Page 19 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“I write scenes like this. I can sell anything to anyone. I know what I want and...”

The door slid open with a decided push and the bright overhead light came on. Three people stood staring in shock at each other. It was the newcomer, cup of coffee in hand, that recovered first. Jaxson smiled. “Well,Iwant some flavored creamer for my coffee that is on the third shelf there behind you, Sean. If you could use your free hand to reach over and hand me the box, I’d be grateful.” He stood smiling at the pair, as if they were just discussing the weather.

“Is there something you two were looking for in here? I can probably help you out. Did I hear something about needing a massage? Are you having problems with your back, Miss CeeCee? I could recommend some horse liniment that works just as good, if not better, than anything you might find on the medicine shelf here. It might not smell like fine cologne, but it sure does the trick.”

“She doesn’t need horse liniment. Whatever would make anyone think that would work on a human?” Sean seemed genuinely incensed by such a thought. Jaxson’s response was held in check as Laurel joined the pantry party.

“I evidently did not get the message that the party had moved to the kitchen pantry.”

All gazes landed on Laurel standing just outside the doorway. “Someone want to tell me why we’re having a discussion about horse liniment? In the kitchen? Inside this small pantry?”

“Your cowboy was trying to talk CeeCee into letting him massage her with horse medicine, of all things. He owes her an apology.”

CeeCee spoke up. “Don’t be so dramatic, Sean. He did no such thing. He was being helpful when I noted that in such a cramped area, my back might need some work on it. And I think it just needs to have some room to stretch and walk it off.”

“Right this way,” Jaxson responded, offering his arm, which she took advantage of. “We can take a stroll down to the stables, and I will make you a gift of your own bottle of liniment.”

*

“There he goesagain.” Sean did not move from the pantry, a definite scowl on his face as the pair departed the kitchen without a look in his direction.

“Sean, calm down.” Laurel’s words were not as soft at that point. She didn’t like the way she had reacted to the sight of CeeCee taking possession of Jaxson’s arm in such a way as to make someone think they might be more than just new acquaintances. This was not how things were supposed to be turning out. She focused on the man still standing under the glaring light of the pantry.

“People have known for quite some time that horse liniment can indeed help humans’ limbs too. People who spend their lives around them know that. You can be forgiven for not being one of them. But why did you attack Jaxson so harshly? What’s up with that?”

“I think he’s hitting on CeeCee. What was I supposed to do? I can’t stand up and challenge him to a duel or something. What is it that you females seem to find so irresistible about him?”

“Don’t lump me in that female category.”

Sean shook his head, hands on hips. “I hate to break the news to you, burst that bubble, shatter the illusion—”

“Cut to the chase.”

“You are only fooling yourself, sweetheart. And those of us who know you too well see through all the BS you are throwing around to hide one simple fact. You are into that cowboy more than you want to admit. But we have a deal, a plan, you and I, and we are not deviating from it. Not until that gold ring in my safe deposit box is on a certain finger. Admit it. And then get over it. At least until the happy-ever-after part is a done deal. Now help me find that Rodeo Romeo and get CeeCee away from him.” He didn’t wait for a response but pushed past her, vacating the pantry, moving like a man on a mission.

Laurel stood in place. He was upset. He had no idea what he was talking about. Sean didn’t know that she had turned Jaxson Hawkes down flat, tap-danced across his broken heart on her way up the steps to the plane, and left him for a life she had thought was her dream. How could things she thought were so settled before suddenly feel like they were spinning out of control and unraveling faster than she could find the solution? Jaxson Hawkes was at the root of it all.

But she had a news flash for Sean—he was wrong about her being one of the females who would fall under his cowboy charms.

She had done that long ago. Simple statement, yet it carried a mighty wallop with it. Right up the side of her head. And that’s what rooted Laurel to the spot in that moment. What she thought was in the past, she had left behind her, was standing right in front of her again in that instant.Sean was right.Those were words that often surprised her, but now they shocked her. Jaxson wasn’t playing by her rules. He was to stay the brokenhearted cowboy who would get over her one day, and she’d live happily in a charming cottage by the ocean writing movie scripts.

But then something changed, and Texas had lured her back. Texas, and the land that would make her wild plan into reality. It wasn’t because of any cowboy.

Write that on the chalkboard fifty times, Laurel Burkitt.

Still wouldn’t make it any more believable.

Chapter Nine

“Well, it’s abouttime that you decide to share your Hollywood glamour self with the rest of us in this little corner of Texas.” Tally Mayhew greeted Laurel with a huge smile and a hug as she and Lacy entered Coffee and a Chat next morning.

“Knock off that Hollywood stuff,” Laurel returned. “I am now just a Burkitt refugee returned home again.”

“Right,” Tally said with an eye roll. “I suppose those designer jeans, yellow boutique top, and hand-tooled leather boots were all dropped on the doorstep of our local thrift shop, and you just happened by and picked them up. Remember who you are talking to, girlfriend. Until you arrived back here, I was considered the fashion maven around town.”

Laurel grinned, sliding into the booth reserved for Tally’s own little chat group, of which Laurel had been a charter member since Tally had arrived in Burkitt with her brother and mother back in high school. “I’d say you probably wear several different titles around town from what I’ve heard. My sister tries to keep me updated on all the news, but she falls short sometimes. But I like what you’ve done with the place. Are you into being a librarian now?”

“Isn’t it cool?” Lacy chimed in. “My friends and I come here in the afternoons after school or meet for our own chats and iced coffees on weekends. We love the magazines Tally brings in for the younger crowd. And she even has music that we like. It works out with the young people in Tally’s on Saturdays, and the older crowd is here during the weekdays.”

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