Page 4 of All in with the Maverick Montana

He flashed her a smile. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” This was usually about the time she’d say something about the rodeo, and his eyes would get wide as realization struck. A Hawkins Sister! Of course! But Amy bit back the rest of her explanation. It was refreshing having someone be interested in her without the name attached. Without knowing who she really was.

“So you came down to visit from… Where? Bronco?”

“How’d you know?” she asked.

He flicked his head in her direction. “Just a guess. But you look like a city girl.”

Amy glanced down at her attire. Sure, maybe her jeans were a little more expensive than what they wore around here, and her button-down was high-end, but she blended. Right? “What about you? Ever been to Bronco?”

He nodded. “A few times, especially when I was younger. But with the ranch I don’t have a lot of time for traveling.”

That was understandable. Amy suspected he also didn’t have time for a lot of things, like TV and radio and following what Tru McCoy was getting up to. He seemed like the type of guy who could really care less about Hollywood gossip. Where Tru had to be the center of attention in every room, Josh struck her as a little gruff, a little quiet. And with his dusty boots, there was certainly nothing flashy about him. He really didn’t seem to have any interest in charming anyone, certainly not her, and maybe that’s exactly why Amy was so charmed by him.

Faith had been telling her for weeks to get out of the house and meet people. Amy had brushed her off more times than she could count, but right at this very moment a part of her strongly considered asking Josh out for coffee. It had been a long six weeks since everything had ended with Tru, and Josh seemed like he might be interested in her enough to say yes. If she could manage to pry him away from his cattle.

But as she watched him load the last few bags of feed onto his cart, she reconsidered. She no longer felt like she could trust her own judgment after the Tru situation. Maybe Josh was just being friendly. Tenacity was small; people took a genuine interest because they cared, not because they were trying to flirt. Maybe she’d read far too much into a handsome smile.

“Ready?” she said as Josh finished up. “I can ring you up at the cash desk.”

Josh nodded. “I think that’s everything.”

They walked to the front of the store together. Amy stood behind the register and totaled Josh’s order.

Josh paid, his eyes lifting to meet hers briefly. Amy tore the receipt free and handed it to him. She might be mistaken, but for a second he seemed to linger, like he wanted to ask her something. Then he just smiled and said, “Good to meet you, Amy. I appreciate all your help today.”

“Of course. I was happy to. If you don’t mind telling Faith that the next time you see her,” she teased. “I’m gunning for employee of the month.”

“Well, I don’t know how you could possibly have competition.”

“That’s what I keep saying.”

They chuckled and Josh ducked his head, that dimple in his cheek deepening as he pushed his cart across the store. Amy watched him until he disappeared out the door.

“You know,” Faith said, coming up behind her. She leaned her chin on Amy’s shoulder. “I think that’s the most words I’ve ever heard him say in all the time he’s been coming in here.”

Amy glanced at her. Faith wore that shrewd look she got when she was sussing something out.

“I’m serious. The best Caleb and I usually get is a polite grunt of acknowledgment. If Iris is around, sometimes she’ll inquire after his parents and he’ll give her a nod and a shrug.” Iris was Caleb’s mother. “Personally, I didn’t even know the man was capable of that much conversation.”

“Oh, come on,” Amy said.

“I think he liked you. Who knows why?”

Amy scoffed. “Rude.”

“You should have asked him for coffee.”

“I was just being nice. He was just being nice.”

“You asked if he had horses. You were getting down to the things that matter.”

Amy laughed. She did have a soft spot for a man who loved to ride as much as she did. “I was trying to get you a sale. Now Caleb’s gonna have no choice but to put my picture on the wall.”

“We’re probably not gonna see Josh back here for a month. You have four weeks to work up the courage to ask him out.”

“Why are you so obsessed with me getting out to meet people?”