Tam had her wavy hair pulled up into a ponytail, and she wore jeans, boots, and a sleeveless shirt the color of ripe peaches. “I love it when you talk to yourself,” she teased.
“How are you so silent when you move?” He turned and found her truck parked several yards away, and he should’ve been able to hear that thing arrive. It was easily fifteen years old, and the engine growled every time she started it.
“I’m a ninja.” She laughed and put her foot up on the rung, a sigh leaking out of her mouth. Several seconds passed, and Blaine’s pulse settled back into a normal rhythm. “I’m glad you’re happy, Blaine.”
“Thanks,” he said. “What can we do to make you happy?”
“Not possible.” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug, and Blaine stared at her creamy skin. Just as quickly as he’d fallen into the stare, he yanked his eyes away. He was not interested in Tam, not romantically.
“Come on,” he said. “You seemed happy about that Italian leather.”
“It’s actually from the bulls in Barcelona,” she said, shooting him a grin.
“Oh, okay, Ms. Know-It-All.”
They laughed, and everything aligned regarding Tam. Thankfully. Blaine didn’t want to think about her as girlfriend material, because it complicated so much.
“Hoof rot, huh?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “If you can come tomorrow around ten, we can move the cattle in one herd. We treated them once this afternoon, and we will again in the morning. Then I’ve got the Fire Marshall coming to do a controlled burn of the field.”
“Won’t you just have to burn the pasture you put them in?”
“No, because they’ve already started treatment.”
She nodded. “I can come at ten, but I want to ride Florence Nightingale, and I need something from you.”
“Flo is ready for you,” he said. “You act like I don’t know what you’ll need to come do my dirty work.” He nudged her with his elbow.
She grinned at him and leaned her head against his shoulder. “You’re the best, Blaine.”
“I know I am.” They looked out over the pasture together, and contentment moved through Blaine. He certainly did not want to ruin that by trying to be Tam’s boyfriend. “What did you need from me?”
“You’re not going to like it.”
His heartbeat jumped. “Spit it out.”
“I’ve got a friend who needs a date for a wedding…” she started.
“No,” Blaine said, his voice hard.
“I’m going to be there,” Tam said. “It’ll be fine. She just—she used to date the groom, and she can’t show up alone.”
Blaine’s jaw tightened as his teeth pressed together. “What is with you guys? Why can’t she go alone? Or better yet—don’t go at all.”
“She can’t do that,” Tam said.
“Women are very complicated.”
“It’s three hours,” she said. “You’ll get steak and lobster, if that makes you feel better. Cake too.”
“Trying to win me over with food never works, Tam. You know that.”
“It was worth a try.” She linked her arm through his, and Blaine’s blood heated. Why was it doing that? He’d never felt anything for Tam before. He was just all over the place today. “I really do need a boyfriend for when Hayes comes back, though.”
“I don’t see why,” Blaine said, having had the chance to think about the situation and prepare his argument. “You’re smart and successful, Tam. You don’t need him. Why would you think you wouldn’t be able to resist his not-that-charming-personality?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice on the low end of her range.