The next two days were weird, to say the least. It was like we were back to square one, with John barely saying two words to me at all. I didn't understand what could possibly be going on in his head.

I didn't get much spare time to really think about it though; between chores and lessons, as well as a best friend that wanted my attention, things were pretty busy for me. Maisy was lugging me and her step-sister – one of her bridesmaids – to Dallas for a girls' night, which would include a meeting with the caterer tomorrow morning to finalize everything for the wedding three Saturdays from now.

While I was looking forward to getting away from the ranch for just over 24 hours, I still felt like a protective mama leaving her baby alone for the first time.

"Thanks so much for doin' this," I smiled, hugging my uncle briefly. "I'll have my cell on me the whole time so you can call if there's anythin'... I've got a list on the desk in the stables of the things that'll need to be done... and you remember John? He used to work for dad... anyway, he'll be around... I'll be home tomorrow afternoon at the latest... Oh! I need to show you Juno... she's our pregnant rescue... You'll need to exercise her and she has a special mix to add to her feed... John probably won't forget, he's been good with her, but–"

"Carly," my uncle chuckled. He put a hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

"Yeah," I replied, looking around the kitchen, trying to think of anything else I might be forgetting.

"I'll be fine," he told me easily.

"Okay, I know, sorry... I just don't usually do this over-night thing," I laughed, embarrassed.

When Maisy sent me a text to tell me she was leaving her place in fifteen minutes to pick me up, I started to panic a little. I brought down my overnight bag and left it near the doorway, then proceeded outside to find John and make sure he was going to be fine until tomorrow too.

I didn't find him outside the barn and he wasn't with the horses so I tried his loft, knocking briefly on the hatch.

"Yeah," he answered.

"Hi, can I come up?" I asked, opening the hatch and popping my head inside.

"Sure," he replied with a shrug.

I climbed the rest of the way into the loft and pulled myself into a standing position, looking around. His bed was unmade but otherwise the place looked tidy... a lot tidier than my bedroom ever was, that's for sure.

"Aren't you supposed to be headin' off soon?" he asked.

"Yeah, Maisy should be here in about half an hour," I answered, my gaze darting back to his tall frame, wondering if being around him would ever get easier. "Um... I uh... wanted to make sure you were okay before I left," I added a little awkwardly.

For a second I was afraid John would go on the defensive again and start snapping at me, but he didn't.

"Everything'll be fine, go have fun," he reassured me.

"Yeah, you're sure? You can raid the fridge if you get hungry... there's some leftover lasagna you can heat up... I don't know how much you're into cookin' or anythin'... But yeah, other than that... just business as usual..." I shrugged. "Oh! You remember Juno–"

"Exercise, special feed... Carly, relax, I got this; it'll be fine, you're only gone a day," John chuckled.

"I know... my uncle said the same thing. I'm bein' so anal," I laughed.

When Maisy's car rolled into the driveway a few minutes later, my uncle assured me one last time that everything would be fine and practically flung my overnight bag into the car, looking like he couldn't wait for me to leave.

It reminded me of a teenage boy seeing his mama off, knowing that as soon as she was gone he could have all of his friends over for a killer party. Looking at my uncle now with his shaggy beard and beer belly, I couldn't help but find that entertaining as hell.

"You behave yourself," I grinned as Maisy started the car again.

In hindsight, I was glad I went. Spending time with the girls was good for me. We did a bit of shopping during the afternoon and went out to dinner afterward, enjoying good food and some easy conversation about nothing in particular.

"So," Maisy grinned, shoving a mouthful of salad into her mouth. "Any new developments where John is concerned?" she asked with a wink.

"John? Who's John?" Reagan, Maisy's twenty-two year old step-sister, asked. She was a tall woman with short dark brown hair and expressive green eyes.

"Carly's new guy," Maisy grinned, giving me a teasing look. "She could definitely do worse, trust me," she added. .

"Why am I only hearin' of him now?" Reagan gasped dramatically.

"Oh God, stop, you're gonna start rumors. He's not my guy," I rolled my eyes, feeling a blush creep up my neck.

"But you want him to be," Maisy smirked.

I didn't have a clue what I wanted; I couldn't keep John out of my head, so obviously there was some truth to Maisy's statement... but... it was more complicated than that. I was attracted to John, sure, but there was so much about him that I still didn't know. What if we tried dating and it didn't work out? Could we just go about our business and pretend nothing happened? Technically speaking I was his boss... and...

God, if my father was still around, he definitely wouldn't approve of me dating a guy that was so much older and likely far more... experienced.

"Look at her face," Reagan giggled, and I could feel my face grow redder at the mention of my blush. "You should invite him to the weddin'," she added.

"Yes!" Maisy beamed.

"You guys are blowin' this way out of proportion! It's only been a couple days... I don't even know if he'll be stickin' around that long," I shrugged. That was another concern I'd kept bottled up: what if this ranch hand thing was only temporary for him? What if he was only working here until he got back on his feet?

"You need to stop thinkin' so much," Reagan sighed. "Just ask him to dinner for starters... have a couple drinks, have a good time... see what happens. It's easy," she grinned.

"For you maybe," I rolled my eyes. "I have the sex appeal of a walrus."

Maisy and Reagan exchanged exasperated looks.

"You're not givin' yourself enough credit," Maisy argued over a sip of wine. "You're hot, and any man would be lucky to have you. If I were, y'know, a little bit gay, I'd totally want you," she added.

"Oh God," I huffed.

Maisy and Reagan wanted to go to a nightclub after dinner, but since I was still only twenty, I had to be the one to spoil their fun. They wanted to go anyway – they could buy me drinks, or maybe the bartender wouldn't card me – but I was too much of a goodie-two-shoe to risk it. Instead we went back to the hotel and watched a few movies on Maisy's lap top, which proved to be an equally enjoyable evening as far as I was concerned.

Reagan and Maisy also got to raid the liquor dispenser, so they were still able to get their alcohol fix; personally, since we had to be up pretty early to meet with the catering company, I didn't see the appeal in drinking, even if it was just two or three shots a piece.

Then again, I was an incredible lightweight: being as small as I was, and not having a liver that was accustomed to the effects of alcohol to begin with, a drink or two and I was a goner.

"You guys are gonna hate yourselves in the morning," I said, watching Reagan knock back another shot of whiskey.

I leaned back into the bed I was going to share with Maisy and checked my phone to see if I had a message from my uncle... but there was nothing.

I was tempted to text John, just to check in and see what he was up to...

I glanced at Maisy and Reagan, wondering what they'd say if they knew what I was thinking right now, or more importantly who I was thinking about.

To be honest, I didn't really care.

"Hey, is the house still standing?" I wrote him.

It took a long time for him to reply; for a while I figured his phone was dead or that he'd forgotten it somewhere... maybe in the loft... but about fifteen minutes later my phone vibrated and I'm embarrassed to admit how quickly I moved to check it.

"Everything's fine, stop worrying and have some fun," he wrote back.

"I am having fun," I argued, and before he could text me back I added: "What are you up to?"

I did not expect his answer.

"I'm at Buck's; your uncle is getting me drunk," he wrote, and I actually laughed out loud. I could only imagine my uncle Scott and John hanging out – it was the most unlikely pairing... and yet... I was happy John wasn't all by himself.

"What are you laughin' about?" Maisy asked, nudging my foot.

"Just somethin' on Tumblr," I shrugged, not wanting to get into it right now. They were tipsy... I could only fathom the stuff they'd do. Honestly, they'd somehow get me to call him... or they'd call him...

I wasn't going to subject John to that.