Page 29 of Overdue for a Cowboy

The girl nodded eagerly. “That would be great. I’ll come in after school.” She raised her hand to wave. “Take care of yourself, Miss Graham. And enjoy the flowers.”

“Thanks Mikayla. I will.” Maisie pushed the door shut then joined Dodge in the kitchen to admire the flowers.

Mikayla. Mindy. Mandy.He’d been close enough.

“You seem to have a real knack for suggesting great books,” he told Maisie.

“I’m a librarian. That’s what I do,” she said with an offhand shrug, but he could tell from her smile that his words made her happy.

He watched her pull the card from a pink envelope stuck between the flowers. His brow furrowed as he wondered who had sent them to her, and a strange feeling pinged through his belly.

Was it jealousy?

He had no right to be jealous. He certainly had no claim on Maisie. She’d told him that she wasn’t seeing anyone, but that didn’t mean there weren’t men interested in seeing her. She was pretty and sweet and thoughtful—the kind of woman any man would be lucky to come home to every night.

Whoa.Since when did he think about what it would be like to come home to a woman every night?

He didn’t. Because that wasn’t in the cards for him.

So why did seeing the smile curving Maisie’s lips as she read the card cause another one of thosefeelingsto punch him in the gut? He refused to ask her who the flowers were from—it was none of his business—so he also refused to acknowledge that it was killing him not to know.

“They’re from my team at the library,” Maisie said, setting the card with the message face up on the counter. “I can’t believe they would do this.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s just so nice. And I don’t deserve this. I’m basically fine.”

“You got hurt in an accident where your car slammed into a ditch. Your body is bruised up, and you sprained your wrist. That is not fine.”

“Well, it’s not enough to make a big fuss over me.”

“You’re worth making a fuss over.” He had to swallow at the emotion suddenly filling his throat. She was worth not just a bouquet of flowers, but also making chicken soup for and sleeping in a chair all night for. Andsomuch more. “And they obviously care about you. Just like your neighbors.”

“I don’t know.” She offered him a sheepish grin. “I mean, yes, I do believe that Gertie cares about me. But I think she made a mad dash to the store to grab a frozen lasagna more out of an excuse to check in on why a handsome cowboy’s truck was parked out in front of my house all night rather than a dire concern for my health or well-being.”

A different funny feeling pinged through his stomach this time. One that had his lips curving into a grin. “So, what you’re saying is…you think I’m handsome?”

She barked out another loud laugh then covered her mouth as a snort laugh followed. But she didn’t have to. Her full belly laughter and even her snort giggles were a sound he was beginning to love.

Well, maybe notlove, but certainly like a lot.

Dang. How could he have this much attraction and this many feelings swirling around in his gut for a woman he’d known since high school? Although, yes, he had known her, but he hadn’teverkissedher, or felt the passion simmering underneath her quiet exterior that he’d experienced today.

And now a woman he had known forever suddenly felt like someone new.

He took a step toward her, his hand reaching out as if it had a mind of its own…to what? Reach for her hand to hold? Or to pull her into his arms again? Or to cup her face for another kiss?

He would never know…because the blasted doorbell rangagain.

He cocked an eyebrow at Maisie. Her shoulders lifted in a shrug as she let out another snort laugh behind her hand.

“Maybe this is your neighbor fromacrossthe street,” he said, as he headed for the door. “Or the minister coming to check on all your scandalous behavior.”

She giggled again. “Gosh, I hope so. That wouldreallystart some rumors.”

But it was neither another neighbor nor a member of the clergy. It was his oldest brother, Ford, and his girlfriend, Elizabeth, and she was holding a pizza box and a bottle of wine.

“Hey brother,” Ford said, holding up a six pack of his favorite beer. “Chevy brought over burgers last night, so we thought we’d bring you guys a pizza tonight.”

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