Page 8 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

The others laughed at that, and Shayna nodded. “Laney’s a bit fierce,” she explained.

“So I gathered,” Everly said with a smile. “You probably wouldn’t know him anyway; he hasn’t been here for long. Maybe he’ll have a reason for why he didn’t show. I know I probably should, but I’m not going to give up hope until I leave.”

“If you want my advice,” said Laney. “I’d give up on him right now. Decide that this time’s the last time that he lets you down. Cut him out of your life and move on.”

Kolby smiled at her. “In case you can’t tell, Laney’s slightly bitter. We know all about having a father who’s an asshole.”

Everly nodded. She wanted to defend her dad, he wasn’t an asshole – if he were, she would’ve given up on him years ago.

Shayna caught her gaze and held it. “You don’t have to decide anything tonight. Just hang out with us. Forget about it all and have some fun.”

Everly smiled. “Yeah. Thanks. That’s the plan.”

Her breath caught in her chest when Tanner appeared behind Ty. Phew! He was so freaking hot. And the way he smiled, the way his gaze locked on hers, made her feel as though they were the only two people in the room.

Laney broke the moment. “What are you doing out here?”

Tanner’s gaze didn’t leave Everly’s as he said, “Taking my break.”

He came closer, and the others moved aside so that he could stand next to Everly. He looked down into her eyes and smiled.

“Do you want to dance?”

“I …” She looked around at the others, but they were all suddenly busy chatting amongst themselves.

Ty put his hands on Shayna’s waist and lifted her down from her stool. “We’ll see you on the dance floor.”

Shayna looked back over her shoulder as he led her away. She grinned at Everly and gave her an encouraging nod.

Tanner cocked an eyebrow and held a hand out to her.

She looked down at it and then back up into his eyes. He lifted a shoulder. “I’m not asking you for anything more than a dance – and don’t get me wrong, that’s not because I don’t want more.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. She could turn him down, she probably should – but why not? She’d be back home soon enough, and when she got there, she’d have to figure out what she was going to do with her life. What would be the harm in collecting the memory of a dance with a hot cowboy?

His hand was still extended toward her, and he waggled his fingers. He chuckled as he said, “Please?”

She laughed with him. “Well, since you asked so nicely, it’d be rude of me to refuse, wouldn’t it?”

She slipped down from the stool, and shivers chased each other up and down her spine when he placed his hand on the small of her back.

When they were out on the dance floor, he held his hands out to her and said, “I’ll let you be in charge of how this goes.”

She took one of his hands and looped her other arm up around his neck with a smile. He placed his free hand on her hip and as they started to move to the music, he raised his eyebrows as he inched his hand further around her until it rested on the small of her back.

“This okay?” he asked with a grin.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. It had been a long time since she’d had a man’s arms around her, and the way he was slowly drawing her closer to him as they moved around the dance floor had her heart beating wildly.

Ty grinned at them as he and Shayna went by. Shayna gave her an inquiring look, and Everly nodded happily. She loved that the other woman was looking out for her.

“Hey.”

She attempted to gather her wits together before she looked up at Tanner. It was pointless, though; all common sense fled from her brain the moment she met his gaze.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m good,” she told him honestly. She just didn’t add that she couldn’t remember ever feeling as good as she did dancing with him like this.

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