Patricia Thayer - Little Cowgirl Needs a Mum / Once Upon a Proposal

Evan turned his head and found Jenny standing at the entrance. He didn’t need her here. He didn’t need his heart racing, or his gut tightening into knots at the sight of her, either. Yet lately that seemed to be a common occurrence whenever she was around.

That meant big trouble for him.

Jenny had called herself crazy as she changed out of her comfortable sweats and into a pair of jeans and a cotton T-shirt. Then again when she slipped on a pair of heeled sandals and hurried down the steps of her apartment and out the back of the shop.

She told herself she was wanting a barbecue sandwich and some fries. That was her story and she was sticking to it. Spotting the Rafferty ranch truck from her window had nothing to do with it.

Telling herself she needed to stay away from Evan hadn’t slowed her progress as she crossed the nearly deserted street toward the neon sign of Rory’s Bar and Grill. She took a breath, and walked into the dimly lit room.

A wooden L-shaped bar ran nearly the length of the space. Against the side walls were a half dozen high-backed booths, mostly empty tonight. It was a nice place with a warm atmosphere.

“Hi,” she said, too breathless. Evan looked good, freshly shaved and wearing a starched Western shirt and nice jeans.

He nodded. “Jenny.”

She glanced away. “Hello, Sean,” she called as the older man came around the bar to greet her with a hug.

“Hi, lass. You look mighty pretty tonight.”

She couldn’t even remember if she’d put on any makeup. “Thank you.”

“So you finally decided to check the place out?”

“My own cooking brought me here. I hear you serve a great barbecue sandwich.”

Sean winked at her. “It’s the best. What else can I get you?”

“Some fries and make it to go.”

Sean frowned. “You can’t go home and eat alone.” He glanced at his son. “Evan was about to eat. Go and sit in a booth. Share some conversation and I’ll bring you your food. What do you want to drink?”

Jenny wasn’t sure this was a good idea. “I’ll have whatever Evan’s drinking.”

Sean hurried off, and she heard Evan say, “We’d better do as he says. You’re not getting out of here until you eat.”

“I didn’t intend to interrupt your evening.” She was such a lousy liar, but he didn’t look too happy to see her. “I mean, you don’t have to babysit me.”

“Have you heard me complain?” He led her to a booth and she scooted in.

“I’ll be right back,” he said and went behind the bar to draw a beer from the tap. He walked back and set both glasses on the table, then slid next to her.

She took a sip of beer. “Okay, Rafferty. Is this how you spend your night off?” She knew Gracie was sleeping over at the Casalis’.

“Geez, do you think I’m out chasing women?” He turned toward her, giving a hint of a smile. “Sorry to disappoint, but I’d rather have a quiet evening, enjoying a drink and talking with my dad.”

She nodded. “Being single sucks, huh?”

He locked those baby blues on her. “From where I’m sitting it doesn’t look so bad.”

She felt a warm shiver go through her. “Oh, I bet you say that to all the ladies.”

“This is Kerry Springs, not San Antonio. A social life is pretty limited.”

“I’m sure you draw the attention of a lot of females in this town.”

He took a long drink from his mug. “You’ve mistaken me for Matt. I don’t go out much.”

She sobered when reality hit. “You still miss your wife.”

He didn’t acknowledge her statement. “My concern is Gracie. We hadn’t exactly been close. Not like she and her mother were.”

Jenny toyed with her glass, envying any relationship between a mother and daughter. “And you’ve been working on that. You’ve helped her get to class.”

“And you’ve talked me into letting her have a sleepover, which you’re helping with. You must have caught me at a weak moment.” He turned to her. “Thanks for volunteering to help.”

“Hold the applause and wait until we see if it’s a success,” she smiled.

He nodded, his long tapered fingers rubbing up and down the sides of the beer glass. “There’s something else I want to get off my chest.”

She watched him. No other man had ever made her so aware of her femininity with just one look. He was a big man, but there was softness to his strength. She could easily slip into his arms. She shook it off and said, “What is that?”

“I apologize for nosing into your business with Perkins. I had no right.”

She blinked in surprise. “Accepted. And for the record, only in my head did our relationship get serious.” She met his gaze. “Brian is a nice guy. I think I fell more for the idea of love than I actually fell in love.”

He held her gaze. “It can be incredible, I hear.”

She caught a flicker of something in his eyes. Regret. Loneliness. Was he saying his marriage wasn’t as perfect as people had believed it to be?

She glanced away. No, this wasn’t any of her business. “You have Gracie and your family.”

He sighed. “Yeah. A nosy father and a pushy brother. Whom you need to watch out for. Matt can be pretty charming.”

She doubted Matt was the Rafferty she had to worry about. She fought a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Before he could speak, Sean carried out two large plates of food and placed them down on the table.

“Sorry it took so long.” He placed his hands on his hips and grinned. “Nothing like good food and conversation,” he said as a lone customer walked in the door. “Got to get to work.” He waved as he went behind the bar. “Hello, Michael.”

Suddenly Evan was feeling like a teenager. He was far too aware of the woman beside him. The more time he spent with Jenny the more he felt he wanted her. Question was, did he want to do anything about it?

“This smells delicious,” she said.

“Dad wasn’t lying when he said it’s the best around.”

He watched as Jenny picked up her oversized sandwich and took a bite, leaving a smear of sauce on the side of her mouth. Desire shot through him as he fought the urge to lean forward and remove it, giving both a taste. Instead he picked up a napkin.

“Here, you have sauce on your mouth.” He reached out and wiped it off. She froze, allowing him to clean her up. Their eyes locked and instantly he was mesmerized. “Damn, woman,” he breathed, then pulled away. “Eat your food before we both get into trouble.”

Twenty minutes later they’d finished the meal.

“I can’t finish all this,” Jenny announced, leaving half her food. “I’m stuffed.”

Evan patted his stomach. “I didn’t have any trouble.” He hadn’t realized how hungry he was. And not only for food. He looked at Jenny. Although he didn’t want to leave her, the direction his thoughts were taking wasn’t a good idea.

“I hate to cut this short,” he began, “but I need to get up early tomorrow. I’m helping Matt move cattle.”

She groaned. “I think they should outlaw Mondays. But if truth be told, I’d probably get up early anyway. I love dawn.”

Evan stood. “It’s my favorite time, too.” He placed some bills on the table, but when she reached for her wallet he stopped her. “Don’t even think about it.”

“But you don’t need to pay for my supper.”

“What if I want to?” He helped her out of the booth. “What if I wanted to share dinner and conversation with you?”

Her gaze held his. “I just didn’t want you to feel you had to.”

“If I’d felt that way, I’d have let you take your food back to your apartment. Can we agree sharing a meal was nice?”

She nodded. “Yes, nice,” she said in a soft, breathy voice.