Page 9 of Lost and Found Cowboy

There. That was sort of flirty but could also fit in the realm of friends, which is where she’d essentially just told him she wanted to stay.

But she also liked being in the circle of his arms and the way he looked at her. And that he offered her space—and friendship—when she told him that was what she needed.For now.

Quit analyzing everything, and just enjoy this feeling.

She let out a long breath and relaxed into him as he whirled her around the dance floor. She wasn’t ready for the song—or this fairy tale night—to end.

The band played the last chords then started right into another song, this one even slower and more romantic. Mack pulled her closer, swaying to the music instead of traveling around the floor. She laid her head on his broad shoulder, closing her eyes as she inhaled the woodsy citrus scent of him.

She’d just told him she needed a friend, but she didn’t have any other friends who made her heart race, and her palms sweat the way this man did.

A vibration hummed through her chest.

Mack peered down at her, a teasing grin on his face. “Is that your chest vibrating, or are you just happy to be with me?”

Dancing with him had a lot more than just her chest vibrating. She could feel the heat of him all the way to her bones and missed that warmth as she drew back. “It’s my phone,” she told him, pulling the device out from where she’d tucked it into the side of her bra.

Mack’s eyes widened as he dipped his head closer and peered down into her cleavage. “What else you got in there? I’m kind of hungry. Any chance there’s a snack?”

She was laughing with him, until she saw the name of the caller. Then panic filled her chest.

Why would Gertie be calling her this late at night unless something had happened to Izzy?

Chapter Five

Lorna tapped the answer button on her phone then plugged her opposite ear in order to better hear over the noise of the reception. “Hello. Gertie? Is everything okay?”

“Now I’m sure everything is going to be fine,” the older woman assured her as Lorna was already heading off the dance floor and out of the tent. “But Izzy started fussing a bit tonight and rubbing at her ear, and then she spiked a fever, so I’m brought her over to the emergency room to have someone take a quick look at her.”

“Good. You did the right thing,” Lorna told her, trying to calm her racing heart and not panic. “Have they seen her yet?”

“No, I just checked her in, but I wanted to call and tell you what was happening. I’m so sorry to ruin your fun night.”

“Don’t worry about that.” She’d known the night was just a fairy tale anyway. “I’ll meet you at the hospital as soon as I can.”

“What’s going on? Is Izzy okay?” Mack’s voice came from right behind her.

She jumped, not realizing he’d followed her outside. “I hope so. She spiked a fever, so the woman watching her took her to the hospital.”

“How can I help? What do you need?”

“I need to get Max then find someone here who’s sober and can drive me to the hospital.” She wasn’t drunk, but she’d had several seltzers and wouldn’t chance getting in the car to drive.

Leni and Chevy had arranged a couple of shuttles to take people back to town after the reception. Maybe she could find one of the drivers and get him to drop her at the emergency room.

“I can do it,” he said. “I only had a few sips of champagne earlier during the toasts.”

“Are you sure?” She hadn’t been with him the whole time, but now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen him holding a beer at all that night.

“Yes, absolutely. I’m a hundred percent sober,” he said, already shepherding her back inside to the table where Max was playing a card game with Duke and Maisie’s grandmother, Ruby Foster.

Lorna quickly explained the situation to Duke and Ruby, who said they’d be glad to keep Max with them and that they’d put him to bed in the ranch house if it got too late.

She turned to leave, but her shoe hit a puddle of some kind of spilled liquid, and her foot went sliding out from under her. Her arms pinwheeled before she lost her balance and hit the floor. Her dress, with its flouncy skirt, flew up as her legs splayed out.

Mack knelt next to her and flipped her dress back down, but not before she’d flashed him, and the rest of the wedding guests around them, a nice shot of her high-waisted, nude-colored spanx.So sexy.

Maisie came hurrying toward her as Mack helped her back up. “Oh my gosh, are you okay?”

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