Page 6 of PenPal Hero

Because they hadn’t known each other for long, he deposited them just beyond the threshold but remained standing in the hallway.

She watched him curiously as he took out his cell phone and leaned against the door jamb. “Are you hoping for a tip?” Her voice was teasing. “If you are, you’re going to be just as disappointed as my brother was.”

“Nope.” He eagerly scanned the message she’d sent him during their drive to the B&B.

Is that your game, Mr. Not Easily Scared Away? To twist my arm until you wear me down?

—Lots and Lots of Trouble

He sent back the one word he’d been hoping to read from her. Yes. He followed it up with a short question. Is it working?

“This is a first.” Bonnie chuckled nervously as she lifted her cell phone to read what he’d written. “I’ve never pen pal-ed around in person with anyone before.”

“There’s no rule against it.” He grinned challengingly at her. “A pen pal is just someone you exchange messages with.”

“Usually people from two different countries or states,” she waved a hand uncertainly at him, “who’ve never met in person.”

“Which fortunately doesn’t apply to us.” He honestly couldn’t bear the thought of never having met the lovely woman standing in front of him. Though she prided herself on having a professional job away from the ranch her brothers helped run — five hardworking cowboys he wasn’t convinced she detested half as much as she pretended to — she was one hundred percent country gal.

The spaghetti straps of her pink sundress rested against a set of smooth, sun-kissed shoulders, drawing his gaze like a magnet. He longed to give one of the dark, glossy braids resting against them a playful tug. The rest of her was equally mouthwatering. Her skirt fell to just above her tanned knees, showcasing a pair of caramel-colored cowgirl boots that looked new.

Instead of sending him another email, Bonnie answered his newest question in a voice that held the perfect balance of sweet and sassy. “Keep twisting my arm, cowboy, and we’ll see what happens.”

His heart thumped harder. Again, she hadn’t given him a flat-out no. He could live with that for now, while continuing to do everything in his power to turn her answer into a yes.

His phone buzzed with an incoming message that couldn’t be from her, since she wasn’t typing. Glancing at his phone screen, he frowned at what he read. For one thing, it was from a number he didn’t recognize.

This is Foster Kane from K&G Security. We need to talk.

Holt had heard the guy’s name around town, but he hadn’t personally made his acquaintance. He knew who he was, though. And for the life of him, he couldn’t think of one blessed reason why the owner of a private security firm would need to talk to him.

Blowing out a breath, he glanced at Bonnie and found her watching him curiously. “Gotta run.” He waved his cell phone at her.

“Bad news?” She looked concerned.

“Honestly? I have no idea.” He shook his head. “A guy by the name of Foster Kane wants to speak with me. That’s all I can tell you.”

“He’s a good guy,” she said quickly.

He raised his eyebrows at her. “You know him?”

“My oldest brother is friends with him. You should give him a call,” she urged.

“I will.” He took a step back and glanced up and down the hallway. “Just not here.”

“Now that I’m your pen pal, feel free to let me know what he says.” She cocked her head at him.

He allowed himself one more longing glance at her lips. “Nosy are we? Or just worried about missing out on a little excitement while you’re buried in boring real estate meetings all week?”

Her eyes widened in mock indignation. “What kind of pen pal wouldn’t be worried about a cryptic message from a security firm?”

“That’s easy.” He snorted. “A beautiful cowgirl who’s not overly thrilled about attending a week-long work-related retreat with her employer.”

She made a face at him. “I am kind of stuck here. A little sympathy, please?”

He reached out to tap the tip of her nose. “Fine. I’ll let you know what Foster says.”

She broke into a merry two-step. “Best pen pal ever,” she chortled.

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