Page 83 of Soldier Cowboy
“Like Uber,” Jennifer said.
“Sorry.” Colton gestured to Jennifer. “Lenny, this is my…my fiancée, Jennifer.”
Why is it harder to lie now?The lie had been perfectly harmless and useful but no longer. Now it felt like an invasion of privacy.
“Hello, Lenny.” Jennifer finger waved.
“Nice to meet ya, young lady. I’ve known Colt since he was a little whippersnapper around yay high.” He made a motion to his waist. “Later, I nicknamed him Colt 45 because he was rather handy with a gun.”
Jennifer laughed. “Everyone should call him that.”
“Excuse me. I see I’m needed. No one can figure out how to hook up that particular amp. Tell ya, they’d be lost without me.” He strode off with a wave.
“Well, Colt 45, tell me truly. Are you packing heat?”
“What doyouthink?”
“Of course you are.”
“And I wasn’t exactlyborna good shot. It took hours of practice with Sean, shooting empty cans off the fence line. Now, I can probably shoot the stink off a skunk at five hundred yards.”
She might not yet know they didn’t have anything to worry about with her stalker gone, but for him, carrying his weapon was a force of habit. He’d like very much for there to be a day when he didn’t need his gun.
Maybe someday that sense of peace would come.
He could only hope.
Jennifer was having a great night.She’d met all kinds of new people, including a quirky old guy named Lenny. In the crowd were some people she’d already met, like Tabitha the nurse, now dancing with the handsome Dr. Grant, the only one in town. Jennifer also met his midwife, Trixie, who seemed to be giving both of them the evil eye as they danced. So, there was a story there. Levi was a horse trainer Colton seemed to know quite well. He was very chatty and flirty with Jolette Marie, whom Jennifer had also met at the wedding. Then there was Beau Stephens, who had to be the biggest flirt in the bar. He was tall and recklessly handsome.
“Can I cut in?” Beau said. “I’ve danced with everyone but your fiancée. Don’t worry I won’t steal her.”
“She’s not a bag of money,” Colton said with irritation, but he relented.
Within two seconds, he was dancing with Jolette Marie.
“I’m Beau. We haven’t met. I own Stephens Construction and we’re building all the new cabins by Lupine Lake.”
“I’ve heard. Are you selling many of them?”
“Renting some, selling some. It all depends. They’re going up fast.” He spun her around.
Jennifer wondered if after she went back to LA she could come out here again and rent a cabin. Stay for a month or two and rekindle whatever she had with Colton.
Unless he moved on.
The thought made her stomach plunge and not because of all this spinning Beau was doing with her. Just the idea of leaving Colton was unbearable. She didn’t want to tell him that Mallory had good news about Dan because this meant she could, and probably should, go home. He’d probably want to have his home back, grateful to no longer have to be the cook for two people.
She didn’t believe he’d rekindle anything with Cherisse, but that didn’t mean he’d stay single for long. Not a man like Colton. Not even in this town. The few women would be knocking his door down the moment news spread his “fiancée” had left him. Tabitha was already sending him sultry looks and that’s when she believed him to be engaged. What would she do when she heard he was free? She’d have her chance at Sean 2.0 in her mind.
Stop it, Jennifer! Stop. Enjoy whatever time you have left with him.
Because she had to go home. Right? That was the deal, and nothing had changed other than the fact they happened to appreciate each other now. She liked him far more than sheshould.
Jackson gave an amazing performance. Apparently, this Nashville celebrity always tried his new songs out on his home turf. He had a huge fan base not only here but in Nashville. His appearance onMr. Cowboyhad renewed his popularity after he’d taken a long break from performing. “Texas Time” was an anthem song, similar to Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks. This latest song was sure to be a huge hit when it released. It was so catchy that Jennifer was still singing it by the end of the evening.
She and Colton were buckled up and he’d just started the truck when she remembered her takeout, having left it on their table. All that was left was the sweet potato fries, but they were delicious. Crunchy, with just the right amount of seasoning.
“I’ll get it,” Colton said. “Stay right here and I’ll be right back.”
