When the first ten were done, he went through the whole cycle again. This process took several hours in the morning and in the afternoon. The milk truck came every day after the first milking and took the supply from the morning of the night before. He would stay until the driver arrived and drained the tank.

  He hoped that Rose would be up soon, and he could explain some of the processes to her. He hadn't even gotten the chance to show her the milking barn last night. But he had to get back to the ranch early. They had rented an extra freezer that was being delivered tonight, and all the equipment had to be sterilized for the chicken harvest. He thought about everything on his plate as he hooked up a milking machine to one of the goats.

  Heath was not one to feel overwhelmed, but this was definitely a moment when he did.

  “So, how does it work?” Rose asked from the door of the barn.

  “Come on in. I'll show you.”

  He had one more goat to hook up to a milking machine and he could have her see what it felt like to put the cuffs on the goat’s teats. Hopefully she wouldn't freak out. He could imagine it would be a bit of an odd experience for a city girl.

  They walked over to the last goat. He wiped off her udders and then explained to Rose how to pop the suction cup on to get milk. She looked at him like he was crazy when he handed her the stainless steel cup.

  “I can't do that,” she said.

  “She’s milked every day, twice a day. It doesn't hurt her.”

  “It feels a bit too intimate. She and I have never met. Maybe I should introduce myself.” Rose laughed, and so did he. He checked the goat’s tag.

  “Two-four-three, this is Rose Winter, your new boss.”

  Rose laughed again. “I never thought of them as my employees. I'm the CEO of a hundred-employee corporation. I think I like the sound of that.”

  “That's absolutely right. You're the boss. So, do you want to try it now?” He handed her the suction cup again. She bit her lip and then smiled.

  “Okay. I'll do it.” She was wearing the same kind of business casual–style clothes she'd been wearing the day before but with a pair of rubber boots she must've found in the house. She tentatively brought the suction cup close to 243’s teat, and with a tiny shriek, pushed it onto the goat. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped when the milk began to pump.

  “Now the second one,” he instructed.

  She popped the second one on with a strangled giggle and then stood back in triumph.

  “You're a natural,” he said. “You’ll be a proper rancher in no time.”

  “I guess anything is possible.” She watched the milk pump into the holding tank. “I didn't know that it would be so exciting.”

  “That's the thing about ranching. There's something new every day. It never gets old.”

  “Well, Heath Wilde, I'm beginning to believe you. But I'm not sold yet.”

  Chapter 6

  Rose had taken for granted how milk was produced, and now that she was seeing it firsthand, it really was the most fascinating thing.

  She spent all morning working with Heath, getting the goats milked. He’d told her that some of the goats had been sick because there was a delay between when her grandfather died and when he’d found out. It made her a bit sad, and she also realized how vulnerable the animals really were.

  It wasn't something she had been thinking about the day before when she was reacting to the memory of the petting zoo. She'd built up this idea in her mind that the animals were dangerous and scary. But really, they just needed to be cared for.

  She and Heath worked together, bringing them in and leading them into their stanchions. Actually, he did most of the work, but she liked to think that she helped a bit.

  Heath never made her feel like an idiot for having no idea how to take care of her grandfather's animals. In fact, he was the exact opposite, kind and patient, and he seemed genuinely impressed whenever she picked anything up.

  By the time they were done, she had to admit to herself that it had been rather fun. Not anything she ever would have chosen for herself but an interesting experience, nonetheless. Working with Heath didn't exactly hurt either.

  He'd freaked her out the day before when he’d told her they were fated mates. She had way too much going on in her life to not be freaked out about that kind of thing. But as she got to know him better throughout the day, she saw his kind heart, strong ethics, and motivation. He seemed to really love being a rancher. It might not be the right fit for her, but she could see it suited him.

  She hoped that when the thirty-day experiment was over, he would agree to run the farm in her absence. He really was the ideal person for the job. After a day of milking the goats, she couldn't see herself ever getting used to it.

  They stood outside the barn next to his truck. He looked as if he was just hitting his stride, but she felt absolutely exhausted.

  “You did well today. You picked it all up really quick.”

  “I had an excellent teacher.”

  She knew he was trying to convince her that she could manage the ranch and that life out here in the country would grow on her, but it wasn't working. She needed the excitement of the city. She needed the energy of the crowds. She needed fine dining and culture. Living out in the country was perfect for Heath, but it simply wasn't for her.

  “I think in a couple of weeks, you could do the milking on your own.”

  The milk truck pulled into the driveway. Heath waved at the driver as he moved toward the barn. The two of them hooked the truck to the tank and began to empty it.

  She watched them work, feeling slightly envious that they had found their calling in this simple rural life of theirs. She had found her calling, but it had all been taken away from her.

  Just because her grandfather insisted that she keep the land in the family didn't mean that it was suddenly going to make a rancher out of her. And just because Heath Wilde said they were fated mates didn't mean she was just going to get into a relationship with him.

