10
Spur walked into the barn the following day and opened the fridge they kept in the office there. All of the brothers used the office, but Lawrence, Trey, and Cayden definitely did the most. When Spur opened the fridge, he found brown bags with names on them inside, and he sifted through them until he found his.
It was always in the back, because no one made it out to the ranch before Spur. He settled on the edge of the desk and opened his bag. A big, round, fudgey cookie sat there, and Spur’s smile burst across his face.
He was totally eating dessert first today.
He’d just polished off the delicious cookie, his thoughts racing around Olli and how he could see her that night, when Blaine walked into the office. “Heya,” he said, but he didn’t look or sound happy.
“What’s wrong with you?” Spur asked.
“Nothing.” Blaine kept his back turned to Spur as he got out his lunch. “Listen, All For Glory got another clean bill of health. I took the vet off her, because she seems fine now.”
“Okay,” Spur said. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” Blaine said, his brown bag crinkling as he dug into it. “I’m late for a meeting about that that hoof rot. I’ll catch up to you later for a report.”
“Yep,” Spur said. “I want to hear about that.”
Blaine left the office as quickly as he’d entered, and Spur thought there was definitely something going on. Blaine wasn’t one to say until he was ready, though, and Spur respected his brother enough to give him the space he required.
He worked with their veterinarians, vet techs, and medical staff at the ranch. He oversaw the care of all the animals, and he knew more about diseases and infections than any person should have to.
Spur put such things out of his mind so he could finish his lunch, still no closer to a reason to call Olli and ask to see her.
“Just call and ask to see her,” he muttered to himself. “You’re dating. You don’t need a sneaky reason.”
Her four o’clocks had come in last week, and he’d spent a morning putting them in the ground for her. She’d brought him coffee and toast, and they’d talked while she sat by him as he worked. He’d liked the simple get-together, and hoped she’d do the same when her gardenias finally came in.
He was just about to call her when his phone chimed. Her name sat on the screen, and he swiped to get to the message. Just found out that Mr. Renlund will be here on Saturday! He wants to see the perfumery at two, talk to me, and take us to dinner. Does that work for you?
Yes, Spur typed as quickly as he could. He could practically feel Olli’s nerves from here, and he instinctively looked west, toward her house and land. He couldn’t see through walls, though, so he refocused on his phone. I’ll be there. It’s going to be great.
Thank you, Spur.
Feeling brave, and while he obviously had her on the phone, he hit the call button. Her line rang, and he paced in the small office.
“Mister Chappell,” she said, laughing afterward. “What can I do for you?”
Her laugh made him relax and smile. “I wondered what you were doing tonight,” he said.
“Tonight.” She exhaled heavily. “Nothing.”
“Are you at the perfumery right now?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I was thinking we should go to a movie,” he said. “Or just dinner. Or dinner and a movie. I’d love to take you to Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Rosine, but that’s pretty far for a weeknight.”
He stopped talking, because he didn’t want to babble.
“I get one of those food baskets delivered every other Monday,” Olli said, her voice thoughtful. “How about I cook us dinner with that, and you take us to the movie?”
“I can agree to that,” he said, grinning. Dinner at Olli’s house. Even better than going out, in Spur’s opinion.
“Okay,” Olli said cheerfully. “Why don’t you give me a few more hours today and I’ll see where I’m at? Then I’ll know what time I’ll be able to close up here and get dinner started.”
“Sure thing,” he said. “See you later, Olli.”