Page 20 of Love Me, Cowboy

Claire fell forward, but Tyler rolled to take most of the impact. Unfortunately, he took it on his bad shoulder. The yelp of pain was out before he could stop it. When he was able to catch his breath and sit up, Claire was soothing the crying child while casting concerned looks in his direction.

“His parents are behind the crowd,” he said through gritted teeth. “I saw them looking for him from up in the saddle.”

“Are you okay?” she asked, pressing the toddler’s head to her shoulder.

Tyler nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Though his physical therapist was going to have his ass. “Let’s get him back where he belongs.”

Several locals who’d seen them fall had arrived to help. That opened a hole in the crowd big enough for the boy’s parents to pass through. The mother was crying as she hugged the boy tight, while the father patted her on the back, his face ashen and stoic.

“I can’t thank you two enough,” he said, his jaw tight with suppressed emotion.

“No problem,” Claire said, brushing off her jeans. “I’m glad I spotted him in time.”

“You’re an angel,” the mom said before the whole family faded back into the crowd.

Tyler looked around to see Claire’s float was more than a block away, as were his fellow riders. A glance in the other direction revealed Ginger had stayed right where he’d left her, though a bit skittish with the crowd on one side and a convertible carrying a waving pageant queen on the other.

“Come on,” he said to Claire, taking her by the hand. She stumbled behind him, and he pulled up short. “What’s wrong?”

“I hit my knees harder than I thought.” She rubbed one joint as she bent it a few times. “I don’t think there’s any real damage, but it hurts like crazy.”

Without another word, Tyler swung her up into his arms and carried her over to Ginger. Ignoring her protest, he set her gently back on her feet and said, “I’m going to toss you up, but I don’t want you to fall off the other side.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “I’ve been on a horse before, Tyler. But you don’t have to do this.”

“There’s a marching band coming fast, and I’m not sure how much longer Ginger is going to be patient. You want to walk the rest of this parade?”

As if seeing his point, Claire nodded and placed her left foot in his cupped hands. Seconds later, he was in the saddle behind her as they scrambled along the side, keeping a close eye on the parade watchers. When they caught up to the riders, he expected her to demand he put her down.

But she didn’t. Instead, she settled into him, clearly in no hurry to put distance between them. Which put a smile on Tyler’s face, and brought certain parts of his anatomy to the party. He shifted, trying to hide the evidence. If Claire noticed, she didn’t make a move to alter the situation.

And Tyler was willing to endure a little discomfort in the saddle if it meant keeping Claire in his arms. But the chance didn’t last long. The parade ended within a few blocks, and as the line filtered into the warehouse parking lot, Tyler edged Ginger close to the back of Claire’s float. Swinging a leg over the horse’s head, she slid onto the flatbed.

The kids crowded around her instantly, all talking over one another. All except Victoria, who was more interested in petting Ginger than the brave exploits of her teacher.

“I’ll see you at the barbeque tonight?” he asked over the din.

Claire nodded, smiled, and then gave the children her attention. Tyler was still smiling when he turned Ginger toward her trailer in the back corner of the lot.

Chapter Seven

Countless garments lay scattered across Claire’s bed where she’d tossed them. Five outfits in and she was still debating. For once, she was going to show off her new figure. The one she currently sported, not the one her brain saw in the mirror. If only her brain would listen.

The first skirt was too short. The second top was too tight in the arms. The third try, a dress, made her hips look big, and by the fifth she was back to jeans and a sweater.

But Claire was determined. She pulled out a dress she’d bought a month before but had not had the courage to wear in public. After pulling up the zipper, which took some contortionist-like moves, she turned to the mirror with her eyes closed.

“This is not the body you used to have,” she said. “This is your new body. Just as good, but smaller. So stop being critical and be nice to yourself.”

Upon opening her eyes, Claire couldn’t believe it. She liked what she saw. The emerald green was perfect for her pale complexion and red hair. It even made her eyes look darker. The strategically placed pleats along the front flattered her hips, and the simple jersey material made it the right level of dressy-casual for a classy barbeque.

Even her breasts looked moderately understated behind the cowl neckline.

Something told Claire she didn’t need this dress to catch Tyler Holly’s eye. That he’d always seen her as beautiful. He’d practically said as much the night before at the diner. No, she wasn’t wearing this dress for Tyler.

She was wearing it for herself.

And now that she was about to walk out of the shadows into the milling crowd gathered for the feast, Claire called on all the strength she’d mustered in front of that mirror. Her black suede knee boots carried her into the expansive backyard of the Double H Ranch as she scanned the crowd for her two best friends.

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