Clearly, Nathan and I were not a match—not that I had been looking for anything other than friendship. Even if I had wanted it to be something more, it wouldn’t have worked. I knew it the moment he’d picked me up for dinner, and I had wished he was Brock.
“Nathan,” I said, standing and smoothing my pencil skirt as I made my way around my desk, “what brings you here?”
“Hello, Lin.”
I gritted my teeth. I had corrected Nathan at least a dozen times on my name. “You refuse to call me Lincoln. Why?” The rough edge to my voice was evident. I was knee deep in whales and schools of fish for Julia’s kitchen, and I wasn’t in the mood for this crap.
“It’s just such a boy’s name.”
My mouth opened slightly in surprise. “Well, I’m not even sure what to say to that, Nathan, other than I’m busy, and I can’t chat right now.” I spun on my black high heels and started to walk back to my desk.
Nathan reached out for my arm, turning me back to him. He stepped closer, totally invading my space. Just like he had on Monday night, when he’d dropped me off at home and walked me to my door.
Of course, had he seen Tanner, Chance, and Ty all down at my corral, I hardly think he would have moved in and tried for that kiss. I’d quickly shut him down when I raised my hand and said no. I got the feeling that Nathan didn’t like being told no. Once the guy had gotten into his BMW and driven off, the group of men had laughed their asses off. “I’d have lost respect for you, Lincoln, had you let him kiss you!” Tanner had shouted.
Now, glancing down to Nathan’s grip on my arm, I cleared my throat.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’m kidding. Lincoln is an adorable name.”
I forced a smile. This was why I didn’t date—and why I’d told Nathan, again, at lunch on Wednesday, that I didn’t see this going anywhere past friendship, which I didn’t.
A part of me was still hanging on to the hope that Brock would walk through my door any day now. I hadn’t returned his call yet, so I guessed the ball was in my court.
“Listen, I wanted to see if you wanted to go to the rodeo with me tonight.”
My head jerked back. “Huh?”
He sighed. “Go out with me tonight? Rodeo? Let me show you off on my arm.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I started to talk but noticed Nathan’s eyes were on my breasts. “Excuse me—my eyes are up here. I believe I already told you: I’m not interested in dating you.”
He gave me a look of pity. “Still holding out hope for that lost cause Shaw, huh?”
Dropping my arms to my sides, I balled my fists. “You don’t know a damn thing about Brock. He’s ten times the man you are and fifty times more of a gentleman. Now, if you’ll please excuse me, Nate, I have work to do. I’m pretty sure that young waitress at the café will be getting off work soon, so take her.”
Nathan smirked. “Okay, well, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”
I rolled my eyes. I swore I had a built-in magnet that attracted douchebags. It must have been broken when Brock had walked into that barn.
When my office door shut, I let out a long groan. This was stupid. I had feelings for Brock, and I knew he had feelings for me. I was being childish by not returning his call.
I quickly walked over to my desk, pulled up his number, and hit it.
“Hello?”
My breath caught in my throat when a woman answered Brock’s phone. I pulled it away from my face and looked at it. The name Brock Shaw was on my screen.
“I’m . . . I’m sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number.”
“No! Lincoln! Wait!”
I froze. How does she know my name?
“How do . . . how do you know my name?”
She chuckled. “Brock has you programmed into his phone. I know he’s been waiting—well, hoping—you’d call.”
Who is this girl?
I couldn’t speak for a moment. My thoughts were running a million different ways.
“I’m sorry, but who is this?”
The girl laughed. “I’m so sorry! You’re probably freaking out about now. This is Lynn, Dirk’s younger sister.”
My eyes widened. “I didn’t know Dirk had a sister.”
Another laugh. “Well, I go to boarding school in Billings, and I’m home for the summer. I was helping the boys with their gear for tonight’s rodeo. Brock is with one of the stock contractors and the bulls. He gave me his phone, and boy howdy, will he be glad to know you called! Are you coming to the rodeo tonight?”
I paused, letting it soak in that my first thought on who the girl on the phone was had been so wrong. “Um, yes. I plan on going.”