Page 6 of The Cattleman’s Unforgettable Love: Ford and Amelia (MacFarland Ranch #11)

“Because you looked puzzled. Something was niggling you, I wanted to know what it was.” She took a sip of the brandy. “I’m curious by nature – especially about people who intrigue me.”

She loved the way his features transformed when he smiled. “You’re saying that you find me intriguing?”

She nodded happily. “I am. You’re an interesting man, Ford.”

He pursed his lips. “Are you laughing at me?”

“No! I’m being serious. And the fact that you even had to ask is part of what makes you so interesting.”

His eyebrows drew together.

“I mean, most guys in your position would be full of themselves, to say the least. You’re confident – even commanding sometimes – but there’s something else. You’re … different.”

She knew immediately that she’d said the wrong thing, but what she didn’t understand was why.

He let out a breath. “Yeah. I’ve heard that before.” He looked disappointed, but Amelia couldn’t for the life of her figure out why.

“I don’t think you have,” she told him.

He met her gaze but didn’t speak.

“You seem to think different is somehow a derogatory term, and I didn’t mean it that way – in fact, I meant the opposite.

” Why not? She might as well say it. They’d both avoided mentioning their attraction to each other since she’d arrived last weekend, but she didn’t intend to let that continue indefinitely – and this was as good a moment as any to bring it up.

He pressed his lips together as he studied her, and she waited. He was the kind of man who considered his words before he spoke; she already knew that about him.

“Are you trying to backpedal your way into saying that you were paying me a compliment by calling me different?”

“Yes – well, not the backpedaling part, but other than that, yes.”

He made a face.

“I’m serious, cowboy.”

He seemed to flinch when she called him that, but she had no idea why.

He recovered quickly, taking a sip of his brandy before he spoke. “Okay, in that case, thank you. I’m happy to know that you think of me as good different – even if I don’t totally understand what that means.”

She met his gaze and held it. “Then let me put it in simpler terms for you. You’re an incredibly attractive man, you play an important role in your family, and in the family business.

You’re intelligent and carry a lot of responsibility.

And yet, unlike most men in similar circumstances, you’re not arrogant or full of yourself.

On the contrary, you’re kind, you have all the time in the world for your family, and I’m sure for your friends, too, but I don’t know your friends.

From what I’ve seen, you’re thoroughly domestic – and even good with kids. ”

When she finished speaking, she was amused to see a hint of pink on his neck and ears.

“Does that explain more clearly what I meant?”

He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what to say.”

She chuckled. “You don’t need to say anything. Do you want to go back to the original question and answer that instead? You were looking puzzled and I asked what was up.”

He smiled. “Okay. I was puzzled by my own behavior this evening. I don’t normally give up my seat voluntarily. And yet this evening, I willingly allowed first Ashton and now you to sit there. I was wondering what I was up to.”

Amelia took another sip of her brandy. “Well, we all know that Ashton holds a special place in your heart.”

“He does.”

“And as for me …”

His eyes seemed to turn a deeper shade of green as he met her gaze.

She’d been curious to know how he’d react.

The way he looked into her eyes gave her the impression that he wasn’t totally averse to the possibility of her trying to earn a place in his heart.

She didn’t think that she was averse to the idea either, but …

“Are you just toying with me?”

“No! God, Ford, no. I’m not. I told you, I’m curious. I’m not good at the flirting thing. I want to investigate the possibility – or if there even is one – but …”

She relaxed when he smiled.

“So, you’d be open to a possibility?”

She nodded.

“And you’re different, too, aren’t you?”

“I am,” she said with a smile. “And now I think you get it – different really is a compliment in my mind.”

~ ~ ~

Ford settled back, trying to get comfortable in the armchair. Although if he were honest, it was more than just sitting in a different place that had thrown him out of his comfort zone.

He had to agree with Amelia; she was different. And he liked that about her. His head snapped up when she asked, “So, what are we going to do about it?”

His lips twitched up into a smile he couldn’t have stopped if he wanted to – and he didn’t want to.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you’re not good at the flirting thing, were you?” he said and laughed when she cocked her head at him.

