“I still need to speak to your father.”
“He’s in the barn.”
A whoosh of air blew across his face as she slammed the door shut. James rubbed the back of his neck. Brielle had changed so much since they’d dated. She used to be so full of light, so happy. Over the years she’d grown more jaded. Maybe it was just him she acted that way towards. He’d seen the way she smiled at that that cowboy a few days ago.
He hurried down the steps and glanced once more at the house. Whatever the reason, Brielle hated him now. There was not a single doubt in his mind. Their conversation had left a bitter taste in his mouth and knots in his stomach.
James picked up his pace, jogging toward the barn as if putting more distance between himself and the house would help ease the ache he felt. He made it to the entrance just as Zeke emerged.
Mr. Callahan smiled warmly at James. “Dr. Pratt. What can I do for you? Constance should be inside if you need to see her about her horse.”
“Actually, I had something I wanted to discuss with you.”
Immediately the warmth left the man’s face, replaced by suspicion. James had never been on this side of things with Zeke. In that moment he could see a hint of what the girls meant when they said he wasn’t to be trifled with when it came to the wellbeing of his daughters.
A lump formed in James’s throat and he tugged at the collar of his T-shirt. “It’s not what you think.” If what he was thinking regarded James’s interest in dating his daughter. “Constance has shown an interest in the veterinary field.”
Zeke raised one brow and he folded his arms, but he didn’t say anything so James continued.
“There are several programs that would allow her to remain here while studying and she could put in some hands-on hours with me. I’d be happy to train her and pay for her education.”
The way Zeke studied him made him feel vulnerable, like he could see every misdeed James had ever done—including dating Brielle without his blessing. He took a deep breath with his lips pursed and let it out slowly. “Constance hasn’t mentioned her interest in becoming a veterinarian.”
“I think it’s a newly formed interest.”
“Hmm.”
That wasn’t a “no.” James might have been right after all. “I think her education would make a great addition to your ranch. She’d be on site if any of your animals needed care. And I personally believe that she’s—”
“I suppose that’s fine.”
“—a natural… Really? It might take her away from some of her work here at the ranch. But the investment in time isn’t much—”
“James, you’ve struck oil. Stop drilling.”
James forced out a chuckle that probably sounded more like a dying animal. “Right. Well, I’ll help her register for her classes, and she can start shadowing me immediately.”
Zeke grunted his acceptance of the plan, though his features had seemed to soften. All it had taken was for James to make it clear he wasn’t interested in Constance in a romantic way. It had almost felt like he was being hunted by some kind of predator and the moment he’d jumped into the river, they’d lost his scent. Ridiculous, but that’s exactly what it felt like.
Zeke stared at him expectantly as James stood there awkwardly for a few minutes, then he brushed past James and headed out of the barn.
James exhaled as he watched Zeke put more distance between them. Man, Zeke was just as scary as everyone had claimed him to be. Perhaps he’d misjudged Brielle’s opinion on how things worked around here.
He shook his head and dug his fingers into his hair. No, he refused to believe that if one of Zeke’s daughters stood up to him that the man couldn’t be moved enough to change his mind on his dating rules.
* * *
James reachedinto the bed of his truck and pulled out a box labeled “textbooks.” Constance’s gaze locked on the box he hefted into his arms and her pink lips parted, drawing his attention. They were full and soft… and he had no right to be thinking of them.
Shoot. Brielle had gotten into his head. Now there was a part of him that wondered if it would be so bad to date the third daughter in the Callahan family.
He cleared his throat and tilted the box so she could see its contents. “These are the ones I used when I was studying. I can’t guarantee that they will be the ones your professors will have you buy. But you’re welcome to use anything I have.” She reached for the box and he chuckled, tucking the box closer to himself. “I’m not going to let you carry this thing all the way to the house.”
Constance frowned. “What? You don’t think I’m capable of carrying a box?”
“No. I think that you’re a lady and I’m a gentleman. I’ll take it in for you, and after that you can do whatever you want with it.” He bit back a smile at the surprise that flickered across her face. She hadn’t expected him to do it, which made him wonder what kinds of guys she’d spent time around. They weren’t even involved and he wouldn’t have made her take the box into the house.
The thought of other suitors affected him unexpectedly. He shivered and attempted to brush off the strange irritation that had settled around him. He nodded toward the house before heading in that direction.