Page 7 of A Sunny Sweetheart for the Cowboy

“That was not a smile. That was a feral grimace. You can do better. Like this.” She flashed him her best megawatt smile.

Weston stared at her. “Why do you care?”

“I can’t handle being with grumpy people.”

“No one is forcing you to be around me.” He waved up the trail. “Go ahead. Take your group and leave. Who knows how far away the rest of them are by now?”

Wow, that was more than two words. He became eloquent when he was trying to get rid of her.

“I’d rather be with you.”

“You just said…” His eyebrows rose.

“You’re an exception to my rule.” Was she revealing her hand? Did it matter if she did? Paisley leaned a little closer. “Because there’s something about you that makes me think your gruffness is all an act.”

He stared at her with narrowed eyes for a few seconds. “It’s not an act.” He kicked Ranger’s flanks, and the gelding shot up the trail around their group.

Cindy reined in beside Paisley on her horse. “What’s up with him?”

“I poked the bear.” And it wasn’t the adorable, illustrated bear on Cadence’s book cover, either.

The other woman chuckled. “I hear that never ends well.”

“I’ve heard the same.”

And yet, that had never stopped Paisley before, and it wasn’t going to this time, either.

She hated giving up on anything or anyone. Except maybe Mom.

Chapter

Three

Weston tucked Ranger in beside his brother, most of the riders behind them. Let Paisley watch over his group as well as her own. Might occupy her enough to mind her own business.

Jude looked over with eyebrows raised. “I thought you were bringing up the rear.”

“I was, but Paisley is now. Just checking everyone is doing okay.”

“That’s why there are five leaders. Don’t you trust us?”

“Dude.” Weston rolled his eyes. “You know I do.”

“Can’t tell from here.”

Since when had his kid brother been this touchy? That was Weston’s job. “You doing okay?”

“Sure.” Jude gestured toward the six riders in front of him. “All good.”

“I mean in your job and stuff.”

“You’re the one with the cushy position. I’ve got maintenance. Whoop.”

Weston studied his brother. “I thought you liked fixing things.”

“It gets old.”

“Yeah, I guess. I can see that. But everyone thought maintenance was what you wanted to do."

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