“You know how long it’d take to get my dark hair to blond?”
“Well, good thing Zoey has all the mad skills!” I smirk. “I’m sure she’ll help you out.”
Elle groans but nods. “Alright, but I’m not doing this for him. I could use a change.”
Smiling, I grab my phone to set a reminder to call Zoey after lunch. “Maybe I’ll get some highlights myself. See Gavin resist my charm then.”
She snorts as she takes a sip of her water. “Trust me, he’s probably just as anxious to get you back in his bed. He just wants to play hard to get first.”
“If Gavin grew up here, I could do recon and ask his best friend questions and get intimate details about him. Grayson would be my best bet, but I don’t want to get him involved. Maybe Cooper would know? I don’t have his number, though, and he might be traveling right now.” The thought of Gavin leaving nearly suffocates me, but I push it away. I realize he never told me what decision he made. Regardless, I think I’d try long distance for him.
“Ooh, this is starting to sound like some kind of detective mission.” Elle rubs her palms together. “ I think Connor’s been called out to their ranch before. I’ll look in his files and see if I can find his number, or maybe you can just stop by randomly.”
“Oh my God, that’d be amazing. You’re a genius!”
Elle snorts. “I didn’t go to vet school for nothing. But you probably know more than you think. You can’t tell me in the past year you haven’t eavesdropped on him while he was eating at the B&B.”
She makes a valid point. I’ve heard a lot of his conversations. But I don’t want to screw this chance up because it might be the last one he gives me.
Once our food is delivered, we take our time eating and chat.
After we finish, we pay, then stand. Neither of us wants to go back to work, but we know we have to. I miss hanging out with Elle and make her promise to do this again sometime soon.
“Well, good luck wrangling your cowboy.” She pulls me in for a hug. “I’ll text you if I find Cooper’s number.”
“Thank you.”
We say our goodbyes, and before I drive back to the ranch, I text Gavin. Just in case she can’t find Cooper’s info, I need a plan B.
Maize: I want to give us a real chance this time. Are my words not enough?
Gavin: You’re adorable. Actions always speak louder than words, sweetheart.
I groan while simultaneously getting butterflies at the way he called me sweetheart. Damn him.
But if that’s how he’s going to be, then fine.
I just hope whatever I come up with is enough to win him back because right now, I’ll do whatever it takes.
Chapter Eighteen
GAVIN
After two days of silence, I’m wondering if Maize’s given up altogether. Though I’ve accepted her apology, and she’s said she wants a real chance, I won’t be falling back into bed with her that quickly. I’ve been burned too much by her already. She’s spent the past year giving me whiplash with her mood swings, so she needs to prove she’s serious.
I’d love nothing more than to hold Maize Bishop in my arms until the sun rises, but I’m patient.
It’s Monday morning, and I’m heading to the B&B to meet up with the guys for breakfast. It’ll be the first time I’ve been around Maize since Friday, and I’m anxious as hell to talk to her.
“Mornin’.” John greets me when I enter. I tip my hat and flash him a small smile while scanning the room.
Grayson’s already sitting at a table and looks up at me with a grin. “Hey, man.”
“Hey.”
I go to the coffee station, fill a mug, and add a little sugar. When I walk toward Grayson, I finally see her.
“Good mornin’,” I drawl when she approaches. My eyes widen as I get a glimpse of her hair. It’s pulled back as usual, but I notice blond strands. “You changed your hair.”
“Morning. I did. I made you a special breakfast.” She clamps her hands together.
I eye her suspiciously, pulling out a chair and sitting. “Is that code for poison or something?”
“Of course not.” She flashes a wink, then leans down until her mouth brushes against the shell of my ear. “I promised to win you back, and since I know how much you love my food, I figured I’d better start there.”
Shit, I’m impressed. There’s no denying I’d eat anything she cooks. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so I guess she’s testing that theory.
“What kind of favoritism shit is this?” Grayson complains the moment Maize returns carrying two plates.
“There might be enough for you too if you don’t piss me off,” she retorts, setting them in front of me.