Page 18 of A Miracle for the Confident Cowboy

Duke stared after her in a daze not even realizing the laughter had come from behind him in the barn. Three of the men he worked with huddled around him, watching Sophie’s escape, too.

More laughter followed. “You’ve gotta be careful about that one,” one of the cowboys muttered as he elbowed Duke in the side. “Isn’t that Rob’s kid sister?”

“She’s not a kid,” Duke shoved him back. “And he knows.”

A different cowboy lifted a brow. “He knows you were about to lock lips with his sister?” More laughter. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and meet her under the mistletoe.”

It took everything in Duke’s power not to clock the guy or grimace over his crude description. “Rob’s wife set us up.” It was all he was willing to say as he walked around to the final hoof that needed to be worked on. The men cracked a few jokes about Duke avoiding his royal responsibilities and falling for a commoner. None of it came close to what was really happening, but that didn’t mean their words couldn’t sting. Hadn’t he done just that? Avoided his responsibilities back home by moving to Texas?

He worked his jaw. His mother had told him it was fine. She really wanted him to be happy. And for the most part he was. Duke glanced once more in Sophie’s direction as the car pulled away. And perhaps there was a chance for even more happiness.

CHAPTER NINE

Every time Sophiethought back to a couple days ago when she’d come to visit her brother for dinner—only to inexplicitly run away because she forgot about her plans—she got red in the face. Pippa had called her asking where she was and she’d already gotten back to her apartment.

She groaned at the memory. Thankfully Pippa believed her when she’d said she wasn’t feeling well and needed to get a raincheck.

All of that could have been avoided if she hadn’t gone over to Duke and flirted with him.

What was getting into her?

Sheesh, she used to be able to control herself. Now she was dealing with a heart that wasn’t willing to be reined in.

As Sophie walked along the main street in town, she did her best to make excuses and shove the experience aside. She didn’t need the drama being with Duke would put in her life.

“Being with Duke.”

She scoffed at that thought.

“Sophie?”

A yelp ripped from her throat and she spun around to find Duke standing behind her. How long had he been there? Amusement played on his features and she frowned. Had she said or done something to warrant that expression?

That’s when her stomach dropped. Oh no! Had she said his name out loud? What she wouldn’t give to melt into the sidewalk at this very moment or become a Christmas decoration and blend in with the rest of the brightly colored décor lining the street.

Duke tilted his head, his eyes twinkling. He glanced down at the one bag she held from the candle store she’d emerged from a little way down the street. “Doing some last minute Christmas shopping? Or is that just for fun?”

Sophie lifted the bag and let out a strangled laugh. “Yeah. Christmas shopping. I needed to get a few things for Pippa and Allie and the last time I was here, they were with me.” She nodded toward him. “What are you doing in town. Shouldn’t you be working?”

He motioned farther down the street. “I have to get some supplies. I ran out of shoeing nails.” Duke seemed to hesitate as he thought about something for a moment then he motioned once more. “If you’re going that way, we can walk together. I hear there’s a decent store that just opened a few months ago down there. Um, I don't recall what kind of shop but I heard from one of the other volunteers it's good.”

She should decline. Especially since he didn't even know where he was inviting her to visit. That would be the smart thing to do. She should tell him thanks but no thanks and that she wasn’theading that way. Except he'd know that was a lie. She’d been marching toward the new bath and home scent store when she’d foolishly said his name out loud. Fire roared beneath her skin as she stared at him with uncertainty.

His grin faltered for only a moment. “Of course, if you don’t want to?—”

“No,” she blurted. “I was just headed that way. Sure, we can walk together.” The words spilled from her lips as if a dam had cracked and could no longer keep her from making a fool of herself. “And then perhaps you could get me coffee.”

His brown brows lifted in surprise and her face grew even hotter.

She didn’t say that! Why couldn’t she regain the small amount of control she used to have when she was around him? She wanted to crawl away into a cave somewhere and hide from the embarrassment.

“Sounds great.”

She stared at him blankly. It did? He wanted to get coffee? “You don’t have to,” she stammered, “I know you’re busy?—”

“Sophie,” he said smoothly. “I want to get coffee with you.”

A shiver skittered along her skin and she looked away as if she could hide the already flushed state of her cheeks. It was a lost cause. There was no way he hadn’t noticed. If she’d been in Rocky Ridge, then she might have been able to blame it on the cold. As warm as it was in Texas, there was zero chance of that.

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