  That's not the way things worked. Not in Rose Winter’s world. She liked to be in control. The last time she’d let her guard down and trusted, she'd been blindsided and lost everything that meant anything to her. She would never let that happen again. She was willing to play along with Heath as long as it took. He said that he wasn't trying to pressure her into being in a relationship. But as kind as he seemed, she knew she had to keep him at arm’s length.

  After the milk truck left, the barn was closed for the night, and the goats put back out to pasture, Rose had worked up quite an appetite. She walked up to Heath as he closed the fence behind him and smiled in the fading sunlight. He was such a handsome man. It was a shame that things couldn't work out between them.

  She wanted to get something to eat in town and didn't want to go out alone. “I'm starving. Would you like to grab a bite to eat with me?”

  He looked at his watch and bit his lip.

  “I'd love to. I've got about an hour and a half before I need to be back at the ranch.”

  “That should be plenty of time to get a burger or something. Is there somewhere in town where we can get a hearty meal?”

  She wasn't expecting fine dining, and she was too tired to change. So wherever they went was going to have to accept her mud-covered boots and her sweaty flannel.

  “The Fate Rock Diner is delicious. They've got great burgers, fries, shakes, some barbecue options, and chicken Caesar salad if that's your thing.”

  “Today, I definitely need a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal.”

  “Do you want to ride with me, and I'll drop you off on the way home?”

  She hesitated for a moment, thinking about riding in his truck with him. But there was no real reason why not. She liked Heath. He was a good man. He had a big heart and a lot of integrity. She wasn't worried about him for any safety reasons. What she was really worried about was growing feelings for him, and she simply wasn't ready to have feelings for anyone after what she'd been through.

  Finally, after taking stock of how exhausted she felt, she decided she wouldn’t mind someone else driving tonight. She climbed into the passenger seat of his truck. They bumped along the gravel driveway, turned onto the paved road, and headed into town.

  The sun was setting, and country music played on the radio. She felt good after a hard day’s labor. There was something so refreshing about working with her hands. It was better than a brutal workout at the gym or a day in the office could ever be. Even when one of her investment clients’ portfolios outperformed the S&P 500. She hated to admit it to herself, but working with the goats today had been one of the most satisfying workdays of her life. She hadn't realized it until she was sitting in the truck, listening to music and watching the sun set as Heath Wilde steered his old pickup into town.

  He pulled into the parking lot of the Fate Rock Diner. A big old-fashioned neon sign from the ’60s glowed in the twilight. Being in the small town almost felt like stepping back in time. She hopped out of the truck and walked with Heath into the restaurant. A waitress in a pink uniform with a white apron and a big smile greeted them at the door.

  “Table for two?”

  “Yes, thank you, Martha.”

  “Who is your friend, Heath?” Martha asked, setting their menus down at the booth table.

  Rose hadn't expected the waitress to immediately pry into their business, but that was the way of people in small towns. Everyone knew everything about everyone.

  “This is Rose Winter. She's Berry Winter's granddaughter. Inherited the ranch. We were working out there today, learning the ropes.”

  “Is that right?” Martha said. “You do remind me of him. Such a sweet man. I had no idea he passed. Is there going to be a funeral?” Martha asked.

  Rose hesitated. She hadn't even thought about that. Since she hadn't known her grandfather at all, the prospect of planning his funeral seemed inappropriate. She looked at Heath with a pleading expression. He stepped in to fill the silence.

  “Far as I know, Berry has a memorial service scheduled for this Saturday at the Baptist Church on Ivy Lane.”

  “Oh, I would love to go and pay my respects. He came in here every Sunday like clockwork. Such a good tipper. Always had a smile for everyone he met. Would it be all right if I come?”

  “Of course,” Rose said. This woman obviously knew her grandfather better than she did and deserved to be invited ten times more.

  “I'll be there. Do you need anything, hon?” Martha reached out and touched Rose's wrist with her manicured fingertips.

  “No. Thank you, though.”

  As Martha walked away, Rose realized that people would expect her to be grieving. Part of her wished that she were, but it was hard to grieve someone you never knew, grandfather or not.

  “I don't know why I feel so guilty,” Rose muttered.

  “You don't need to feel guilty.”

  “But I never knew him. And while it's sad when anyone passes away, I just don't feel the kind of grief that an only grandchild should feel for her grandfather. Especially one that just left her his entire estate.”

  “It's totally understandable. Berry was a stranger to you. You don't have to feel bad about it.”

  “I don't know how I feel.” She hadn't known her father very well at all, and learning about her grandfather just brought to light that hole that had been in her life all this time.

  Martha returned and asked them if they were ready to order, obvious sympathy in her voice the entire time. Rose ordered a blue-cheese bacon burger, a strawberry milkshake, and seasoned fries. She usually didn't eat this kind of food, but she was starving. After working a ten-hour day, she figured she deserved it.

  Heath ordered the chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, and an iced tea.

  “I appreciate you coming out with me. I didn't want to cook, and it's so weird eating alone. Especially in a small town where you don't know anyone.”

