The Virgin Cowboy Billionaire’s Secret Baby(24)
“Geez, Beth,” Matt said. “Tell us how you really feel.”
“Okay, but you’d better take the long way home, ’cause it’s gonna take a while.”
“No, that’s—”
“No, no.” Dara grinned. “I want to hear this.”
“Oh, Jesus.” Matt rolled his eyes. Neither Dara nor his sister had ever been particularly gossipy, not even when Beth had a few beers in her, but if there was one man in the county who could bring out the cattiness in anyone, it was Paul Worley.
Twenty-five minutes of sordid stories and countless scoffs of “No, he didn’t!” and “Is he serious?” later, Matt pulled into the farm’s driveway.
“Well, ladies.” He put the truck in park in front of the office. “Thanks for the post-high school social updates, but—”
“Oh, shut up.” Beth smacked his arm. “Don’t act like you don’t know about that clown. I saw the way you glared at him when he was talking up Dara.”
Dara turned to him. “Oh really?”
Matt cleared his throat, wishing he could glare at his sister, but he couldn’t because Dara was between them. “Me and every guy in there.”
“Well, it’s nice to know the whole town feels so protective.” Dara smirked. “Though, knowing my reputation, I don’t know who they were protecting.”
“Ugh. People.” Beth patted her arm. “They’ll get over it.”
“We’ll see about that.”
They climbed out of the truck. Beth yawned. “Okay, guys. Five thirty comes early, so I’m out. I’ll see you in the morning, Matt. And Dara, hopefully I’ll see you soon?”
Dara smiled. “Yes, definitely.”
Beth hugged Matt and Dara in turn, and then headed up to the house. When they were alone, Dara turned to Matt. “So.” She raised an eyebrow. “Did you get any phone numbers tonight?”
“Phone numbers? No.”
“Really? Looked like you and that brunette were getting cozy.”
“What?” Matt waved his hand and shook his head. “We were just talking.”
“Don’t lie to me, Matt. I know what I saw.”
“What are you talking about?” He eyed her. “She was asking me about Brandy. She’s looking for a barrel racer.”
Dara blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Matt. Honey.” She shook her head. “That woman was not looking for a horse. Not unless those dirty looks she was giving me were because she thought I was going to try to buy your horse before she could.”
“The dirty—” Matt exhaled, rolling his eyes. “Well, so much for convincing you that I have any more clue about women now than I did back then.”
Dara just smiled. “It’s okay. We’re a confusing species. But yes, she was absolutely flirting with you.”
“Great. Why can’t women just hold up signs when they’re flirting?”
“Because that would take the mystery out of it all.” She laughed. “I know, it’s annoying.”
“They should teach classes on this shit,” he muttered.
“Right? Anyone ever figures out how to teach it, they’ll make a fortune.”
“I’d invest in that startup.”
“Me too.”
They both laughed quietly. Then she looked at her phone and scowled. “Damn, it’s really getting late. I should probably go—I do have to work tomorrow.”
“On a Saturday?”
She nodded. “Still playing catch-up from moving. That’s the shitty part of being self-employed—there’s no one to pick up the slack while you’re busy getting divorced.”
“Hmm, yeah. Divorce aside, I’ve been there, done that.”
“Adulthood, am I right?”
“So right.”
She laughed halfheartedly. “Fuck adulthood. But, anyway, thanks for inviting me along tonight. I had a really nice time.”
“Glad to hear it. It was nice to have you there.” Heat rushed into his cheeks, and he cleared his throat. “I mean, it was back when we were kids and—”
“I know what you meant.” She smiled. “And it was good to be back in that world again. I may have to start shopping for a horse after the baby’s here.”
“Talk to Beth. She’ll hook you up.”
“Of course. That’s a ways off, though. For now, no rest for the weary.” She took her keys out of her pocket. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Tomorr—oh, right.” He’d promised earlier to come by and help her with some of the bigger and heavier boxes and pieces of furniture that needed two people to move. “Yes, absolutely.”