Debbi Rawlins - The Swinging R Ranch - The Swinging R Ranch / Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Mona shifted, too, blocking her vision. “Abigail, you know we like to protect the privacy of our gentlemen callers.”

Everyone knew the Swinging R had been closed to that kind of business for nearly twenty years. Mona was just trying to be a pain. Abby sighed. “Are you going to make me wait out here?”

“I’m thinking about it. Unless you promise to leave Estelle alone. She’ll go home when she’s good and ready.”

Abby tried to keep her chin up. But it hurt to think that Gramms was trying to get away from her. They’d always been close, and after Abby’s parents died, they’d gotten even closer.

“Ah, shoot. Come on in, honey,” Mona said, and Abby stiffened at the trace of pity in her voice. “Rosie made some fresh lemonade a little while ago.”

Abby was about to refuse, upset that she’d somehow revealed too much of her thoughts. But Mona’s eyes were kind, and that deep rumbling laughter coming from inside called to Abby again.

“Thank you,” she said a little more stiffly than intended, and followed Mona inside.

As soon as she crossed the threshold she saw him. He had his back to her. A very nice back. Medium brown hair a tad too long. Broad-shouldered, tapered waist. And his jeans fit him…extremely well.

“Nice buns, huh?” Mona whispered.

“I wasn’t looking there,” Abby shot back, obviously in too loud a voice.

Both men turned.

Heat blossomed in her cheeks. “I guess I’ll go find Rosie,” she muttered.

Before she could slip away, Mona grabbed her arm. “Not so fast. There’s someone we want you to meet.”

Abby had no choice but to stop and look up.

Oh, no.

Green eyes. She was the world’s biggest sucker for guys with green eyes. She’d made two huge mistakes over green-eyed men—one in high school, one in college. Both disastrous. And this man’s eyes were gorgeous, especially the way they lit up with his smile.

“Hi, I’m Abby,” she said, disgusted at how tongue-tied she felt.

“I’m Max Bennett.” His perfectly shaped mouth curved slowly, a faint dimple appearing in one cheek.

“You certainly are,” she murmured, astonished by the sheer beauty of him. She cringed. Had she really said that out loud?

“Did I tell you I’m Abby?”

His green eyes gleamed with amusement and she found she couldn’t look away. When he started to nod slowly, she found herself absently nodding along with him. Horrified, she snapped out of the trance.

This was not at all like her. The clammy palms, the speeding pulse. Sure, he was gorgeous but…she wanted to be mayor. She had to focus on her campaign, concentrate on her career, on bringing Bingo into the twenty-first century. Her future had been too meticulously planned. It did not include a man. Or a family. For now, anyway. Maybe later…

She took a deep breath, trying to rein in her wildly galloping thoughts. For heaven’s sake, she was only being introduced to the guy. Campaign jitters, that’s all.

She stuck out her hand. “Abby Cunningham. I’m running for mayor.”

Surprise flashed in his eyes. “Mayor? I assumed you worked here as one of the…” He shrugged.

Abby’s mouth opened but nothing came out. He thought she was a…She couldn’t even think it, much less say it.

“Nah, Abigail’s been to college and everything,” Mona said. “She’s going to be our next mayor just like her daddy was.”

“Good for you.” Max’s slow grin had her getting all rubbery again, and she forgave him for mistaking her for an employee here. The warm feel of his palm pressed to hers just about finished her off. “When’s the election?”

She quickly withdrew her hand and inconspicuously rubbed her tingly palm down the front of her jeans. “In two months.”

“Pity I won’t be here to help celebrate your victory.”

He didn’t mean he would really celebrate with her, of course, but at the low intimate timbre of his voice, Abby got all shivery inside.

“What do you mean?” Mona asked. “Who’s going to run the place if you’re not?” At Abby’s puzzled frown, she added, “Max is the new owner of the Swinging R.”

Abby gaped at him. “You’re the new owner?”

He nodded.

The warm fuzzy feeling instantly vanished. What the heck was he doing here? If he had even a passing notion of reopening the place…or allowing Gramms to stay on…

Abby got so worked up she could barely sustain the thought.

“You’re right, Mr. Bennett. You won’t be here in two months. I’m going to shut you down.”

MAX WATCHED the pretty brunette go from warm and friendly to cool and scowling in two seconds flat. Too bad. She had dynamite brown eyes and a great smile…when she didn’t look as though she wanted to see a noose around his neck.

Max gave her a big grin. “Excuse me, but isn’t the Swinging R legal in this county?”

“Oh, don’t pay her any mind.” Mona tugged at Abby’s arm. “Go to the kitchen and get yourself a glass of lemonade and quit stirring up trouble.”

Abby wouldn’t pull her gaze away from him. “For now. But that’s going to change real quick.”

“When you’re mayor?”

She lifted her chin. “That’s right.”

Mona reared back her head. “Abigail Cunningham, what kind of foolishness is this? I never heard you say any such thing before now. Does your gramma know about this nonsense?”

Abby turned red and looked away.

“Seems I bring out the best in Abigail,” Max said, which earned him another glare.

“Ah, shoot, she’s just joking.” Herbert slid an arm around Mona’s shoulders. “Aren’t you, Abigail?”

“She’s got her nose out of joint because Estelle spent the night here,” Mona said before Abby could respond. “Let’s go have some lemonade and forget this crazy talk.”

“Estelle spent the night here?” Herbert frowned, glancing briefly at Abby before returning his attention to Mona. “Why?”

Abby’s entire body language changed. No longer looking defensive, she turned toward Mona, her light brown eyes turning dark and uncertain as she waited for the answer. Something so raw and vulnerable in Abby’s expression caught Max off guard and triggered an odd flutter in his gut.

No one said a word for what felt like an hour. Mona’s nervous gaze darted to Abby, then back to Herbert. She fiddled with the fake string of pearls around her neck. She was stalling, thinking of something to say.

Max glanced again at Abby. A crestfallen look dulled her eyes, and Max had a strong and strange urge to comfort her—which was of course absurd. Not just because he wasn’t the nurturing type or because he didn’t even know this woman. Not even because he had no idea who Estelle was or what the hell was going on. But the trace of longing and disappointment that lingered in Abby’s face, even as she bravely lifted her chin, struck a chord so deep inside him that he wanted to climb back into Herbert’s car and drive straight to the company plane and get as far the hell away from Nevada as he could.

“I’ll answer that question, Herbert.” Abby gave the older man a tight smile. “My grandmother is trying to get away from me.”

“Oh, hogwash.” Mona shook her head. “That’s not true. She wants to give you some breathing room.”

“Of course it’s true. She thinks I’m too overbearing just because I’m concerned about her welfare. But this isn’t the time or place to discuss it.” Abby took a step toward the door. “So please tell her to give me a call when she gets in.”

Max straightened. To his amazement, he didn’t want her to leave. “You running away from a fight?” he asked, and she glanced at him, looking a little startled, as though she’d forgotten he was there. “I never knew a successful politician who tucked their tail between their legs and ran.”