For Him, I Would

Chapter Nineteen - Don't slip backwards.

"You should be good to go until this time next year," Oakley said to Tim Crosby, handing over her report she had just completed.

It was Wednesday afternoon and Oakley had spent the morning and lunchtime doing inspections at the Circle Q ranch and now at the Crosby's. The clouds in the sky made it colder, the wind not helping as Oakley shivered in her spot by her truck. Tim Crosby was glancing at her report, but she knew he'd appreciate her attention to details about how he lost about twenty acres to developers south of his property and how she put it was a bad business deal on their end and not because Tim Crosby drank himself away each night.

"Thanks, Oakley," Tim smiled back at her. "I appreciate all this. You're so much better than the last girl."

"Take care of yourself, Mr. Crosby," Oakley nodded, choosing not to remind Tim that it was a man who held her position before her. Oakley got back into her truck and started the heater, removing her gloves and holding her hands up to the vents with a sigh.

It was close to two and she hadn't had lunch yet. Her mind drifted to Kayce, and she wondered if maybe he also was in need of something to eat. His office in town wasn't too far away and maybe they could still grab something. Reaching for her phone she found Kayce's name and pressed the screen.

"Hey," His voice came through her speakers as Oakley put her truck in drive.

"Hey," She smiled. "How's your day going?"

"It's fine," Kayce answered. "Did you finish at Tim's place?"

"Just did," Oakley nodded, driving back into the highway. "I know it's late, but have you had some lunch?"

"Yeah, I did," Kayce answered, and Oakley's shoulders dipped. "But I could meet you somewhere?"

Oakley smiled, "Do you want to meet at Rusty's? I can be there in about fifteen minutes."

"I can be there," Kayce said. "See you then."

"Okay...bye," Oakley hung up. A few minutes later and she was pulling into a spot next to Kayce's truck. He was standing in front of her spot, smiling at her as Oakley got out of her vehicle.

"Hi," Kayce wrapped an arm around Oakley as she hugged his waist, her nose pressed into his neck.

"Hi," Oakley smiled up at him as they made their way inside and to a booth in the corner. Oakley ordered a club sandwich and ice tea while Kayce grabbed a coffee. Oakley gave him a weird look after he ordered it.

"Been a long morning," Kayce shrugged.

"What happened?" Oakley asked.

"S'nothing," Kayce shook his head. "How was old man Crosby?"

"Kayce..." Oakley frowned. "What happened?"

"Just people being stupid," Kayce smirked. "It's nothing, really." Oakley gave him another look that said she didn't believe him. "I promise."

"Tim was fine," Oakley finally answered. "He was able to at least stand up while I gave him my report."

"He means well," Kayce shrugged.

"When he's sober enough to know his own name," Oakley rolled her eyes as the waiter brought her lunch and their drinks to the table. "Thank you."

"Monica called me this morning," Kayce said as Oakley took a bite of her sandwich. Oakley looked over at him, gaging what he was going to say. "Said Tate's been wanting to see us."

"Us?" Oakley asked.

"Us," Kayce nodded. "She'll drop him off Friday."

"Do you get him every weekend?" Oakley asked, realizing she never asked about the schedule before and felt bad about it and also wanting to get the conversation off of just Monica.