Cindy Kirk - Claiming the Rancher's Heart

Lauren rose and stepped forward. “Well, before my roommate steals you away, let me introduce myself. I’m Lauren Van Meveren, the author of the survey you took. I also want to extend my thanks to you for participating.”

“Pleased to meet you, Lauren.” Josh shook her hand. “Those were some mighty interesting questions.”

Stacie exchanged a glance with Anna. Obviously Josh didn’t realize he was in danger of opening the floodgates. If there was one thing Lauren was passionate about, it was her research.

“I’m working on my doctoral dissertation.” Lauren’s face lit up, the way it always did when anyone expressed interest in her research. “The survey is a tool to gather data that will either support or disprove my research hypothesis.”

“Seth mentioned you were working on your Ph.D.,” Josh said. “But when I asked what your research question was, he couldn’t tell me.”

Stacie stifled a groan. The floodgates were now officially open.

Lauren straightened. “You’re familiar with the dissertation process?”

“Somewhat,” he admitted. “My mother is working on her Ph.D. in nursing. I remember what she went through to get her topic approved.”

“Then you do understand.” Lauren gestured to the wicker chair next to hers. “Have a seat. I’ll tell you about my hypothesis.”

“I suggest we all sit down,” Anna said with a smile. “This may take a while,” she added in a low tone only loud enough for Stacie to hear.

Stacie slipped back into the chair she’d vacated moments before. Josh snagged the seat beside her, his attention focused on Lauren. Even if Stacie wanted to save him, it was too late now.

Lauren’s lips tipped up in a satisfied smile. “I was ecstatic when my subject was approved.”

“And what are you studying?” Josh prompted.

Shoot me now, Stacie thought to herself. Just put a gun to my head and shoot me.

“Having relevant, personally tailored information about values and characteristics central to interpersonal relationships increases the chance of successful establishment and maintenance of said relationships,” Lauren said without taking a breath. “It’s a concept already embraced by many of the online dating services. But my study focuses more on what goes into forming a friendship rather than just a love match.”

“Very interesting,” Josh said, sounding surprisingly sincere. “What made you decide to do the research here?”

“Anna suggested I consider it—”

“I told her about all the single men.” Anna poured a glass of lemonade and handed it to Josh. “And that I had a house where she could stay rent free. I decided to come along since there was nothing keeping me in Denver.”

Josh shifted his attention to Anna. “Seth mentioned you lost your job.”

“My employer was supposed to sell me her boutique.” Anna took the last seat at the table. “Instead, she sold it to someone else.”

Josh shook his head, sympathy in his eyes. “That sucks.”

“Tell me about it,” Anna said with a sigh.

The handsome cowboy seemed to be getting along so well with her roommates that Stacie wondered if anyone would notice if she got up and left. When her gaze returned to the table, she found Josh staring.

“It’s been great catching up.” He drained his glass of lemonade. “But Stacie and I should get going.”

He stood, and Stacie automatically rose to her feet. She adored her roommates, but going with her match seemed a better option than staying and talking research with Lauren or rehashing job disappointments with Anna.

Josh followed her to the steps. Though he’d already given her a quick once-over when he’d first arrived, she caught him casting surreptitious glances her way.

If the look in his eye was any indication, her khaki capris and pink cotton shirt met with his approval. Stacie felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. Anna had said he was a nice guy, and his interactions with her roommates had shown that to be true.

There was certainly no need to be stressed. But when she started chattering about the weather, Stacie realized her nerves were on high alert.

But if Josh found the topic dull, he didn’t show it. In fact, he seemed more than willing to talk about the lack of rain the area had been experiencing. He’d just started telling her about a particularly bad forest fire near Big Timber a couple years earlier, when they reached his black 4x4.

He reached around her to open the door. When she stepped forward, he offered her a hand up into the vehicle.

“Thank you, Josh.”

“My pleasure.” He coupled the words with an easy smile.

Her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t know why she was so charmed. Maybe it was because Mr. Sweet River attorney had gotten an F in the manners department. He hadn’t opened a single door for her or even asked what movie she wanted to see. Instead they’d watched an action flick he’d chosen.

Josh, on the other hand, not only opened the door without being asked, but he waited until she was settled inside the truck before shutting the door and rounding the front of the vehicle.

She watched him through the window, admiring his sure, purposeful stride. The cowboy exhibited a confidence that many women would find appealing. But as he slid into the driver’s seat, her attention was drawn to the rifle hanging in the window behind her head. Her earlier reservations flooded back.

But how would she tell this nice guy that he wasn’t her type?

“I can’t get used to how flat the streets are,” she said, buying herself some time. “When Anna talked about her hometown, I pictured a town high in the mountains, not one in a valley.”

“It can be disappointing when things aren’t what we expect,” he said in an even tone.

“Not always.” Stacie’s gaze met his. “The unexpected can often be a pleasant surprise.”

They drove in silence for several seconds.

“Did you know I’m psychic?”

She shifted in the seat to face him. “You are?”

“My powers,” he continued, “are sending me a strong message.”

“What’s the message?” Stacie didn’t know much about paranormal stuff, but she was curious. “What are your powers telling you?”

“You really want to know?” Josh’s blue eyes looked almost black in the shadows of the truck’s cab.

“Absolutely,” Stacie said.

He stared unblinking. “They’re telling me you don’t want to be doing this.”

Stacie stilled, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe. She adjusted her seat belt, not wanting to be rude and agree, but hating to lie. “What makes you say that?”

“For starters, what you said about cowboys.” His smile took any censure from the words. “That, coupled with the look in your eye when you first saw me.”

Though he gave no indication she’d hurt his feelings, she knew she had, and her heart twisted at the realization. “You seem very nice,” she said softly. “It’s just that I’ve always been attracted to a different kind of man.”

His dark brows pulled together, and she could see the puzzlement in his eyes. “There’s more than one kind?”

“You know,” she stumbled over her words as she tried to explain. “Guys who like to shop and go to the theater. A metrosexual kind of guy.”

“You like feminine men?”

She laughed at the shock he tried so hard to hide. “Not feminine…just more sensitive.”

“And cowboys aren’t sensitive?”

“No, they aren’t,” Stacie said immediately, then paused. “Are they?”

“Not really.” Josh lifted a shoulder. “Not the ones I know, anyway.”

“That’s what I thought,” Stacie said with a sigh, wondering why she felt disappointed when the answer was just what she’d expected.