Page 13 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

Ariel waved a hand. “We make a good team becauseyou, dear cousin, have a great business and marketing sense that I definitely don’t have. And you’re organized, which I am not. Now that we have gone all mutual-admiration society, let’s find us a place to live. That hotel room in Casper last night was the pits, and we definitely can’t keep commuting from Cheyenne.”

“That’s why we’re here. Gillette is between Casper and Sheridan, our two other areas. And if we can break into planning some more events at the convention center complex, Gillette could become our bread-and-butter location.”

“Hopefully, they have more men like Rusty in the area.”

“Well, my life plan blew up, so it’s business first for me.”

“I never had a life plan, so I’m open to anything and anyone.”

Kristy turned the car into the VA parking lot. There, standing outside of his black SUV, arms crossed over a muscular chest, stood a tall cowboy wearing the characteristic white hat and black boots. She took him in, all six-feet-plus inches of him. Through the car window, her gaze roved over his powerfully built body, his wide chest, the bulging biceps under his T-shirt, his trim waist and stalwart thighs. He looked up and stared right at her, and her pulse kicked up.

It was just the excitement of finding an apartment, was all.Sure it was.

“Man, he is a good-looking guy. If he was at all interested in me, I’d be on him like a june bug on a grille.”

Might he be interested in Ariel? That was an unsettling thought… and it shouldn’t have been.

***

Rusty shoved his hands in the pocket of his worn denim jeans as they stood outside a three-story apartment unit on the mild sunny day. The breeze played with the blond strands of Kristy’s hair as she scrolled through her phone, looking at the contract the apartment management had just emailed her.

She was standing before him dressed in jeans and a stretchy T-shirt that hugged her curves and revealed a body he’d love to hold in his arms. She frowned, drawing her elegant brows together and pursing her full lips. Lips he was ready to taste. His world was tilting like a rodeo trick rider attempting a full Stroud Layout. She’d been clear that she was calling on him as a friend, that she was too consumed with making the business work to get involved with some guy. Nothing personal, she’d said, but clearly that was all he was to her—some guy. Likely the only guy she knew in town.

He was set on changing that perception. They were more aligned in their desires than she realized. He just had to convince her it was a no-strings-attached relationship. Before some other guy did.

Ariel went behind Kristy and stood on tiptoes, looking over Kristy’s shoulder at the phone screen. Ariel, dressed in baggy pants and a flowy blue top, hadn’t voiced any objection, apparently letting Kristy decide on the place the two women would live.

He looked around the neat and tidy complex with well-tended lawns, asphalt roadways, and concrete sidewalks. “North Fork is one of the nicer complexes around here. You couldn’t do better.”

Or pay more. But it appeared Kristy was used to the finer things in life, based on her checklist of must-haves. The list included a pool, gym, pets (though she said she didn’t have one), in-unit laundry, patio or balcony (he’d steered her to an upper floor with a balcony because it was safer), covered parking, and Wi-Fi. The complex had it all, but for at least a hundred dollars a month more than less amenity-filled developments.

“Do you know anything about leases?” She looked up from the phone screen, and the sunlight amplified the blue of her eyes.

“Can’t say I do. Isn’t your dad a lawyer?” He’d done some checking on state senator Sam Winslow.

He watched as she bit her lip, bringing out a red hue.

“Looks straightforward enough.”

No help from the father, he guessed.

“When are you planning to move in? I might be able to help.” It was the only thing he could think of to assure he saw her again. And yeah, he was desperate.

“Next week, if I can get everything turned on in time.” Her smile lit up the already sunny day. “And that’s so nice of you to offer.”

“Really nice.” Ariel nudged her elbow into Kristy’s side.

“If you give me a few days’ notice, I can see if I can get another pair or two of muscles to help out.” He’d helped a lot of his friends move. Time they returned the favor.

“Will your sister be able to spare you?”

Was she looking for a reason to say no? Because being a delivery guy for his sister’s floral shop was not exactly how he’d like Kristy to think of him. “I help her when I can while I wait for the training to begin.”

“You got accepted?” She seemed surprised.

Made him wonder if she thought he had a future beyond delivering flowers. “I’m close. Passed all my tests, including polygraph and psychological. Guess I fooled them.” He winked.

She blushed, her rosy cheeks reminding him of ripe peaches.

---