Page 5 of Naughty List Cowboy

I look at my friend first. She’s always been no-nonsense. I met her for the first time years ago when I came home with Lucy from a school break. Lucy had an appointment to get her hair done, and Olivia and I hit it off from the very start. “I see a beautiful woman that is confident and sexy. She has a lot of love to give and hides that behind her rough, fuck the world motto for life. She’s probably one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met.”

Olivia is watching me closely, and she knows I’m talking about her. “I see what you’re doing there, Daisy. Now do you. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell me what you see.”

My eyes drift over to my reflection. “I see a woman…” I let my voice drift off and shake my head. “I can’t do this. Do Lucy.”

I try to pry my shoulders from Olivia’s grip, but she’s not having it. She holds me where I am. “All right, Lucy, I guess we’ll go. When I look at Daisy, I see a woman that is beautiful and doesn’t evenknow how beautiful she is. She has the biggest heart of anyone I know…”

When Olivia stops, Lucy comes to stand next to me and says, “She looks at the world and wonders how she can make it better. But she doesn’t realize that her just being in your life makes it better. She has so much love to give, but she lets fear and unworthiness hold her back. Tonight, that all changes. She’s going to see her worth and see the possibilities. And she’s going to go after what she wants.”

My eyes are round in my face. I would give anything to see myself the way Lucy and Olivia see me. Maybe it’s about time I start.

I give them both a nod of my head. They know how much their words mean to me. “Okay, okay. I get it. I’m beautiful, and any man would be lucky to have me. I got it.”

“Damn straight,” Olivia says.

Lucy is laughing and shaking her head and points at me. “With that body, that dress, and that attitude, my brother is not going to know what hit him.”

Olivia makes a big production of clearing her throat. “Excuse me, and my awesome hair and makeup skills. Don’t forget about that.”

We all laugh, and I can feel the hope building inside me.Can there really be something between Cash and me?

4

CASH

I feel like it’s been days since I left Daisy in her bedroom, but it’s only been a few hours. I’ve tried to stay busy. There’s always plenty that needs done on the ranch, but I wanted to stay closer to the house. I helped the guys clean up the sidewalks that lead to the event barn and did a few last-minute things there. When I finally went up to my bedroom to shower, I stood out in the hall for a few minutes listening to Lucy and Daisy laugh behind the closed bedroom door.

I wanted to wait on her and walk in together, but duty called, and I was needed at the event barn.

When guests start to arrive, I hang out at the entrance to greet people. My brother Hunter is nowhere to be found. I’m sure he’ll show up,probably just to see if our neighbor’s daughter is here. He’s been ignoring her for just as many years as I’ve been pushing Daisy away, and it’s about time he gets his head out of his ass.

But I’m not going to worry about that tonight.

Nope, tonight is all about Daisy and me.

I put a smile on my face as guests arrive. I’m feeling disheartened when Daisy is nowhere to be seen. Surely, she hasn’t changed her mind.

I’m about to go search for her when Lucy steps up from behind me. “Want me to take over greeting guests?”

“Where is she?” I ask her, eyes searching the room.

Lucy just laughs. “We didn’t want to stand in this line, so I snuck us in the side door. I left her over by the punch bowl, but you’d better hurry. I saw a few of your cowboys eyeing her.”

My voice is strained and barely controlled. “They fuckin’ know better.”

I’m on the move, leaving my sister to meet the remaining guests. When I spot Daisy, I about trip over my own boots. She’s fuckin’ gorgeous, but she always has been to me. I slow my steps but only because I know if I keep going like I am, I’m not going to be able to control myself. She finally spotsme, and even from where I’m at, I can feel the heat in her gaze. When I stop in front of her, I put my hands on her shoulders. “You’re beautiful.”

She starts to shake her head, but I tighten my hands on her shoulders. “You’re the prettiest woman here, Daisy.”

She bites her lip, and I can see the way she wants to believe what I’m saying. I’ve hurt her so many times, I can understand why she would doubt me. My job for tonight is to make her believe it. Her hand goes to the necklace I gave her. “Cash, Lucy said this was your mom’s. I’ll return it tonight.”

“Fuck no you won’t,” I tell her and instantly regret the harsh tone. “Sorry. I mean, I want you to have it. If my mom was here, she would want me to give it to you.”

She wants to ask me why, but I can’t tell her that. Not here in front of half the town. “Dance with me.”

She looks around the room and then back up at me with a smirk. “There’s music, but no one is dancing.”

“Daisy, it feels like I’ve waited a lifetime to hold you in my arms. I don’t care if anyone else is dancing. Dance with me.”

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