Page 18 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

Then he heard an unwelcome sound.

He was not alone.

“My, my. Don’t think I’ve ever been greeted by such an interesting sight before.”

But things got worse when Jaxson jerked upward and turned toward the speaker without thinking it through. Of course, the soap went flying again.

“And one so excited to see me, at that.”

A long moment stretched into what seemed a decade of speechless shock. Then Laurel began biting her lip, shoulders shaking as she concealed a laugh.

Jaxson straightened, his chin coming up in challenge. “You can keep staring, or you could hand me the bar of soap and help a guy out.”

Laurel took in a deep breath and did just that, moving a few steps forward until the partition was between the two of them. She sat the bar on top of the partition and stepped back.

“When did Laurel Burkitt run away from a dare?”

“When she stopped playing childish games and grew up.”

“I think you lost your nerve,” he challenged. “Although the best response might have been something like, ‘when I got engaged.’ But then maybe it’s hard to remember that sometimes. For both you and Sean.”

“Looks like you might be getting cold, so I’ll just go now.”

“There’s the Laurel I knew and... love,” he added softly. But, of course, she was already out of the door. And it was good that she was gone because he had shocked himself into speechlessness. He had not only bared his body, but he had almost bared his soul too.

*

“You look likeyou need this,” Beaudry said, handing over a cold bottle of beer. Jaxson had managed to walk into the dining room just as everyone was moving in that direction.

“Thanks, I needed this, and probably a few more.” He took a deep swig as his gaze made a sweep of the room. The person he was searching out stood across the room with Sean and, surprise, surprise, the blonde from earlier in the day. The three of them were laughing and acting like nothing was amiss.

Jaxson had time to observe the trio, particularly the woman he had just blurted out a heart-stopping admission about. She was gorgeous. Her hair was done up on top of her head in a sexy style that made his fingers itch to remove each hairpin slowly and methodically. The dress was a blue shimmery material with one shoulder covered with a ruffle and the other bare. There was a slit that, when she moved, showed off a long length of tanned leg that stirred parts of him that might need another bout under the cold showerhead if he didn’t gain some control.

“It isn’t nice to leer at my sister. Especially with her fiancé so close beside her.” Sammi Jo had sidled up next to him, her gaze watching him with a knowing smile on her face.

“I’m not leering, just admiring. And who is the blonde next to Sean? A relative?”

“That is the person who’ll help make certain the wedding goes off without a problem. She’s a wedding planner and longtime friend of theirs from Hollywood. She’s really nice. I’ll introduce you if you’d like after dinner. Her name is CeeCee. And she’s available if you’re interested, or maybe you aren’t available, since I heard that Laurel met your lady friend a few days ago in Abilene. Perhaps you’ll bring her by the ranch sometime so the rest of us could also meet her. That is a suggestion, in case you’re wondering.”

“Which I heard. Back to CeeCee—it might be interesting to meet her. How about you sit me beside her tonight?”

Sammi Jo looked almost shocked. “You’re really showing some interest in one of our female guests? After all the ones I’ve brought out to the ranch under one pretense or another? This is a major development.”

Major development? Or just a sick twist of humor? Jaxson finished his third beer and, over the course of the evening, found the new addition to the Hollywood guests was both interesting and had a sense of humor. He was also aware of the darted looks Sean sent their way during dinner. That was interesting, as was the fact that Laurel had been very careful not to show any interest in whatever he and their friend were engaging in during the evening. A fourth drink might be pushing things. He’d excuse himself and find a pot of black coffee in the kitchen. Then he’d visit some more with CeeCee once she returned from powdering her nose.

*

“So, what giveswith that cowboy? Since when have tight jeans and cowboy hats been your cup of tea?”

CeeCee gave Sean a slow smile. “Since they come with such a sexy, silent, and mysterious male who wears them. I should have come to Texas a lot sooner.”

“Maybe you should have. But I choose to not waste time on that subject. Besides, then you’d have to do without those back massages I am the expert at and you love so much.”

“There is that fact,” she said. CeeCee gave him a long look of consideration. “Although you’ve been out of practice awhile. How do I know you still have the magic touch?”

Sean took hold of her hand and pulled her through the pantry door, keeping the light off, but with the door cracked a few inches, there was still plenty of light to see his target.

“I don’t think this is a good idea. Someone might come in and need something out of this pantry. How do you think we explain this?”

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