Page 5 of A Sunny Sweetheart for the Cowboy

Weston brought up the rear as they came around the first bend, where the trail widened.

And there sat Paisley on a restless Enchantment, her whole face breaking into a bright smile when she saw him. Her cohort and his doubled up on the wider trail, chatting and following the others, while she nudged Enchantment beside Ranger.

How could he convince Paisley he wasn’t worth her attention? There were plenty of guys here at the ranch far better suited to her than he was. Guys who were fun. Guys like his brother, Jude, or their Sullivan cousins, Bryce and Maxwell.

Guys who didn’t have the regrets Weston did.

Regrets he tried to forget, but they refused to leave him alone.

“It’s such a beautiful day.”

He glanced sideways to see Paisley’s eyes closed with her face tilted to the sun. Riding an ornery horse like Enchantment without paying attention was a bad idea, but before he or the gelding could remind her, she glanced his way and beamed.

Nothing hidden in that smile.

It was open and honest and friendly and welcoming all in one.

Why did she turn it on him?

Why did he react to it? He was like a moth circling a candle. She was the bright one, full of light, while he slunk around in the shadows. He liked the shadows. No one noticed him there. Few had expectations of a lowly moth.

Finding out he was related to the Sullivan clan had ratcheted up those expectations. He put up with it because Grandfather had set him in charge of the horses.

What had Nana been thinking way back all those years ago, having an affair with her boss, then slinking away when she realized she was pregnant? Mom had begged and begged and begged Nana to tell her who her father was, and Nana always said no.

This had gone on until Christmas about 18 months ago when a DNA match had been revealed, and Mom had marched off to Chicago to confront Walter Sullivan in his fancy office. Apparently, they all had Graham’s mother, Aunt Bridget, to thank for handing out DNA tests to the family for Christmas that year.

Bet no one had expected lost relatives to be revealed on account of a gag gift. Walter’s sons still refused to acknowledge that Mom was their half-sister, but Mom took them in stride. All she wanted was to get to know her dad and spend time with him, so here they all were.

Men as rich as Grandfather could afford to buy a rundown ranch a few states away in an effort to meld his family together with a rehab project. He’d called in all his grandsons, which now somehow included Weston and Jude. There’d been another, but Weston had never met the guy. Grandfather’s namesake had died in a helicopter crash not long before the fated Christmas, leaving a toddler behind in the care of his brother Tate.

Which had contributed to Tate marrying Jamie’s nanny, Stephanie, last summer, though they barely knew each other.

Way too much family. Way too many complications. Way too many people in Weston’s space.

“Weston?”

He startled and looked at her. Great, she’d been nattering at him for something like ten minutes now, and he’d blocked every word she’d said. Paisley might as well have dumped all her deepest secrets and insecurities for all he would have noticed.

“Uh, yeah?”

So eloquent. Why did she bother?

“Look! There’s a bald eagle!” Cindy’s hushed voice caught Paisley’s attention. And that’s what she was supposed to be doing, keeping an eye on her cohort, not hammering against Weston’s indifference.

The group reined in their horses while they watched a large bird with white head and white tail feathers swoop then settle on the topmost branch of a nearby snag. The bird eyed the group. They stared back, gaping.

“There’s another one,” Weston said quietly. “To the right and down a few branches, almost hidden. And a juvenile further over.”

“I see them!” the girl whispered in awe. Others murmured agreement.

See? Weston could be a nice guy when he forgot his need to be surly. Somewhere lay the key to making the cowboy relax and smile. This was the job she’d been put on earth to fulfill.

Nice one, Paisley. You’re a glutton for rejection, that’s all.

It might even be the truth, not that she wanted to analyze too deeply. The guest ranch would celebrate this summer’s grand opening next weekend, and her scattered brain had enough to do with planning all the activities. So far, she hadn’t messed anything up too badly. No one had suspected her inabilities yet, at least that she knew of.

Once she got through the kick-off weekend, she needed to buckle down with planning the Fourth of July. She’d best keep the facade of a woman who had everything together for as long as possible. Maybe one day she’d become her. Practice makes perfect and all that.

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