Page 3 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

“That you’d have to discuss with her when she calls tomorrow.”

He sat back, and she could breathe again.

“Fair enough but you can tell her that even though my business is new to the area, we are an event company with a strong reputation, and we are not interested in prepaying for services. But if we can work out a reasonable deposit, I have a client who needs flowers for the rehearsal dinner, the church, the wedding party, and of course, the reception. I would not expect my client to have to prepay the total.” And it would give her a chance to check out the work of Flowers by June before handing over the gala order.

He cocked his head. His blue eyes sparkled, and the lines around his eyes crinkled. Her mind went blank.

“I don’t think she would ask you to do that.”

“What?” She flipped her blond hair over her shoulder.

He grinned. “Ask you to pay ahead.”

Right.

“Some vendors have gotten burned when a couple has a change of heart.” She closed the notebook. “So I understand the concern.”

He crossed his arms over his chest, and his muscles bulged under the T-shirt. He definitely was a big guy. All male. But talking flowers. With her.

“A change of heart? I can’t imagine that happening once two people decide to get married. If they love each other, then there shouldn’t be a problem.”

A romantic too? Yet he sat there, a big, brawny cowboy who looked like he’d be more at home in a bar talking cattle than in an office talking flowers. And wasn’t she stereotyping. She mentally shook her head.

“Reality is a lot less romantic, Mr. Russell.” As she well knew.

“Rusty, please.”

She nodded toward the portfolio on her lap. “May I keep this to show my event designer?”

He nodded but made no motion to leave.

“Is there something else?” He was way too distracting.

He looked around, as if expecting to find something else. “Just wondering if you wanted to go for coffee? Since you’re new here, I could fill you in on the area. I know a lot of people.”

Tempting. She’d love to find out more about him. But as the saying went, curiosity killed the cat. Plus, she had a ton of things to take care of, as her to-do list could testify, including meeting with her new client’s venue manager and caterer and meeting with the event liaison for the gala. No way could she afford to screw up either opportunity. And she was prepared to devote every waking minute to assure her success. She couldn’t fail. For her own sake. For Ariel’s.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m rather pressed for time at the moment.”And you are way too tempting for someone who has sworn off men.

“Maybe there’s a moment when you won’t be.”

He looked so confident she would agree. She admired that confidence, but sometimes confidence was misplaced. “I doubt it.” He would definitely be distracting. Not to mention that it was a little presumptuous of him. How did he know she wasn’t in a relationship or married? Though unfortunately, neither was the case. And not likely to be anytime soon.

He rose and placed his hat on his head, and she was reminded of just how much he filled a room. He looked all western. All man. “Well, I hope you’ll consider Flowers by June, and maybe I’ll see you around again.”

She placed the notebook on her desk, followed him to the doorway, and opened the door to the waiting room. “So you’re actually part of the floral business?” He certainly was a study in contradictions.

“Just for the summer. I’ve applied to be a police officer in town. Waiting to be notified that I got a slot for the training academy.”

Well, police officer fit more with his image and what she guessed was his age—near to hers, she reckoned. Of course, there she was, stereotyping again.

“Good luck. Tell June I hope everything works out with the family emergency and I’ll be calling her tomorrow.”

He lifted his hat just as Ariel stepped through the outer doorway into the waiting room. “Have a great day, Kristy.”

“You too, Rusty.” She couldn’t help returning his smile, a smile she was sure had charmed many women.

He turned his smile on Ariel. “Howdy, ma’am.”

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