, causing her to blush like she had last night. If she was a woman who was here to take what she could from Cora’s estate and skip town, she was sure going to great lengths to pretend not to be.

“I’m happy to share the flyers, but I think you’re barking up the wrong tree trying to get this type of business off the ground here. You know there’s a dog groomer in Allure, right? That’s not too far from here.”

“Yeah, sure. But do you drive to the next town to get your dogs groomed?”

Ross put an arm around Knight’s thick neck. “I brush my boys. I like it, actually. It’s great bonding time, and I can see firsthand if they have any cuts or issues from playing in the fields.”

She thrust her palms out. “See? If only everyone could be like you. I was at Wynchels’ Farm this morning—thank you, by the way. I loved the whole setup there. They have six dogs. Did you know that?”

“Sure. I take care of them.”

“Of course you do. Sorry.” She smiled again. “Anyway, Barney, this big lovable mutt, had matted fur and the others were caked with mud. Wren said that grooming was a waste of time. A
waste
of time, like the dogs aren’t worth the twenty minutes it takes to give them even a quick brushing. I would like to know how she’d feel if she wasn’t able to brush her hair. Ever.”

Knight settled his head between his paws and stretched his nose between them.

“I hate to tell you this, but that’s probably going to be the majority of what you’re met with. These are farmers and ranchers. Their issues revolve around putting food on the table and making sure the livestock is fed and cared for. They don’t have a lot of extra money for pet pampering and doggy cupcakes.”

The light in her eyes dimmed. He placed his hand on hers without thinking of the way that touch might stir his attraction even more…which it did.

“Elisabeth, what did you think you were going to do? Come here and start up the same business you had in LA without any reluctance from residents?” He watched her eyes dart away, and he curled his fingers beneath her palm to let her know he understood. She probably felt lonely after discovering Trusty was a town where outsiders were met with careful consideration, trust was earned, and friendships were, too.

“I’m not sure,” she said honestly, her eyes trained on their hands. “I guess I’ve wanted to be in Trusty for so long that I didn’t think I wouldn’t be able to make it.” She met his gaze with a different smile. A determined one. “I’m going to make this work. Even if I can’t do exactly the same work I did before, I’ll figure it out. Maybe no one will buy pupcakes or pawdicures, but I’m sure a handful will go for pet grooming. I’ll adapt.”

“I don’t doubt that one bit.”

“Well, I’ve already made these flyers, so I don’t want to waste them. Hopefully, it won’t be a turnoff to see
pet pampering
instead of grooming.”

“I hope you’re right.”
But don’t hold your breath
. “Before I forget, I spoke to Tate and he can pick up your aunt’s van tomorrow morning. Do you still want him to?”

Knight yawned and Ross stroked his neck.

“Wow, that was quick.” She drew her brows together. “Yeah, I would. I need to start making things happen. Out with the old ideas, in with the new. Thank you for taking care of that. That was really nice of you.”

His phone vibrated, and he read the text from Emily.
Bring dessert.
He had no idea what possessed him to do what he did next, but the words came before he could think them through.

“Do you have dinner plans?”

“Wha—dinner?” She shrugged and touched the ends of her hair, then just as quickly stopped. “No, not really.”

“I’m heading to dinner with my mother and Emily. Want to come along?”

Her eyes grew serious.

“No pressure. Not a date, just a…neighborly dinner.”

Her gaze softened again. “Oh, darn,” she teased, as they both rose to their feet.

And there they were again, standing so close he could see flecks of yellow in her eyes.
Oh, darn
didn’t even begin to touch on his thoughts.

“Are you sure I won’t be intruding?”

Ross smiled at her consideration. “My sister told me to bring dessert.”

She sucked in a breath. He liked that reaction, a whole hell of a lot. “Ah, so Cali girl has a dirty mind. I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not that kind of guy.” He knew she wouldn’t expect him to tease her about having a dirty mind, or by saying he wasn’t that kind of guy in as serious of a tone as he could muster, but he couldn’t help himself. He was a man, after all, and Elisabeth was tugging at every sensual nerve in his body. He let the words settle in, and her cheeks pinked up again. Watching her squirm only turned him on even more. Damn, he liked that way more than he should.

“Oh. Um.” Great, and there she was thinking he was making a sexy double entendre.

He stepped a little closer and heard her draw in a breath and hold it. “Elisabeth, it’s dinner with my mother and sister. No pressure. No expectations. Oh, and I’d like to buy one of your pies to bring along with us for dessert.”

He might not have expectations, but he sure as hell wanted to be with her. Who knows? Maybe they’d have their own private dessert later in the evening.

ROSS’S MOTHER’S HOUSE was built at the top of a ridge overlooking the Colorado Mountains. The large cedar and stone house had many large windows, a wide front porch, and was surrounded by acres of green grass and gardens bursting with colorful flowers.

Ross put a hand on Elisabeth’s arm as they climbed the porch stairs. As if her nerves weren’t already on fire.
No pressure. No expectations
. Yeah, she was
so
hoping for a deep relationship, not just a physical one, and his big hand on her arm amplified her secret desires. She carried a strawberry-apricot pie she’d made that morning, and Ross carried a bouquet of flowers he’d bought for his mother along the way. His thoughtfulness made her like him even more.