never known he had this—this intuitiveness hidden inside the sexy-cowboy shtick he showed to the outside world?
She’d been at Whisper Creek enough times that she’d thought she knew him—or at least his type—well enough. She’d always pegged him as the charming, ridiculously hot cowboy who loved horses and women equally. Definitely not some sort of armchair psychologist with the ability to read said women so accurately.
If Cole’s brains were a match for his open, friendly personality and his ridiculously good looks, the female population was in serious trouble.
Or maybe just she was.
She took a cleansing breath, trying to chase those thoughts out of her brain. “Did you do some psychology training in college?”
“No.” For a brief moment, she thought she saw his ever present smile falter, but then he laughed quietly. “I just know people. And I know horses. And I know people with horses.” He shrugged. “So I can tell.”
Cole took off Goldie’s bridle and looped it over his arm. “So how’s the wedding hoopla going this morning? Hayley ready to elope yet?”
“Is Daniel hoping so?”
“Yep.” Cole laughed. “It’s a guy thing.”
“Well, I have news for Daniel. Hayley, who was never, ever going to walk down an aisle, will be doing so on Saturday. She’s got the flowers, the dress, the music—at least I hope she has those things—and she is bound and determined to have the best wedding Whisper Creek has ever seen.”
“It’ll be tough to beat Decker and Kyla’s last year.”
Jess thought back to the outdoor wedding that had brought the entire guest list to tears. “It might come down to the vows. Has the groom written his yet? Decker’s were kind of a game-ender, after all.”
“That’s Decker for you—always setting the bar high for the rest of us peons.” Cole shook his head, smiling. “I’m sure Danny’s up for the challenge, though. No worries.”
He grabbed a brush from the fence post, carefully avoiding her eyes as he started running the brush over Goldie’s coat. “And completely unrelated to that, has Hayley written her vows yet?”
Jess laughed. “Were you told to ask?”
“Nope.” He stopped brushing, looking over at her with that grin that had probably gotten him out of countless trouble spots in the past. “All right, yes. But you beat it out of me. Daniel’s itching to know what she’s going to say.”
“Sorry. My lips are sealed.” Jess shrugged. “And plus, I have no idea.”
“Not helpful, cowgirl.”
“So,”—Jess moved some dirt around with the toe of her boot—“I heard you’re dateless for the wedding of the year. How is that possible?”
“Mysteries of the universe and all that.”
“No secret girlfriend or anything?”
The words please say no circled in her head like a marquee on high speed.
“Actually, I just haven’t decided who to ask yet.”
Oh. Ouch. He had so many women to choose from that he couldn’t even decide?
“The wedding’s in four days, Cole. You might want to give the poor gal some notice.”
He shrugged. “Eh. All she has to do is put on a dress and some shoes. How much notice does a woman need, anyway?”
“Oh my word.” Jess laughed. “Tell me you’re not serious.”
“Totally serious. Why?”
She dropped her chin and hiked her eyebrows upward. “Less than two weeks’ notice is criminal.”
“Why?”
“Seriously?” He nodded, challenge in his eyes. “Well, for one—and maybe this seems unbelievable to you, what with your incredible charm, wit, and dashing cowboy looks—the woman might actually have plans.”
“She can totally change ’em. It’s a wedding. It’ll trump—plans.”
He was definitely toying with her, but fine. She’d play. “You know, women don’t just have the perfect dress in their closets. Wedding attendance requires shopping, and shopping requires time.”
“Ah. I see. Had no idea it was this complicated.” He popped his head up above Goldie’s back. “So I should probably save everyone the trouble and just go alone? Is that what you’re saying?”
No. Yes. No.
“Maybe. Weddings really aren’t a casual date thing, you know.” She paused. “You do know that, right?”
“Um, yes? Is that the correct answer?” Cole raised his eyebrows.
Jess squared her shoulders. “Asking someone to a wedding falls into that—you know—Big Date category. Capital B, capital D. It’s a family event, a love fest thing, the kind of place where bringing someone sends a message that you’re serious.”
He nodded his head, looking thoughtful, but she suspected he was biting his tongue or his cheek. Maybe both.
She continued. “So if it’s this close to the wedding and you haven’t even decided who you might ask, I’m thinking you’re not serious enough about anyone to ask her.”
“Because