Mindy Obenhaus - Rescuing the Texan's Heart

“Hey, you know, they have these newfangled things called telephones. And email.”

“Very funny.” She reached out and gave him a shove, accidentally toppling him into a snowbank. “Oh!” She tried to stop herself from laughing. “Guess I don’t know my own strength.”

“All right, Purcell. You had your little chuckle. Now get over here and help me up.” He held out his hand.

She closed the space between them and took hold. “Come on, cowboy.” She tugged.

So did he. Next thing she knew, she was on the ground beside him.

“Oh, I can’t believe I fell for that.” Growing up with two older brothers, she should have known better.

“Me neither.” Laughing, he tossed a handful of snow her way.

“Aw, man. Right down the neck.” She squirmed as it began to melt against her skin. “Coble, you’re a dead man.”

As he hustled to stand, she fisted the back of his jacket, quickly depositing an icy chunk. “Let’s see how you like it.” She scrambled to her feet before he could retaliate.

“Ooo-wee, that feels good.” He stood, trying to keep a smile.

“Yeah, I like that cute little dance you’re doing.” She thought she might bust a gut, watching him hop around, trying to untuck his shirt, all with that length of rope still around him. “Is that the Texas two-step?”

He sighed as the ice dropped to the ground. “All right, Purcell.” He moved closer, but she took a step back. “I know when to admit defeat.” He took another step and they were practically toe-to-toe. “You’re a feisty one, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.” She dared to meet his appreciative look.

“Thank you for teaching this old dog some new tricks.” He leaned closer until the fog of their breaths mingled.

She could smell the woodsy scent of his cologne. “Old dog?”

He grinned. “You know what I mean.” He was so close. His gaze searched hers.

But she stepped away from him. “You’re welcome, then.” She nodded in the direction of her Jeep. “We’d better get going.”

Chapter Five Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Epilogue Dear Reader Questions for Discussion Extract Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом. Copyright Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

By Saturday morning, Taryn had no doubt that the image of Cash’s smile after scaling that ice would be forever seared into her memory. And that was not a good thing.

Yeah, she wanted to help the guy. Show him what he’d been missing in his life. But she hadn’t counted on the feelings he stirred in her. Feelings she didn’t want, because the last time she allowed herself to feel this way, her whole world shattered.

“You’re unusually quiet this morning.” Blakely shifted slightly in her spa chair, her strawberry-blond ponytail trailing over one shoulder. “What gives?”

Warm water bubbled around Taryn’s feet as she sank deeper into her own spa chair, a pleasure she and Blakely rarely had the opportunity to revel in. Blakely owned Ouray’s finest Jeep-tour company. As head grease monkey and guide extraordinaire, she, like Taryn, was a no-frills kind of girl. But that didn’t mean they weren’t in touch with their feminine side. So her friend’s wedding day was the perfect opportunity to pull out all the stops. Manicure, pedicure, makeup and hair.

“Blakes, you’re getting married. As your maid of honor, I have a right to be reflective.”

“Not buying it.” Blakely cocked her head. “Try again. Preferably, with the truth.”

The two of them had always been brutally honest with each other. And Blakely was the only one who knew about Taryn’s baby. She was the most trusted friend Taryn had ever had.

The people working in the salon were another matter, though.

But since they’d made themselves scarce for the moment... “Another long, tall Texan is tugging on my heartstrings.”

Her friend’s blue eyes lit up like an LED headlamp. “Are you kidding me? Who?”

“Easy, Blakes. It’s nothing serious. Just a little...disconcerting.”

“Okay, fine.” Blakely whispered. “But will you at least tell me who you’re talking about?”

She scanned the area, making sure no one was close enough to hear, then leaned toward her friend. “Mr. Jenkins’s grandson, Cash.”

“What happened?”

“You know how you’re a sucker for that lost-puppy-dog look?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, once I got past the fact that he looked and sounded so much like Brian...” She picked at her nonexistent fingernails, wondering what kind of magic Miranda could possibly work to make them look pretty. “It’s like the guy has no life. Or a life not of his choosing.”

“I’m not following you.”

“He loves Ouray. Used to spend every summer here with his grandparents. But, until Thursday, he hasn’t been back in ten years.”

Blakely leaned closer. “Why?”

“He didn’t say, but I have my suspicions. See, he took over running his father’s company when he got cancer. Even though he’d planned to move to Ouray. His father’s okay now, but Cash is still there, doing everything he can to make his father proud.”

“I see. So his hopes and dreams got sidetracked by the need to win his father’s approval?”

“And it doesn’t take a genius to see that it’s robbed him of his joy.” She scanned the tranquil and blessedly empty space once again. “Cash used to be a fun-loving and adventurous guy. Now he’s always thinking about work. I’m not sure he even knows how to relax.”

“And you’re going to fix that.”

Taryn tried not to smile but failed. “Well, I tried. I took him climbing yesterday.”

“How did that go?”

“He loved it. And it was nice to see a glimpse of the old Cash.”

“But...?”

“But nothing.”

Blakely lifted a brow, soothing music filling the space between them.

“We’re friends, Blakes.”

“That could change.”

“Not likely. He lives in Dallas. I live in Ouray. Long-distance relationships never work out.”

Blakely crossed her arms over her chest. “Sometimes they do.”

“Only if one party is willing to join the other. He’s not going anywhere. And there’s no way I’m ever setting foot in Texas again.”

A smile played at the corners of her friend’s mouth. “Never say never, Taryn. That’s just enough to make the good Lord show you who’s boss.”