Faithful: Age Gap Small Town Romance (Whiskey Run Book 1) by Hope Ford (best books to read for knowledge TXT) 📗

I wouldn’t want you to.” He looks almost possessive, as if the thought of me going out with someone else bothers him. I don’t have time to dwell on it before he continues. “So what do you want to know about me? I own the Yates ranch, it’s out on the edge of town right before you get to Jasper. It’s been in my family for fifty years. I have a camp in the summer to help inner city teens. I donate to the children’s wing of the hospital in Jasper. I’m kind to animals.” His smile deepens as he stares into my eyes. “And I just found out today that I’m a sucker for a woman with long black hair, brown eyes, and a pretty smile.”

My mouth falls open. It’s on the very tip of my tongue to say yes. Gosh, whatever he wants I would give in this moment. He’s definitely charming. But something stops me. “So what are you doing in Whiskey Run today?”

“I’m here to meet with your dad, Rusty. I actually am late for our appointment, but I had to stop and see you first.”

As soon as he says my dad’s name, I freeze. The smile stiffens on my face, my arms lock on my chest, and I’m pretty sure a corner of my heart just froze over too. “Wait, you have an appointment with my dad? That’s why you’re here?”

This time I do get up. I put my chair in front of me trying to put even more distance between us and squeeze the back of it. Of course I’m not going out with him. He’s just another man—another Mike—that thinks dating me is going to get him something from my dad. I should have known that the handsome man that shows up out of the blue wouldn’t be interested in me. That doesn’t happen in my world.

He stands up too and holds his hands out. “I’m here to see you, but yes, I have a meeting with your dad also.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, I’m sorry, I don’t date men that are doing business with my dad.”

He brings his hands together in front of him and nods. “Fine, I won’t do business with your dad.”

I gasp. Surely, he’s joking. I mean, I just met the man, but surely he’s just saying that. I walk to the office door quickly and out of it. Austin follows me. It was either that or he was going to be left alone in my office. I walk quickly to the back of the store where my dad’s office is. I don’t even have to turn to know that Austin is on my heels. It’s like I can feel his gaze on my ass the whole way. I stop before I get to the door, not wanting my dad to overhear. “Look, I won’t be the reason my dad loses a client. But I’m also not going to go out with you. I just went through a breakup, and I’m not ready to start dating. So... my dad’s been waiting for you. I think he plans on getting home soon, so you can see yourself in.” I point to the door and walk away. Without stopping, I look over my shoulder. “Thanks again for the cake.”

I stride back to my office, hoping that Austin goes through with the meeting. Yeah, I definitely would have liked to get to know him better, but not now. And I have a perfect reminder of why not as Mike follows me back to my office. “What is Austin Yates doing here? Did you not tell him I’m the manager of the store and he should be talking to me?”

I stop and block him from entering my office. “He has a meeting with my dad, the owner of the store. Now don’t you have something to do?” I tell him right before I slam the door in his face.

I take a seat at my desk and stare at the container of cake. Opening a drawer, I shove it in there and then put my head in my hands. Geez, is this day almost over or what?

Austin

Well, that didn’t go as planned. I’m not used to being turned down. I’m not being arrogant about it, but normally I have women asking me out instead of me asking them, so the fact that Millie flat-out told me no is a little surprising.

And honestly, I thought she was interested. At least until I mentioned her dad. There’s obviously something going on there. I watch as she walks back to her office just as that manager Mike walks beside her. I don’t like him, and I definitely don’t like how he walks so close to Millie.

I take a deep breath. I’m already late for my meeting, and I know that’s not making a very good impression. The fact that I want the man to like me surprises me a little. I normally don’t care about shit or niceties like that. People can take me or leave me. But I know why I care. I’m going to need him on my side I think if I want to get close to his daughter.

I walk to the closed door and knock. A mere second goes by, and I hear him say, “Come in.”

He’s sitting in a chair with an almost empty plate of food in front of him. “Hello, Mr. Ogle. I’m Austin Yates. I’m sorry I’m late.”

He waves me off. “No worries. I just finished my lunch. Have a seat. You can call me Rusty. I’m curious why you wanted to set up this meeting today.”

I take a seat and look at the big man behind the desk. The only similarities between him and his daughter is the color of his hair and shape of