Chapter 28
The next morning, I woke early, excitement and nerves warring in my chest as today was the blind date photo shoot. I showered, dressed, and packed a bag with snacks and water, then drove out to the wildflower field just outside town. The sky was a brilliant blue, the air crisp and clean.
Hattie was already there, setting up her camera and props. She managed to get an old rusted blue 1960s ford and parked it on the outside of the field, so if you sat in it, it looked like you were surrounded by the entire field of wildflowers. She waved when she saw me, and her grin was so infectious.
“You ready for this?” Hattie called.
I laughed as I got closer to her. “As ready as I’ll ever be. So, who’s the lucky couple?”
Hattie just winked. “You’ll see.”
I helped set up, arranging the blanket on the tailgate of the truck, my curiosity growing with every passing minute. I finally heard the crunch of tires on the gravel road. I turned, heart skipping, as a familiar pickup truck pulled up.
Wes climbed out, looking as rugged and handsome as ever, his eyes shadowed beneath the brim of his tan Stetson cowboy hat. He paused when he saw me, surprise flickering across his face, but was immediately replaced with a scowl.
Hattie bounced over, clapping her hands. “Surprise! You two are our first blind date couple!”
I stared at her, shock and disbelief warring with something deeper—something that felt dangerously like hope. Wes looked just as stunned, his jaw tight, his eyes locked on mine. By the look on his face I could tell that he was just surprised as I was and then his facial expressions changed from shock to anger very quickly.
Hattie grinned, oblivious to the tension. “You two know each other and are both single so I thought it would be a perfect test run!
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. I glanced at Wes, searching his face for any sign of what he was thinking. He met her gaze, something unspoken passing between them.
Maybe this was Hattie’s idea of a joke, or maybe it was fate. Either way, I knew one thing for sure: today was going to be very interesting and it could either turn out to be a good day or end up being a really bad time for everyone.
My heart hammered as I watched Wes, the morning sun caught in his hair, and for a moment, I forgot that he hated me and regretted what happened between us.
“Hattie, you told me you needed help with the moving the truck prop. I didn’t sign up to be your guinea pig.” Wes said in a very dangerous tone.
“Well I knew you wouldn’t have come willingly if I told you what I had planned. So stop being a Debbie downer and lets get this blind date rolling!” Hattie said.
She was already bustling around taking photos of us. “Okay, you two! Now lets get over here, please!” she called, waving us forward with a flourish.
I glanced at Wes, searching his face for any sign of how he felt about being ambushed like this. His jaw was set, his eyes unreadable, but he gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod. I took a steady breath and stepped forward, determined not to let my nerves show.
She took a couple more photos of us and then walked up to us, “You two just need to relax and pretend you’re on a date. I’ll give you some prompts, but mostly I want you to just be yourselves.”
I forced another smile, feeling awkward as I sat down on the tailgate beside Wes. The wildflowers around the truck swayed in the breeze, and the scent of fresh grass filled the air. Hattie handed us each a beer . “Just have fun, okay? This is all about capturing the magic.”
She went back to snapping photos, giving us gentle directions. “Maisie, lean your head on Wes’s shoulder. Wes, look at Maisie like you’re seeing her for the first time.”
I hesitated, but Wes shifted closer, his arm brushing against me. I rested my head on his shoulder, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
“You okay?” Wes murmured, his voice low.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I felt the tension in his muscles, the way he held himself rigid, as if he was afraid to move.
Hattie’s camera clicked. “Perfect. Now, Maisie, look up at Wes. Wes, tuck her hair behind her ear.”
Wes reached forward, his fingers trembling just slightly as he tucked my hair behind my ear. His touch lingered, and for a moment, our eyes locked—something raw and unspoken passing between us.
I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “I cant believe Hattie did this to us.”
Wes shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. “Well she’s full of surprises.”
We both laughed, the sound easing some of the tension. Hattie grinned. “That’s it! Keep talking, keep laughing. Pretend I’m not even here.”
As the shoot went on, I found myself relaxing. The awkwardness faded and we started to talk about what was going on at the ranch and the bakery.
At one point, Hattie asked us to get down off the tailgate and hold hands while we walked through the flowers. Wes’s hand was warm and steady in mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity at the contact. I glanced up at him, searching his face for any sign of what he was feeling.
He caught my gaze, his eyes softening. “Maisie, about the other night—”
I shook my head, squeezing his hand. “Not now. Let’s just… be here. For today.”
He nodded, and for the rest of the shoot, we let ourselves get lost in the moment. We laughed, teased each other, and even managed a few genuine smiles for the camera. By the time Hattie called it a wrap, my cheeks ached from smiling, and my heart felt lighter than it had in weeks.
Hattie rushed over, clapping her hands. “You two were amazing! Seriously, the camera loves you. Thank you for being my guinea pigs.”
I grinned, feeling a rush of affection for her friend. “You’re lucky we love you, Hattie.”
Wes chuckled, tipping his hat. “Yeah, you owe us big time.”
Hattie hugged us both and suggested that we all go grab drinks to celebrate. Wes and I looked at each other, and then we both agreed.