Page 3 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

She startled when April sat down beside her and set a fresh mug of coffee on the table. She was tempted to close her laptop but forced herself to leave it open. She had nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of; more and more people used dating sites these days. Lots of relationships started that way.

“Here you go,” April said with a smile. “Oh!” Her gaze fell on the screen, and she smiled. “Are you having any luck on there?”

Shayna let out a short laugh. “Nope, and I doubt I will. I should just delete my profile, but it’s like an addiction. I think I’ve given up looking, but then I get this urge to check again.”

“It’s not a harmful addiction, though, is it?”

She shrugged. “No, but it’s not a great use of my time, and I need to use my time wisely.”

“Aww, if anyone deserves a bit of downtime, you do. You work more than anyone I know. You should be able to look at guys online if you want to. Better yet, you should be able to meet a decent guy in real life.”

Shayna laughed. “Even if I did, I wouldn’t have the time to see him!”

April laughed with her. “True, but you could always chat with him on the computer.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Or at least enjoy looking. Who would you be looking for in an ideal world? What’s your type?”

Shayna watched Renée walk Hope and Chance to the door. Then she turned back to April with a shamefaced smile. “Heis!”

She felt the heat in her cheeks when Chance called, “See ya later, April.”

“You will; we should be there by seven-thirty,” April shouted back.

Shayna hung her head. “Way to embarrass myself, huh?”

“No! You’re fine! I get it. He’s gorgeous! And you’re not saying you’re afterhim –”

“Oh god, no! I just meant the type. You asked me … in an ideal world.”

“You’re into cowboys?”

She laughed. “I can’t say that for sure. I like the look, and I like the idea, but – other than Chance – I don’t think I’ve ever met a real cowboy. I mean, it’s probably like anything in life;from the outside it’s easy to idealize all the best parts and create a fantasy, but in reality, you have to deal with a whole bunch of downsides.”

“That’s true. It makes me laugh when women go all gaga over cowboys – not trying to put you off, there are some who live up to the ideal – but like you said, there are a lot of downsides, too.”

Shayna blew out a sigh. “It’s not like I’m ever even going to meet one to have to worry about the downsides though, is it?”

“Exactly,” April said with a smile. “So, why don’t we find you some to look at?”

Shayna gave her a puzzled look, and she nodded at the laptop.

“Let’s do a search in Montana. I spent most of my life there – and I wouldn’t have made it here if it hadn’t been for Chance and his friends. I’m living proof that there are some amazing cowboys out there.” She pointed at the screen. “Mind if I do a search and we’ll see what we can find you?”

Shayna shrugged.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” April told her.

“If I’m honest, it’s a mixture of embarrassment and hope.”

April laughed. “Well, if this turns out as well for you as it did for Hope …”

Shayna laughed with her. “Then I would be one happy girl!”

April typed in a search, and Shayna had to smile at the list of profiles that came up – cowboy after cowboy!

“There you go, that should give you something to look at.”

Shayna scrolled through them, but none particularly caught her eye. Some of them looked okay, but what they’d written put her off – and vice versa.

“Anyone appeal?” April asked after a little while.

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