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“Well, since cowgirl chic is all the rage these days, you’ll actually look trendy with those boots. Do you have anything less scuffed?”
I looked at my boots. “I work in a ranch with horses; how would my boots not be scuffed?”
Joy let out an exaggerated sigh. “Your man is taking you out on a date; you can put in some effort.”
“I came here, didn’t I?”
Joy stepped out with me as I waited for Duke to pick me up as I’d asked him to. I was running late because one of the horses needed a little extra TLC, so I got Hunt to drop me off at Joy’s, which he did with great pleasure and dismay.
“You dressing up for your date with bossman?” Hunt mused. “But I thought you said you wouldn’t dress up or wear makeup.”
“Just shut the fuck up and drive,” I ordered sullenly.
I wanted to look pretty. I wanted to…well, make Duke feel good about dating me. Compared to Fiona, my nails weren’t manicured. All I could say about them was that they were clean (now). My skin was beaten up because of the sun, and I’d never in my life had a facial; my idea of makeup was: Well, I didn’t have one, so Joy had helped me out with that as well, even though I told her I didn’t need or want it.
I felt warm all over standing on Main Street, waiting for mydateto pick me up.
The heart of Wildflower Canyon wasn’t big, but it was lively. Here, you couldn’t go five feet without someone waving or calling your name.Brick storefronts lined both sides, most of them family-owned, passed down through generations.
Spring was in full bloom now, and I wasn’t surprised to see a couple of kids run past with dripping ice cream cones, their parents strolling behind them. The scent of fresh pie wafted from Baker’s Hollow, and I was half-tempted to grab a slice and head back to the ranch, the hell with dinner.
I looked at the stupid black clutch Joy had given me for my phone and Chapstick. “Is this expensive?” I asked.
“Yep.”
“I….”
“It’s not the store’s, it’s mine, and you’re borrowing it.”
“What if I…ah…damage it.”
Joy shrugged.
“I hate all you rich people in your fancy clothes and not caring about how much things cost,” I muttered.
Joy rolled her eyes. “Please, you’re dating Duke Wilder, so let’s noteven!”
Holy shit!Iwasdating Duke. Openly. In public. Where people could see us! This was nuts—all of it.
Then I caught my reflection in the window of her boutique—and for a moment, I didn’t recognize myself. I didn’t look like me.
The red dress hugged every curve, the neckline dipping just enough to be dangerous. Joy had made me swap out my usual braided ponytail for loose waves (she had used a blow dryer and a brush), and the eye makeupshe’d insisted on made my eyes look a little too soft, a little too hopeful.
I had freaking lipstick on. Red. Fire fucking engine red.
“Hell, Joy. Who the hell is this woman?”
“It’s Elena Rivera,” she murmured. “Everyone deserves to be pampered once in a while, sweetheart. You work so hard; take a break tonight, enjoy your man, wear a flirty dress, and live.”
I let out a ragged breath and then another when Duke pulled up in one of the ranch trucks.
He looked poleaxed when he stepped out and looked at me.
Joy smirked beside me, linking her arm through mine. "You’re welcome, Duke.”
He managed to look away from me to Joy and smiled in greeting.
He angled forward and kissed her cheek. “How are you doing, gorgeous?” But his eyes kept straying to me. Talk about making a girl nervous.