Page 4 of Cowhand Crush

“Oh, baby, you wouldn’t do that. This little game of cat and mouse we have between us is fun for you. Keep playing hard to get. I don’t mind.”

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I had hoped that when I graduated college and left California behind, it would be enough to deter Isaac’s obsession with me. I should have known it wouldn’t be that simple.

“Why don’t we get together sometime?” Isaac pressed. “You can show me around town, and we can grab a bite to eat—”

“When hell freezes over,” I cut in. “I mean it, Isaac. Fuck off.”

“No need to get snappish.” His syrup-sweet tone had taken on a bitter edge. “I’ve always been friendly to you, tried to make you feel welcome. A pretty girl like you shouldn’t be alone, Avery.”

I gripped the phone so tight that it creaked. During my freshman year at college, I ran into Isaac Farley at a party. Even though he had never physically threatened me with violence, something about him gave me an unsettled, slippery feeling. Despite his relentless efforts to ask me out on a date, I repeatedly turned him down. Anyone else would have taken the hint that I wasn’t interested.

Isaac simply tried harder.

At one point, I did go to the police, but I didn’t have any hard evidence to prove that I needed protection. Just because he gave me the creeps didn’t warrant concern from the police. I hated that he’d managed to dig up my home phone number. I hated that he’d spoken to Birdie. Hell, I wouldn’t put it past him to show up and invite himself to dinner one night.

I had to put a stop to this, once and for all.

“I’m not alone. I have family, friends—”

“You need a man in your life,” Isaac said. “Someone who can take care of you. A man who will look after you and keep you safe.”

Now I was really uncomfortable. I considered hanging up, but Isaac would simply call again until I answered. I’d blocked his number once already, and it hadn’t deterred him in the slightest. The tip of my tongue burned with the temptation to tell him off. I could handle myself. After growing up on a ranch surrounded by men, I wasn’t some wilting wallflower.

But there was only one way that would make Isaac lose interest in me. I had to convince him that I was already taken.

“I’m actually seeing someone.”

He hummed, skeptical.

“Yeah, right. Everyone knows you flirted your way around campus, but you were never serious about it.”

Shit. If I was going to bluff, I had to be rock solid.

“Oh, trust me, this guy is different. He’s the strong, silent type, and he treats me like a princess. My family loves him, which is a miracle since it’s damn near impossible to please my dad. And he has this classic cowboy look to him—like he stepped out of an old Western movie, you know? I can’t wait to have his kids someday.”

A beat of silence settled over the phone. I sucked in a breath when I realized I’d been describing Bowen the whole time. That colored my fib with more truth than I cared to admit.

At last, Isaac spoke in a quiet, low voice.

“I hope you’re not lying, Avery. Other girls do that all the time—claiming they have a boyfriend who doesn’t exist, just to throw me off their scent. That’s not a nice thing to do. Dishonesty is such an ugly trait.”

Before I could reply, a door opened and voices echoed in the kitchen.

“Morning, Birdie. Is Miss Avery awake yet?”

Bowen. My heart soared with relief when I heard him.

“She’s on the phone,” Birdie replied. “A friend from college called to say hello. Would you like me to get her for you?”

Bowen hesitated.

“No, I wouldn’t want to interrupt. It can wait.”

On the other end of the line, Isaac spoke.

“That’s him, isn’t it?”

Well, yes and no. Even though I wasn’t technically involved with Bowen romantically, I wanted to be. I fantasized about him often enough, dreaming of the day when he would finally notice me and make his move.

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