Joanna Wayne - Quick-Draw Cowboy

“I’m tired of being upstairs by myself. I wanna stay down here, Aunt Dani.”

Ah, aunt. Not the kid’s mother. Made sense. She didn’t look old enough for that. He checked out the busy redhead’s ring finger. No golden band. Looking better all the time.

“Can I have a cookie?” the girl asked.

“Not before lunch. You know the rules,” the aunt answered as she added whipped cream to a coffee drink.

The kid’s hands flew to her hips. “Everybody else in here has a cookie, or a muffin, or something.”

“We’ll talk about this later, Constance.”

Constance rolled her eyes. Quite a performer and with an attitude. Call him crazy, but Riley liked that about her.

The woman in line behind Riley began to complain. “I just came in here to pick up a birthday cake I ordered a week ago for my daughter. At this rate, the party will be over before I get the cake.”

“Guess there’s a run on coffee and scones this morning,” Riley said. “But the woman’s working as fast as she can.”

“Dani needs to hire more help for her shop on Saturdays. Then she wouldn’t have to do everything herself.”

So the woman behind the counter was also the owner of Dani’s Delights. Interesting.

The next person to approach the counter gave a to-go order for four cups of plain coffee, two-flavored lattes and a mixture of pastries.

Dani was still smiling, but she had to be overwhelmed. At least the little girl was helping now, keeping the customers in line entertained with a series of funny faces.

Riley stepped out of line and walked up to the counter. “You look like you could use some help.”

“You think? I had two teenage workers not show up this morning without bothering to call in and let me know.”

“Big night in town last night?”

“Not that I know of. Anyway, sorry for the delay, but I’m moving as fast as I can.”

“I wasn’t complaining. In fact, I have a proposition that’s too good to refuse.”

“I don’t know,” she said, without looking up. “I’m extremely good at saying no.”

She bagged the pastries for the current order and started on the lattes. “What’s your offer?”

“Behind-the-counter help. I can handle pouring coffee, but I could never concoct those fancy drinks you’re making. By the way, my name’s Riley Lawrence.”

Dani looked up, a slightly surprised expression parting her full lips. “You must be Pierce’s brother.”

“Yep, but don’t hold that against me.”

“Never. Pierce is terrific and marrying my best friend. I’m sure he’s thrilled you made it here for the wedding,” she said as she went back to boxing pastries. “He was afraid you’d back out at the last minute.”

“I was a bit afraid of that myself. Actually, I haven’t made it to the Double K yet.”

“Then what in the world are you doing here?”

“Saving your beautiful ass—pardon my French. That is if you want my help.”

“You’re serious?”

“Serious as a bull on steroids.”

“I have no idea what that means, but you’ve got yourself a job.”

“How about we start two lines?” Riley suggested. “One for the people who want specialty coffees and-or want to pay with credit cards. Another line of the people who just want plain coffee or to pick up some bakery items and pay with cash.”

“You’ll handle the cash line?”

“Yep. I’ve had very limited experience with cash registers, but that one doesn’t look too complicated.”

She sighed. “It would be a tremendous help, but I can’t let you do that.”

“Afraid I’ll sneak too many cookies?”

“No. Afraid Esther will kill me for delaying your arrival at the ranch.”

The door opened again. This time a family of four came in, stretching the line around the corner.

“If the line grows any longer, you may have a mutiny on your hands.”

“Okay, but remember you asked for this. Prices are marked on the items on display,” Dani explained. “Preordered items are boxed and in the kitchen right behind us. Name of the customer and price are on the ticket taped to the top of the box. If you have any questions, just ask.”

Dani raised her voice to get everyone’s attention and explained the new lineup procedures. Someone clapped and several more joined in. They moved into the two lines with amazing order and good manners.

That was the Winding Creek he remembered.

“By the way, my name’s Dani Boatman,” she offered.

“Glad to meet you, boss.”

His first customer spoke up. “I’m picking up a dozen cupcakes for Jamie Sandler. She ordered them yesterday.”

“Coming right up.”

And with that Riley was officially on the job. He’d never sold anything in his life, except horses or cattle at an auction and admission tickets once at a local rodeo in Wyoming. His cash-register experience was limited to gate ticket sales.

Turned out this was much easier. Almost everybody was friendly and happier now that the line was moving a little faster.

The guys gave him a howdy, several introducing themselves. It was the Texas way. Young women—and some of the older ones—flirted with him. A little boost for the ego.

None of the females were as tempting as Dani Boatman. He might just be staying around Winding Creek a little longer than originally planned.

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER, the Saturday morning rush had come and gone. Only three tables were occupied and there was no one in line. Constance was off to the movie with her friend.

And Dani Boatman was totally infatuated with the witty, personable, hunky cowboy who’d saved the day. But then he’d charmed almost every woman who’d walked into the bakery. Some men had a knack for winning hearts with just a smile. Riley had it in spades.

“Whew...” Riley said. “Are Saturday mornings always this busy?”

“Unfortunately, no. They’re my busiest day of the week, but not usually this kind of crazy. The sunny day and the wildflowers in full bloom brought out the tourists.”

“I get that. I’m not much of a flower man, but even I noticed the sea of bluebonnets driving in this morning. Damned impressive.”

“You’d be amazed how many people visit the Texas Hill Country every spring just for the scenery.”

“Scenery in here looks pretty good to me.”

“Thanks. I try to make the pastries too tempting to resist.”

He smiled seductively. “I wasn’t talking about the pastries.”

A flush of heat crept up her face. She turned away quickly, hoping he hadn’t noticed the blush. He’d think she was either incredibly naive, or had never had a man casually flirt with her.

Tough to admit, but neither was that far-fetched.

“Did you bake all this?” he asked, motioning to the display cases full of her cookies, cupcakes, scones and other pastries, as well as loaves of bread.

“Yes.”

“And you babysit your niece. When do you have time for a life?”

“This is my life. And I don’t babysit Constance. My sister died this past year. Constance lives with me.”

“So it’s just you and Constance?”

“That’s it.”

“Instant motherhood. That must have thrown your life into a tailspin.”

“It’s been an adjustment, but I’m loving it. We live above the shop so I can be with her as much as possible.”

The door opened again and Sandy O’Malley rushed in, her short skirt swinging around her thighs, her long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. “I’m so sorry, Miss Boatman. My alarm didn’t go off this morning. I mean I know I set it, but it didn’t go off and Mom had gone into work early and I guess I got to bed late and...”

“Take a breath, Sandy,” Dani said, stopping the onslaught of excuses. “We’ll talk later. For now, you can start clearing the tables.”