“What can I say? It’s not my style – to toss my hair over my shoulder or act coy. I’ve been here for almost a week. We already knew before I came that there’s an attraction between us. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t have an adult discussion about it, do you?”

He shook his head slowly. “I don’t see any reason at all. Can I take you out?”

She leaned back against the cushions with a smile. “Of course you can. I’d like that a lot. I also like the way you got straight to the point. So … when?”

“When are you free? And what kind of date would you like to go on? The answers to those two questions will determine the when.”

She took a sip of her brandy and stretched her legs out in front of her on the sofa.

“Well, apart from work, my free time – or possibly that should be my calendar – is free and clear. My evenings and weekends are all available. So whenever suits you will work for me. As for what kind of date I’d like to go on…

” She shrugged. “I don’t know what my options are around here.

I mean, I suppose we could go for a drink at Chico … ”

“Or, I could take you over to Bozeman for dinner. Or, if you wanted a daytime date, we could go to the park – or, I could take you horseback riding.”

Her smile faded a little. “I don’t know how to ride. I thought I told you that.”

“You did tell me; I didn’t forget. You also said that you’d like to learn. I talked to Tanner earlier. He has a horse he says might be suitable for you. I thought you might enjoy getting to know him.”

He loved that she looked so eager as she leaned forward. Then a heavy weight settled in his stomach. It occurred to him that she might have misunderstood his words. Women always seemed keen to get to know Tanner. He was the good-looking one in the family, after all.

“Hey, you just did it again,” said Amelia.

“Did what?”

“Had a thought that you didn’t like and shut down on me. What was it?”

He blew out a sigh. “There’s going to be no hiding anything from you, is there?”

She shook her head adamantly. “I thought the point of going on a date was to get to know each other better. What’s the point of doing that if we’re going to hide things?”

He gave her a wry smile. “You’re right. There’d be no point. So – I’ll just ask. What were you so excited about a minute ago?”

She dropped her gaze before looking back up at him.

“Okay, that’s fair. If I’m not allowing you to hide anything, then I shouldn’t hide either.

I was pleasantly surprised that you’d talked to Tanner about me wanting to ride – that you’d even thought about whether he might have a suitable horse for me.

And then when you said something about me getting to know him… ”

Ford pressed his lips together and waited.

“Oh.” Amelia’s eyes widened. “I get it now.”

“You get what?” he asked.

“I get why you shut down on me. You thought I was excited about getting to know Tanner, didn’t you? You thought I’d misunderstood what you meant about getting to know the horse.”

He nodded reluctantly.

“I’m not even going to get mad at you about that.

I know how it goes. When I lived in San Francisco, I had a friend who was a model – I know how it feels when everyone overlooks you because their focus is on someone else.

But I assure you – I have no interest in Tanner.

He seems like a nice guy, and I’ve heard the tales about how all the girls fall for him.

But for one thing, he’s a happily married man now.

And even if he weren’t, he’s too pretty for me. ”

Ford chuckled. “Thanks for spelling it out. And for not getting mad at me. I was only trying to hide my reaction because it felt like I was being immature to feel that way.”

“I think it’s called human. And like I said, I’m all too familiar with the feeling myself.”

He felt as though something tight in his chest started to loosen a little as he smiled back at her.

“You really are different, aren’t you?”

She chuckled. “Thanks for the compliment.”

“So, what’s it to be, then?” he asked. “Dinner, drinks, horseback riding, a picnic in the park, a sightseeing tour of the valley … or something else completely?”

She leaned back against the cushions with a smile. “Are you free on Saturday?”

“I am. All day,” he added, not wanting to influence her choice.

“So how about we say we’ll spend the day together – and if we still want to, by the time evening rolls around, we can decide where we’ll go? How does that sound?”

“It sounds good to me.” And it did.

He’d enjoyed spending time with her since she’d come to stay at the ranch.

But over the course of the week, they’d only had odd moments alone.

Cash had been around. The girls had stopped in to see her.

She’d spent time with Sierra and Wade and the kids.

And tonight she’d gone to Shane and Cassidy’s for dinner.

She might be sharing his space, but he hadn’t seen anywhere near as much of her as he would like.

Taking a whole day off on Saturday and getting to spend it with her was something he’d look forward to.

In a big way.