Page 58 of Roping Her In

“Yes, I do.” She couldn’t wait to spend more time with him—and she was dying to know what he thought about the pastor’s sermon too.

23

Jake wanted to drive back to the ranch with Hailey, but then he’d have to come all the way back to the church to drop her back off at her car. So he’d waited with Starr on his hip until Henry had come to get her, and then he’d told Hailey he’d see her at his cabin in a little bit.

He’d arrived before her, and he currently stood in front of his fridge and freezer, both of which he’d opened, hoping God would somehow make something appear that he could bake and then feed to his lovely girlfriend.

Hartford, having also been banned from being on-call that weekend, had gone back to his apartment in town, and said he wouldn’t return until Monday. Jake did enjoy his solitary time, while he was also anxious to have Hailey there with him again. Of course, Hartford wasn’t anything the same as Hailey, and he couldn’t get the image of her with that little girl on her lap out of his head.

She’d been wearing her hair down, just enough makeup on her face, and a beautiful dark blue dress. Jake had wanted to take her home the moment he laid eyes on her.

A knock drew his attention away from the sparse offerings of his fridge. Then Hailey opened the door and called, “It’s just me. I’m coming in.”

“Yep, come on in,” he said, and he abandoned his quest to find food in favor of going to greet her. He told himself not to be too eager, but he still moved right into her space and pulled her into his arms. She laughed and hugged him back.

“It’s so good to see you,” he said.

“I see you every day.”

“Not true.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. “We didn’t see each other yesterday, nor on Tuesdays or Thursdays.”

“Wrong, Mister,” she whispered, letting him be a little naughty and trace his lips along the side of her jaw and down her neck. “We worked together all day Thursday this week.”

“It barely counts,” he said, and he pulled away and smiled at her. “I may have invited you for lunch a little prematurely.”

Her smile faltered. “What does that mean?”

“It means I have no idea what to make for lunch.”

Hailey recovered quickly and smiled up at him again. She made him feel capable and strong for some reason, and Jake really liked being with her. “We can have cereal, Jake. It’s fine.”

“My momma would die if I fed you cereal on the Sabbath Day.”

“Well, your momma’s not here.” She moved further into his house and put her bag on the end of the couch. “What’d you think of the sermon today?”

“It was real nice,” Jake said. One of the armies against him was his insane work schedule, but as he’d been sitting in the congregation, he’d had the distinct thought that to get more rest in his life, all he’d need to do was walk down the lane to Libby’s house.

Heck, she came to his cabin for meetings all the time. He’d only have to mention how tired he was, and that another vet tech would be nice, and she’d hire another veterinarian plus the vet tech.

He didn’t have to work fifteen hours a day, seven days a week. He chose to, almost like he’d been punishing himself for what had happened in Hondo. But a mere hour ago, the Lord had told him very clearly that he didn’t need to do that anymore, and Jake was so glad he’d gotten up and gotten himself to church that day.

“You sure looked handsome holding Starr.”

Jake switched his attention to Hailey. “Yeah?” He smiled and reached for her again. “You liked that, huh?”

“Yeah, I did.” She smiled back at him.

“So I take it you’d want some kids.”

“I would,” Hailey said, sobering slightly. “What about you?”

“Yes,” he said. “Absolutely. Was that not clear when I left the woman I loved in the Hill Country, because she didn’t want to marry me?”

“Did Chantelle not want kids either?” Hailey asked.

“I think she wanted kids,” Jake said. “She just didn’t want to be married.”

“I don’t understand,” Hailey said.