Page 3 of My Cowboy Kiss
While the guy stammers out that he wasn’t looking and wasn’t hitting on Claudia, we leave the store.
“Men like that think brains are an optional accessory,” she says.
“I agree.”
River’s mom, Frances, whips her car into a spot in front of us and we suddenly have to stop.
Her gray hair is in curlers and she’s wearing what she refers to as her don’t-dare-go-out clothes. Ratty jeans and a thin flannel shirt.
She hurries over and wraps her arms around me in a big hug.
“I heard the commotion, honey, and put on my ass-kicking boots and drove like hell to get here. Point me in the right direction and I’ll take care of this.”
I adore River’s mom. She and her husband Gavin adopted him and the rest of the boys and saved them from a hellish situation.
Claudia lowers her voice. “Good thinking, Frances. I’ve got a shovel.”
“We’ll need at least two,” Frances says. “Dammit, I forgot my gloves and those are a must have. There’s that new DNA technology now that can identify a bump on a flea’s ass so we’ll have to buy some.”
I laugh at their comments. “I’m okay, really.”
“Oh, Sugar. Let me give you a lift back to work.” Frances gestures to her car.
I wave away her offer. “It’s not far.” I head back toward Red Stilettos.
“Supper’s always on the table for you,” Frances calls out after me.
“And the shovel’s always in the garage,” Claudia adds.
I wave to them, and continue walking making sure to keep my head down.
My colleagues are quiet as I enter, but I see the questions in their eyes.
Whatever.I don’t have time for this. Even though I finished the project, there’s always something else for me to handle. I’ll just stay busy and keep my mind occupied.
I check my inbox as I nibble on my convenience store snack and see a message from Allison. When I open it, there are a few lines thanking me for everything I’ve done for the company. The last line only has two words:You’re fired.
No…I need this job not only to pay my bills but also to keep secretly paying for what my estranged uncle did to River’s family. He’s their former ranch manager and because he stole from them and forged a loan on the place, they almost lost the ranch.
I leap from my chair and race down the hallway to Allison’s office where I barge in without knocking.
She leans back in her desk, her bright red lipstick a hard slash when she pulls her lips into an unsmiling line.
“It’s all lies! I’m not after your boyfriend.”
Allison calmly regards me and raises one eyebrow. “I don’t believe you. Do you think I haven’t noticed how he’s approached you lately every time he stops by?”
I can’t tell her that’s about the proposal. Not unless I want to blow her big moment.
“I have my own boyfriend,” I lie. Through the big window by her desk, I see River on the other side of the street in tight jeans and his favorite brown cowboy hat. He doesn’t know it yet but he’s my job saver.
Allison crosses her arms. “Uh huh.”
“Seriously. He’s right there.” I point then run outside sprinting to my best friend, hoping he’ll understand the wild thing I’m about to do.
In the middle of the street, I fling myself into his arms and our bodies collide. It’s like slamming against a brick wall. He takes a quick step back from the force of my run, his arms automatically closing around me even as his eyes widen in surprise.
“I dropped everything when I heard and drov?—”
