Page 10 of A Sunny Sweetheart for the Cowboy

Paisley squelched all the wiggly feelings inside of her and raised her eyebrows at him. “Maybe I like weirding you out. Maybe I like staring at you.”

Cindy, Paisley’s new coworker, snickered as her horse carried her past.

Looked like Paisley had managed to find herself at the very end with Weston again. Maybe that had been her subconscious’s doing, not that she minded.

“Find some other dude to chase. I’m not that guy.”

Maybe now they were getting somewhere. She started Enchantment at the same time as he urged Ranger forward. “Why not? I think Weston Kline deserves to laugh and have a good time as much as the next guy.” Oops, she’d nearly said he deserved to fall in love. Maybe that was too forward even for her.

“I have fun.”

“Oh, yeah? Tell me the last time you laughed.” When the pause went on a little long, she couldn’t resist prodding. “I’m waiting to hear.”

“You’re really annoying, you know that?”

“So I’ve heard. But that wasn’t a joke, and no one found it humorous.”

Weston sighed so heavily it had to be put on. “I found something funny maybe a month ago. Are you happy now?”

“Hmm.” Paisley tapped her chin. “Did you know that laughing pulls loads of oxygen into your lungs? It increases your brain’s endorphins.”

“You’re full of useless information.”

“That’s my ADHD talking. I have hundreds of interests, and I tend to go down rabbit trails.” That was the pro to her disorder. The cons were plentiful, but she didn’t need to explain them to him at this point. If — no, when — they became a couple was soon enough to terrify him with her randomly firing synapses.

“ADHD?”

“Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. You thought I was normal? Because I’m not.”

“I never said you were. I said you were annoying, and my opinion hasn’t changed.”

“I’d like to change it.”

“I bet you would,” he muttered.

Paisley cupped her hand behind her ear. “Pardon me? I couldn’t quite catch that.”

“Paisley, how blunt do I need to be? Whatever you’re looking for, I’m not the guy you want.”

Her heart quaked. “What if I disagree?”

“Last I heard, it takes two to have a relationship.” Weston toggled his finger between them. “We do not have a relationship. I’m not interested.”

“I think you are. I think you’re scared.”

“I think you’re a pest. A pest who’s full of herself.”

He wasn’t completely wrong. She’d made a decision a few years ago to decide what she wanted and go after it with singular purpose. Rabbit trails kept showing up, though. Now would be a good time for one. If she could change her crush to someone easier by an act of will, she might just consider doing so.

But no. Her attention had been caught by Weston Kline, for better or for worse, and she was so far out on that limb now there wasn’t any way to retreat to safety. She either needed to capture his notice or she’d fall off the branch and break her neck. Or her heart.

She quelled the uneasiness that she might not be up for the task. “Bring your best, Weston. I promise not to hold it over your head once you’ve admitted your feelings.” Much, she added to herself.

He shook his head and veered Ranger off the path. A moment later, he regained the trail a few horses further ahead.

Paisley was patient. Dedicated. And she was right. She could outlast the grumpy cowboy.

Chapter

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