Ruth Dale - Parents Wanted!

“It’s probably the old ‘football hero and the cheerleader’ thing,” Dylan agreed. “Just watch your step, buddy. She can be real unpredictable.”

Dylan led the way toward a group of men clustered around a horse someone had ridden in on, and Matt fell in beside him. But his thoughts were elsewhere, on the woman who seemed intent on tracking him down, and the other woman who didn’t even like to be in the same room with him.

Damn but life was strange, and women were stranger still.

“Hi, Miz Gilliam, can Zach come play with us kids?”

Laura looked around to find Jessica Reynolds grinning at her. “Well,” she said, “I’m not sure—”

“Please, Mama?” Zach inserted.

Aware that she was frequently called overprotective, Laura tried to calm fears she knew were completely unfounded. Bravely she asked, “Will you keep an eye on him, Jessica?”

“Sure!” The girl pushed all that long hair behind her ears. “We won’t go far.”

“All right. Would you like me to put your hair up into a ponytail before you go?”

“Would you?” Jessica’s eyes sparkled. “I’ve got a rubber band but I kind of get it tangled up when I try to do it.”

“Oh, dear.” Laura took the rubber band from the girl, a plain one that looked as if it had come off a copy of the Rawhide Review. “This really isn’t the best kind to use,” she explained, carefully slipping it around the handful of hair at the back of Jessica’s head. “I’ll pick up the kind you need next chance I get.”

“Thanks!” Jessica turned, rose on tiptoe, and planted a quick kiss on her benefactress’s cheek. “Come on, Zach!”

Laura watched the two kids rush away to join the mob chasing after a soccer ball in the middle of the grassy area. What a sweet child. Matt was a lucky—

She pulled herself up short. Thinking about Matt just annoyed her, and had since the one and only time she’d gone out with him. Was she holding out on him? Much more than an apple pie!

The nerve of the man, to think she’d fall into his arms for the price of a simple dinner at the local gathering place a couple of years ago. Of course, it had been nice dancing with him. He moved with an athlete’s grace and his arms had felt strong around her. The brush of his thighs against hers as they moved in perfect unison sent little tingles running through her from the very first step. Matt Reynolds, she’d admitted to herself, was a very sexy man.

Which didn’t give him any right to think he could grab her like some caveman while they stood before her front door. All right, the pressure of those firm lips on hers had made her... almost giddy for a moment. And maybe she’d clung to him a bit longer than she should have—in shock, nothing more.

Apparently he wasn’t accustomed to dating ladies, because he’d looked absolutely stupefied when she slapped his face.

After that—

“Hi. What’s got you looking so serious?”

Laura pulled herself together to smile at her best friend, Katy Andrews, city reporter for the Review. Black-haired and green-eyed Katy had the suspicious nature you’d expect of a news reporter. Laura herself lacked that attribute, so had settled happily into life-styles.

“I was just thinking about work,” Laura lied. “I’ve got to go back in to write the Citizen of the Year story for Sunday’s newspaper, and I’ll have to make arrangements for someone to keep an eye on Zach.”

“I’ll watch him for you.”

“Really? I’d appreciate that. It won’t take me long.”

“Take as long as you like. He’s a great kid and we always have a good time.”

“Then thank you, I accept. Do you have any idea when they’ll get this show on the road?”

“You mean, announce the Citizen of the Year? After we eat.” Katy glanced around. “There’s Matt and Dylan!” She waved and smiled.

“Talk about looking for trouble,” Laura remarked dryly.

Katy laughed. “With Dylan, yes, but Matt’s okay.” She winked. “You could do worse, you know.”

“I’d rather go over Niagara Falls in a barrel,” Laura cried.

“Okay, let Brandee have him, then. Why not? She’s been after him since second grade.”

“With pleasure.” But Laura felt a shiver run through her at the thought of Matt at the mercy of Brandee Haycox, who seemed like a woman accustomed to getting what—or who—she went after.

“Speaking of love and romance...”

“Is that what we were speaking of?”

“More or less. But speaking of it, what did you think about that classified in yesterday’s paper?”

“What classified?”

Katy’s green eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you missed it! Everyone in town’s talking about it.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense.”

“It’s from some guy who signs himself Prince Charming. He’s looking for a wife who’s pretty and nice and likes kids.” She grinned. “Is that cute or what?”

“I’d call it strange. A newspaper ad is hardly an acceptable way to find a wife.”

“Don’t be a spoilsport.” Katy wrinkled her nose. “I’m thinking about applying, actually.”

“Katy!” Laura stared at her friend, appalled. “You wouldn’t!”

“Why not? Hey, twenty-nine-year-olds have to grab the brass rings where they can find them. Besides, it’s probably someone I already know, just too shy to come right out and say he wants to get married and have kids.”

“Maybe it’s Dylan,” Laura suggested with a laugh.

“Maybe it’s not,” Katy shot back. “It could be Matt, I suppose, but he’s got more women than he can shake a stick at without putting an ad in the newspaper. I’ve come up with a few other possibilities, though....”

Laura listened politely to Katy’s list of prospective Prince Charmings but her attention kept wandering to the group of men clustered around the red horse, and to one tall, broad-shouldered man in particular....

“Attention, everybody! Your attention please!” Mayor Marilyn Rogers stood on the bandstand, hands held up to quiet the crowd milling around below. When the level of sound had dropped to a murmur, she went on. “As you know, the purpose of this community picnic is to announce the selection of our Citizen of the Year, a great honor that goes to the man or woman who best exemplifies the unselfish ideals of service....”

Laura, standing unobtrusively near one corner of the bandstand, zoned out This was the third such event she’d covered and she pretty much knew the mayor’s spiel by heart. Not that she didn’t take it seriously; she did. She considered community service to be the sacred duty of every good citizen, and always tried to do her part.

But at the moment, she just wished Marilyn would announce the winner because Laura had to interview him or her, then rush back to the office and—

“—this year’s coveted award goes to the man who spearheaded efforts to revitalize the downtown area...the man who chaired revision to the city’s general plan...the man who headed up the fund drive to refurbish the gymnasium at the Rawhide Boys and Girls Club. Ladies and gentlemen, Rawhide’s Citizen of the Year...Matt Reynolds!”

Laura’s heart stood still. Not Matt! She didn’t want to interview him. But automatically she turned toward the spot where he’d been standing. He looked as stunned as she. Dylan slapped him on the back and gave him a shove. Reluctantly Matt moved forward to accept his plaque to the sound of enthusiastic applause.

Now he’ll probably say some arrogant thing about how it’s high time he won, Laura thought disapprovingly. Some people were just too sure of themselves.

Marilyn handed him the plaque, which was actually a leather-wrapped slab with all the particulars burned into it—get it? John had asked with delight the first time she’d seen it. Rawhide!