Vicki Thompson - Do You Take This Cowboy?

“I call you Austin,” Lexi said.

“Yes, you do, Lexi, and I appreciate the support.”

Cade tipped his chair onto its back legs and picked up his beer. “The way I heard it, you didn’t sell your truck to buy a plane ticket. You sold it because you wanted to buy a new one over here instead of shipping your old rattletrap across the Pacific.”

“Technically, yes, but some of the proceeds went toward the ticket, so my statement stands.”

“So you’re staying?” Drew hadn’t been clear on that but it was the best news she’d heard all day.

“Yes, ma’am. New Zealand was great, but I missed Wyoming.”

“And me,” Cade said. “I know you really missed me.”

Austin laughed, flashing beautiful white teeth. “Can’t live without you, bro.”

“And FYI, your beer’s getting warm the longer you stand there working your jaw.”

“Let me wash up.” He turned back to the sink.

Much as Drew would have loved to admire the ripple of his back muscles as he scrubbed his hands clean, ogling would be inappropriate. She redirected her attention toward Cade and Lexi. Why was she here, again? Oh, yes. “I think we got some great stuff today. I’ll edit it as soon as I get home and email you a link to a preview.”

“Good.” Lexi reached for the chips. “I’m really excited to see it.”

“So am I.” Cade returned his chair to its original position so he could also reach the chip bowl. “By the way, I was impressed that you walked up the steps backward while you filmed that last part. I’m not sure I could have done that.”

“I know I couldn’t,” Lexi said.

“My years of playing hockey probably helps. You have to have eyes in the back of your head to play that game.”

“You played hockey?” Austin joined them at the table.

“Yes, and I was really, really lucky that I got to. Some parents organized a Montana youth league and my brother and I were both in it. I don’t think that league exists anymore. For three years I lived and breathed hockey. Every night before I went to sleep I recited that famous Wayne Gretzky quote.”

Austin picked up his beer and reached for a chip. “I don’t think I know that one.”

“I do, more or less,” Cade said. “Instead of following the puck, you need to anticipate where it will be and go there.”

“Aha!” Lexi looked as if inspiration had hit. “That’s why you’re such an excellent videographer. You’re always a little ahead of the action. I couldn’t put my finger on why your videos are so much better than others I’ve seen and I’ll bet that’s the secret.”

Drew’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you. I never thought of it that way but if I manage to pull it off I’m glad.”

“Montana, huh?” Austin’s gaze had remained on her ever since he’d come to the table. “Where in Montana?”

“Billings. My parents own an Italian restaurant there.”

“I love Italian food. Do you like to cook?”

“God, no.” She shuddered. “I’m probably the least domestic woman you’ll ever meet.”

“But you’re great with a camera,” Lexi said. “Plenty of people make videos but you make memories.”

“What a lovely thing to say.” Drew savored the compliment. “Any chance you’d be willing to put that in a review on my website?”

“Absolutely! I wish I’d thought of it before.”

“No worries. You’ve been busy planning a wedding.”

“Reviews make a difference,” Austin said. “The company I worked for always asked for them at the end of a ride.”

“Horseback ride?” Drew made a guess based on where he’d grown up.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What made you go so far away from home?” She’d done a little bit of traveling related to her videography but she’d never considered relocating to a different country. His willingness to seek out adventure added to his appeal.

“Lord of the Rings. When I saw those movies I stayed for the credits. That’s when I made up my mind I had to go to New Zealand.” He popped another chip in his mouth.

“How old were you?”

“I must’ve been around thirteen.”

Cade nodded. “Oh, yeah, you were thirteen, all right. I remember it well. You drove us all crazy with your fixation on those movies and New Zealand.” He looked at Drew. “Watch out for Junior. Once he gets an idea in his head, he’s like one of those bullet trains in Japan.”

“That’s not such a bad thing.” Drew sent Austin a glance of solidarity. “Nothing wrong with being highly motivated to attain a goal.”

He tipped his head in silent acknowledgment.

“True,” Cade said. “But if you’ve booked a seat on that train you’d better be sure you want to go where it’s headed.” He looked over at Austin. “I’m flattered that you came back for the wedding, but surely you have other reasons for relocating to your old stomping grounds. At least I hope you do. I can only be entertaining for so long before I run out of material.”

Austin rotated his bottle on the table and smiled at Cade. “The new truck’s a clue, bro.”

Cade gazed at him and then he blinked. “I’ll be damned. I should have figured that out.”

Lexi turned to Drew. “I have no idea what they’re talking about, do you?”

“No.” But she was intrigued. Austin was clearly a man who knew what he wanted and went after it. He hadn’t allowed the ties to his foster parents or his foster brothers to stop him from pursuing a dream that had taken him halfway around the world.

She, on the other hand, had felt obligated to stay in Billings far too long. She was the oldest and her large family seemed to depend on her for support and advice. But in the past year or so she’d felt smothered by their neediness. She’d been desperate to get away and discover who she was outside of that boisterous clan.

Over the Christmas holiday she’d talked her way into teaching a six-week course in videography at Sheridan’s community college. That had justified moving her base of operations from Billings to Wyoming in January.

Through Molly Radcliffe, who worked at the college and was Cade’s cousin, she’d met Rosie and Herb. That connection had brought her business and friendship. Today it had brought her in contact with Austin. He probably had something to teach her about making bold moves toward an exciting future.

It sounded as if he had a grand plan for his decision to come back home. That put him several steps ahead of her. As of now, she was making it up as she went along.

She knew what she didn’t want—to be dragged down by so many family obligations that she lost track of her own goals and who she was besides oldest daughter and big sister. Austin had already made that journey away from his people. Maybe hanging out with him would give her the gumption she needed to do the same. And whether his spirit of adventure rubbed off or not, he was pretty to look at.

“So why is the truck a clue to your current plans?” Lexi asked.

Austin hesitated and exchanged a quick glance with Cade.

Cade flashed him a smile. “You’re the one who said it.”

Austin cleared his throat and faced Lexi. “Well, a man who’s starting out fresh needs a decent ride to...to...” He sent Cade a look that was clearly a plea for a little help with this explanation.

“A man’s truck is like his alter ego,” Cade said. “You can tell a lot by what he chooses to drive. Junior, here, is ready to project a more polished image.”

Austin let out a relieved sigh. “Exactly.”

Drew figured it was a guy thing. She didn’t care what Austin chose to drive. She just wanted to be in the passenger seat.

Chapter Two

Drew left far sooner than Austin would have liked, but she had to get home and edit the video and he was all in favor of that. He wanted her to finish it because he had other plans for how she’d spend her evening, assuming she wasn’t seeing anyone. When he’d first slid out from under that sink, he felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.