“So soon since…my canceled wedding?”
“Since you had our triplets and swore I was the love of your life.”
Lincoln’s fork clattered as it fell into his plate. “Triplets?”
We didn’t have to take this to a level of absolute bananas. “There are no babies,” I assured my date.
“Larry, Sherrie, and Terry want you to come home,” Miller said with little conviction.
He couldn’t have created a simple emergency? My savior had arrived, andthiswas all he could come up with? Still, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity. “I guess… I’ll just grab my purse.”
“What exactly is going on here?” Lincoln demanded.
“I’m sorry,” I said again. “I—”
“She hasn’t been out of the hospital long.” Miller tapped his forehead. “Head injury that makes her forget who she is. Did she also tell you she’s a therapist?” Miller’s coy little chuckle would never earn him an Oscar. “Hattie’s actually a stay-at-home momma to our six blessings.”
“Six?” I echoed.
“Plus three schnauzers.” Miller offered me his arm. “Hattie here loves to dress up and go out on the town, but she always comes back home to us. Don’t you, babe?” He kissed my cheek, and the zing had the nerve to travel all the way to my cramped toes. “Wish my cattle were as easy to retrieve.”
“You owe me $45.97 plus tip for the bill!” Lincoln barked.
“Sorry for the trouble, man.” Miller tossed some twenties on the table before he tucked me into his side. “Hattie may be crazy.” He gave my lips a peck for his grand finale. “But she’s my crazy.”
Chapter Eighteen
“There are red flags all over this guy’s profile.” Miller handed my phone back to me as we climbed the steps of my front porch. He’d insisted on following me home, and while that might’ve been quite gentlemanly, it only gave him an excuse to open my car door and launch into a lecture. “Look at McNamara’s eyes in this third photo.”
“So?” I swatted away a mosquito, not needing one more pest in my evening.
“His eyes are practically glowing like a man possessed.”
“That would’ve been a new characteristic to add to my loser pile.”
Taking my house keys from my hand, Miller unlocked the door. “Every photo of the guy is just him taking a party-of-one selfie.” He held open the door, letting me walk in first.
“What are you doing?” I asked as Miller followed me inside.
“It’s late,” he said. “I want to make sure you get in nice and safe.”
“There’s zero percent chance of danger out here.” I opened a window, despite the fact that my chugging air conditioner only had one setting—Alaskan winter. Still, I needed some fresh air. “Are you worried a cow might be hiding behind my curtains?”
“Speaking of creatures you can’t trust…” Miller made himself at home, lowering himself onto my gray couch. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
“Thanks.” I turned a half-circle, enjoying the view of Olivia’s decorating. “The landlord is a nutjob, but the rent can’t be beat.”
Leaning his head against the cushion, Miller closed his eyes and smiled. I did love to make Miller James smile. It was an unexpected thrill, a jolt of fun that I would examine later. But not tonight. Or possibly this millennium.
“I thought all his solo selfies could mean Lincoln had self-confidence.” My admission sounded naïve even to my own ears.
Eyes still closed, Miller rested his interlocked fingers against a stomach that probably put six-packs to shame. “It means he has no friends to take a real photo of him.”
“Dating apps are the worst. So many dudes taking pics of themselves in gym mirrors. And every guy says they either want a running partner or someone to hike with.” The whole thing felt helpless. “How can you know anyone is who they say they are?”
Miller opened one eye. “You read clients so well, how come you can’t see dating trainwrecks before they occur?”
“Because I can separate the two—personal and professional.” I thought of my bio-dad and how much he’d messed with my head my whole life. “When I’m working with a client, I’m hyperfocused on every detail. And what I miss, the horses and my specialist catch. I guess my personal life is a chance to dial back the intensity. Maybe I lose a little bit of objectivity in the process.”
