Then they were in front of her house, the pale strings of lights flickering in the salon window. She’d left her porch light on, and Main Street was surprisingly quiet for a Friday night. Hank got out of the truck and, like before, opened her door for her and escorted her to her front porch, his big hand on her back. She was acutely aware of that small touch, and for some reason, it felt wrong that the date was about to end when they’d just had a breakthrough.

She pulled her keys out and hesitated before she opened the door. “You want to come in and watch some Netflix?”

“Netflix?” he echoed.

Oh god, was he going to think she was asking him to Netflix and chill? That was code for hooking up. “It’s just to watch a movie, nothing else,” she blurted, and then felt her face go bright red because she’d practically shrieked that at him like a crazy woman. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good at this. I don’t want you to think—”

But Hank nodded slowly. “Me either.” He scratched at his hair, mussing it up, and let out a long sigh. “Here I thought calving season was hard, but it’s hardest being on a date with a pretty woman.”

Aw. He thought she was pretty? Becca felt herself melting at the compliment. “I’ve only ever dated one person, so I’m pretty rusty at this sort of thing.”

“The one that didn’t defend you. Right.”

“But I like you,” she blurted. “I think you’re real sweet.”

He scowled. “Sweet?”

For some reason, his grumpiness made her smile. “Sweet is good. Did you want to come in? It’s okay if you say no. I promise you won’t hurt my feelings.”

For a moment, Hank hesitated. He shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. “I don’t want you to think I have ideas or anything . . .”

Ideas? Oh gosh. “Don’t worry. You’re not getting laid.” She gestured at her skirt. “Remember? I’m wearing the ugliest panties ever.”

“I liked ’em.”

“They have squirrels on them.”

“I like squirrels.” And she could see a flash of his bright white teeth against that beard.

And gosh if that smile wasn’t doing things to her insides. She was all aflutter. He saw her embarrassing panties and liked them. He’d defended her like some rough-and-tumble knight in shining armor.

Had she thought this date wasn’t going well? It was going amazingly. So Becca just smiled at him and opened her door, then waited for him to join her inside.

CHAPTER TEN