Page 23 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
I blame the painkillers because I’m slightly charmed by your handsome face and cocky attitude.
Whatarewe doing to make this a memorable summer? Does it involve dancing? Naked dancing? Because being in your arms was not a hardship.
(Maybe blame that last bit on the painkillers as well, k?)
~Note from Karen to Finn, summer at Whiskey Creek ranch~
She didn’t know what had come over her. She was still not sure she wanted to dive into the deep end with Finn, but the temptation was strong.
Repeating his words from so long ago—ones she knew he remembered because they’d become a part of their mantra that summer—was her mouth making promises she wasn’t sure she wanted to keep.
Thankfully, the distraction factor kicked into high gear.
Distraction otherwise known as Zach Sorenson.
He hauled her off the deck and into the living room and proceeded to nail down a job description. Then he offered up a compensation package that made her blink and started a to-do list that would keep her busy for the next three weeks.
In spite of the excitement all the work-related details caused, it was Finn’s expression that returned to her mind over and over again.
A flash of remembrance, a whole lot of hopefulness, and then that sexy smolder had arrived. The one she couldn’t get enough of.
Somehow she left without doing anything foolish like throwing herself at him. She had a temporary contract in her pocket and a whole lot of questions bubbling in her brain as to the best way to get started.
Karen was already walking in the door of her cottage before she realized she hadn’t solved her transportation issue.
An answer arrived a moment later in the form of a phone call.
“Hey. I was leaving Silver Stone when I noticed your truck is still here. Want me to swing by and grab you so you can get it home?” Julia paused then added, “I’m also free for dinner if you’d like some company.”
Exactly what Karen needed. A little ongoing distraction so she didn’t up and race back to the ranch house to tell Finn she wanted to sign on for the rest of his offer.
“Perfect, on both counts. Come get me, then we can take both vehicles out. I’ll splurge for a steak if you want to go to Longhorn’s.”
“Deal.”
Twenty minutes later Julia’s out-of-place-looking neon-blue Lotus pulled up in front of the cottage. Karen grabbed a jacket and her purse then wedged herself into the tiny vehicle.
“Is there an expansion button if somebody over six feet wants to get in?” she teased.
“You have fun last time you parallel parked on Main Street?” Julia returned dryly.
Karen laughed. “Point taken. It means I get my exercise, parking a street over then walking to where I’m going. Thank goodness Longhorn’s parking lot is the size of a football field.”
“I haven’t been yet,” Julia confessed. “We can go Dutch, because I intend to get the biggest steak possible and all the sides. Despite how hard I work as an EMT, chasing after the horses gave me an appetite like I haven’t had since thelasttime I went chasing horses.”
“It was good to have you join us,” Karen admitted. She eyed her new sister who had only been found for all of two months. They’d been slowly getting to know each other better, but there were a lot of years to catch up. “And to make it clear, Iambuying. You go ahead and get anything you want, but this is a celebration. I have a new job.”
“You took it. It sounded as if you wanted to,” Julia said. She glanced sideways briefly. “Did you make a decision on the other matter? Because I meant it. If you need backup, I’m there for you. Nothing worse than a guy who won’t accept no.”
A comment which brought up a whole lot more questions Karen wanted answers to.
She answered quickly, not wanting Julia to get the wrong idea. “Finn is a good guy, and I mean that. And yes, he’s kind of possessive and athis is the way I want thingstype guy at times, but he’s not an asshole. If I tell him I’m not interested, he’ll drop it.”
“Some guys interpretnoas one step away frommaybewhich to them is practicallyyes.” Julia nodded firmly. “Your call. If anything changes, you give me a shout. Anytime, day or night.”
“I will,” Karen promised.
They talked about the wild horses until Julia pulled in next to Karen’s truck.