  “I'm glad to get the chance to spend more time with you.” His voice was soft and rumbling, bordering on sensual.

  A burst of desire flooded into her core, and she bit her lip. She did not want to have these feelings for him, but she did. She could try to deny it, but in her experience, when you tried to suppress something, it just made it stronger. The last thing she wanted was to make her attraction to this country boy even stronger than it already was.

  She looked him up and down, contemplating a way to get over him as fast as possible. Heath Wilde didn't deserve to be used like a piece of meat. But Rose did, for a moment, contemplate doing exactly that, and it wasn't the most unpleasant thought. In fact, it was an altogether extremely pleasant thought. So much so that after mentally undressing him, she was almost completely convinced that it was the one and only reasonable course of action.

  But when Martha returned with their orders and exchanged some pleasant words with Heath about their families, she knew she couldn't possibly use him like that. He would be devastated and would probably never get over it. It would be better if she just kept her distance, as difficult as that may be. This was a professional relationship and nothing more. It never could be anything else. She wasn't going to mislead him or lead him on.

  She bit into her burger, and it was like heaven. She devoured her meal in record time, not caring if she looked like some kind of burger fiend in front of Heath. This wasn't a date, after all, and the less attracted he was to her, the better.

  After she was done inhaling her meal, she looked up at him, expecting to see a shocked and disgusted expression on his face. But instead, he was smiling as if he found her endearing and cute. That wasn't the reaction she’d expected, but Rose Winter wasn't in the habit of purposefully grossing out men. Especially attractive ones. She would have to remember that Heath wouldn't be put off so easily.

  After the meal, he swept up the bill without any discussion and put money into the billfold.

  “Are you ready?”

  “I'll pay you back for dinner,” she said as they made their way to the door.

  “There's no reason for that. I know you're down on your luck. What kind of man would I be if I didn't treat my mate to dinner after a hard day’s work like you put in today?”

  “Heath,” she started, but she realized it was no use. He was going to be gallant and charming and chivalrous and sexy no matter what she did or said. Fighting it wasn't going to turn him into a greedy lout who repulsed her, so what was the point?

  She just didn't want him to think that they were somehow on a date, so that was what she told him when they climbed back into the truck. She was expecting him to look sad, but he just laughed.

  “What is a date anyway? I'm not sure I've ever even been on one.”

  “What do you mean? Haven't you ever?”

  “Oh, I've been with women.” He pulled onto the street.

  “But you’ve never taken them out on dates?”

  “Sure, I've gone out to eat and to the movies with female friends. But a date is something you do with that special someone who you want to get to know better. I know every woman in town. I've had dalliances with a few ladies. Some shifters, some humans. But we all knew that we weren't mates, and it wasn't gonna last. You know, the kind of thing that’s just for fun. Humans do that all the time, don't they?”

  “Yes, but most of the time, people pretend it's going to go somewhere. At least women do. They like to delude themselves like that.”

  “You speaking from experience?” he asked, humor in his voice as he drove through the last stoplight in Fate Rock and headed out toward the ranch.

  “Well, who hasn't had that experience? Men usually want something physical, or they want someone who's going to clean the toilets. Women want someone who's going to love and cherish them forever and possibly pay their bills.”

  That made Heath burst into laughter.

  “You sure are a straight talker, Rose Winter.”

  “Well, it's been my experience that you get farther faster in life if you’re direct.”

  “I like it. I like it a lot. I believe in being direct too.”

  “Well then, you'll be direct with me about what your expectations are for this relationship.”

  “I told you, Rose. I want you. I surely do. But I'm not going to put any pressure on a woman who doesn't want me. My cards are on the table. I got nothing to hide.”

  Rose sighed and looked out the window. She knew he was being genuine. She just wanted to get the sense that he wasn't so she wouldn't have to think he was so sweet. It was all messing up her plans to get the hell out of Dodge and go back to Denver.

  He pulled up in front of her house and parked the truck. He looked over at her, his face lit by the streetlamp over the barn.

  “I'll be back tomorrow morning to help you with the milking.”

  Rose was hit by an uncharacteristic wave of sentimentality. She felt so grateful for this man, for his restraint and kindness. She didn't feel like she deserved it. She didn't know what to say.

  “Thank you, Heath.”

  She wanted to say more. She felt like there was more to say, but she didn't know what it was. Or how to bring herself to say it.

  She slipped out the door, trotted up the stairs into the house, and closed the door behind her. She looked out the front window onto the driveway. Heath turned around and started off into the night, his red taillights flickering like two hearts moving in the night, farther and farther away. As she watched him go, she couldn't help but feel as if something special and important was moving away from her. Something that, if she didn't grab onto and hold and keep close, she would never have a chance to have again. But Rose rolled her eyes at herself and turned away from the window.

  “Get a grip, Rose Winter. You have a mission here. Convince Heath to run the ranch and get the hell out of here. Don't go falling in love with that country boy. You can never live this life. You know you’d never be happy, and it would destroy you both.”

 

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