Page 21 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

He slowly backed down and waited for her descent.Fine mess. Certainly not the finest moment of her life. So much for a graceful exit.

She made it down and tried to gather her usual business composure. It was a little hard to do when that blue gaze was definitely not going anywhere.

“What is it that you want? I don’t usually conduct business in my backyard after hours.”

“Well, I haven’t had a lot of luck getting an audience with your highness doing it the usual business way. So I was in the neighborhood and luckily caught sight of you dangling from this ladder. You might say I’m taking care of two problems at the same time and should be getting a thank you at least.”

“Thank you? I didn’t ask you to stop and help. Let’s get that clear. I was doing okay until you snuck into my yard and scared me.”

“So, we’re back to square one, are we?”

“Square one?”

“You being your uptight, high and mighty mayor self and me being a tax-paying citizen, being treated not very amiably by you. I did try to make appointments with you like you requested, but for some reason your schedule seems to be a bit stuffed lately. And you seem to have forgotten how to return phone calls. I thought you were trying to get me on board with your springs idea. This is not boding well for that.”

“Look…” She tried to take a deep breath and get control of a situation that was clearly about to escalate, but his mention of the springs brought perspective.Don’t blow it.

“I have been busy since we returned. And I should have spent more time trying to return all the calls that had piled up during the last couple of days. But I was going to finish getting to them tomorrow. And while I wish there were more hours in the day, I do have a home I have to try and take care of, which also coincides with my business of being an innkeeper also. The gutters are causing issues after the last rain and I needed to handle it. Sorry you had to take time from your busy schedule to bring your issue to my doorstep…after hours.”

He had listened. And maybe his broad shoulders didn’t seem quite as rigid as they first appeared, and there was a bit of relaxing in that strong jawline. And she shouldn’t be watching him so closely.

“I see. Well, all of us are entitled to have an off day now and then, I suppose. And I should have alerted you to my presence in your yard before just jumping on your ladder. But I thought you were about to take a tumble, and I tried to prevent that. Sorry for scaring you.”

He was apologizing? Mark the calendar.

Then she felt contrite for being so catty in her thoughts. “Thank you. I’m sorry for overreacting. I appreciate you for keeping my bones in one piece.”

There was a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth and that was also not something she should be looking at. After all, there was someone else who had a claim to that area. She better not forget that fact.

His hand lifted and two fingers brushed the side of her head, bringing everything into sharp focus. Before she could back away or react, his fingers drew back with two leaves that had been stuck in her hair. And she felt even worse as the last vestiges she tried to project of being halfway better-looking than she felt, were literally plucked away.

“Thanks,” she said, as it came out in just better than a mumble. “What was it that you needed to speak to me about?”

“I’ll tell you if you promise that you will not get back on that ladder after I’m gone.”

“Just tell me.”

“I was going to ask if you would come out to the ranch this Saturday and we can go up to the springs and finish our discussion with my point of view added into it. We saw the springs on our trip, and you certainly gave me a lot of research to read through, which I have. Now you need to see my perspective…correct?”

She couldn’t deny that fact. “Yes, that is true. And I’ll be able to come out in the afternoon if that’s agreeable?”

“Yes, that’s fine. My people will be expecting you and they’ll let me know when you arrive. Let’s say two o’clock?”

She nodded.

“Good. And now I’ll just put this ladder back in the garage for you and be on my way. It’s getting too dark out here to be working anyway.” And he did just that. The nerve of him. She hadn’t asked him to help.

“Look, I can do that.”

He didn’t stop. With the ladder over his shoulder, he strode to the open garage, and all was done in a couple of minutes.

“All done. Now I have an engagement to get to, so I’ll leave you. See you Saturday, Mayor.”

She tried not to but watching him walk down the driveway to his truck was something she couldn’t resist doing. He turned and caught her and he grinned, touching a finger to the brim of his hat. The truck roared to life, and he was gone.

“He probably thinks I was ogling those tight jeans. Him and his Texas-sized ego.” She was speaking to only herself. Add that to making her feel even more ridiculous in her jeans with patches and an old work shirt of her brother’s. Leaves in her hair. Probably dirt smears too. Not exactly her finest moment. And in comparison, to how hisengagementwas probably going to look this evening, she would be the comic relief for him.

Well, she was who she was. No use trying to be any other way. Cade Lockwood was not in her realm. And that thought made her feel worse instead of better.Darn him!

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