Sunday Snippet: The Pink Primroses, Daisies, and a Real Snippet Edition

When Husband and I got home from a week at the lake yesterday, we both sucked in a breath of awe–our primroses and daisies are blooming! The front gardens look glorious and lush with flowers and ferns and hostas–we are a festival of color and greenery! Take a look!

I am not, as I have told you on more than one occasion, a gardener. I don’t like yardwork, I find weeding tedious and annoying, and watering and trimming a wicked necessity. But wow, doing the work is so worth the effort! My gardens are nothing compared to my lovely neighbors who work in theirs every day and their work shows in gorgeous abundant flowers. They are such good gardeners and I confess, I envy their dedication and skills. That said, I’m feeling pretty good about my little corner of the ‘hood this week, especially now that the primroses and daisies are blooming. This week, I’ll go get flowers for pots  and feel very accomplished that I managed to dress up my stoop and driveway.

Now the snippet I promised you. A quick scene to intrigue you and make you long to grab your copy of Help Wanted, Cowboy, which releases July 7 and is currently available for pre-order. (See what I did there–a little shameless self-promotion in a link to the book.)

Help Wanted, Cowboy

“Do you have a girlfriend?” The words fell out of her mouth and surprised her as much as it obviously surprised him. She hadn’t meant to just blurt it out. It was on a list of things she’d written out late last night in her room—stuff she thought she should know if she was going to ask for his help. When he gaped at her, she stuttered. “I mean … I-I was just curious. Do you? I mean … do you date at all?” Dammit, this was getting more awkward by the second because he was looking at her all suspicious. “You know what? Never mind. None of my business.”

“I’m not lookin’ for a bachelor pad, if that’s what you’re thinkin’.” He pulled the foil off the casseroles. “And if I were, it sure as hell wouldn’t be the bunkhouse on the ranch where I work.”

If the floor had opened up at that moment, Millie would’ve happily dropped into the hole. Heat filled her cheeks and she knew she was probably twelve shades of red. “N-no, of course not. I wasn’t thinking— I mean … I was … just curious,” she said again.

The oven dinged that it had reached temperature and Rory shoved the two dishes in and set the timer on the microwave. Then he leaned against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest in a rather forbidding stance. He narrowed his eyes. “I’m straight, I date, but I haven’t been in relationship in a few years. Rodeo doesn’t really leave much time for that. And for the last year, I’ve been taking care of my mom. I’ve never been in love, at least not that I know of, and I’m guessin’ I’d know if I were.

“Got a high school diploma. I read a lot when I’m out on the circuit, ’cause unless you’re bar-hopping from town to town, there isn’t much else to do. I like fiction and history. Country music is fine if it’s not twangy. I watch the Food Network and the History Channel, and just about any kind of movies except horror. I’m five foot nine, weigh 179 pounds, which is up from my fighting weight because I’ve been off the circuit for a while. I was hopin’ to drop the extra weight workin’ this ranch, and here I am in the kitchen. Go figure.

“I brush my teeth a couple times a day, never met a shower I didn’t like, and Hemingway’s my favorite author although I can’t rightly explain why.” He was ticking the items off on his fingers as he named them, practically without taking a breath. “Anything else you’d like to know?”

Millie was pretty sure she’d turned another couple of shades of red as he ended his little speech—more words in a row than she’d heard him say since they’d met. And practically all the information she’d been looking for and had expected to have to drag out of him over the next few days while he was manning the Juniper Falls kitchen. She was too aware that she was sitting there with her mouth agape, but she had no idea how to respond. “I-I …”

He smiled then and lit up the whole kitchen with his soft laughter. “Ya know, you can find all this information and more online on my FindaCowboy profile.”

Millie damn near choked. “There … there’s a dating site called FindaCowboy?”

Rory opened the fridge and pulled out a bag of oranges and looked at her askance, but gave her a grin. “Wouldn’t be surprised, but I’m not on it.” He set the oranges on the table in front of her, along with a knife, bowls, and some paper towels. “Wanna learn how to section an orange?”

His guileless grin made her decision right then and there. Why wait? But she had to know one more thing. She pushed her chair back and stood. “Yeah, I’d like to, but first …” She framed his face with her hands. “I’m going to kiss you, okay?”

So, there you are–a little taste of Rory Pearson and Millie Sparks…

Gratitude for This Week: A few days at the lake–it was lovely. A spring storm turned everything even greener. Primroses and daisies. Got words written on book 4 of the Juniper Falls Ranch series. Watched Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix–excellent. Highly recommend!

Stay well, stay informed and continue to speak out when you can, always choose kindness, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!