Page 32 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

She took possession of her foot again. Tori stood but preferred to stay in her stocking feet.

“Time for Cinderella to leave this ball.”

“That makes me Prince Charming?” He stood.

“You might be.”

“I’ll do my best to earn the title.”

“Good night and thank you again for your contribution…and the best foot rub ever.”

*

“Cade Lockwood bidmore money for you than ever before in any event we have hosted, he then gave you a foot rub, and not to mention the work crew he sent to your house and putting you on the back of a horse that has been your dream forever… Oh and did I forget to add that he is opening the warm springs after you persuaded him? I would say that the man just might be interested inyou. And you are oblivious.”

“Maggie…he isn’t interested. I told you he has a mysterious model-looking woman he’s obviously dating. I don’t know what he is interested in being nice to me for, but he is up to something.”

“Did you ask him about this girlfriend? None of the rest of us have seen her.”

“Matt has and he was instantly a fan.”

“Okay…plain talk. Put this supposed girlfriend aside. Would you be interested?”

“Reality check.” Tori pushed aside the last of her glass of tea. “Our worlds are vastly different. Our lives, our pasts…not even close. So let it go.”

“You’re having dinner tonight, right?”

“Only because he bid high enough. But yes, we will dine tonight and that’s all.”

“Then go out with a bang. Wear that cute little black outfit that has been hibernating in the back of your closet for far too long. Don’t talk business. Have arealconversation. Enjoy the company. At midnight, you can return to your little inn, to your cat, and then wake up and go to your mayor job again.”

“Maggie, you are a hopeless romantic.”

“Never hopeless, just always hopeful. It’syourturn, you know. Go out and find somethingyoudeserve—for yourself, no one else. You’ve raised your siblings. They are all productive and happy members of society. And they would each say the same thing I’m saying to you right now.”

Something I deserve.The words replayed in her head as she dressed for dinner later that evening. What did she deserve? In her mind, she had simply done what was needed. She was the oldest, and yet, she was just thirteen when their world changed, and they entered the system. But she had known that childhood was gone, and she did not waste time mourning it. Instead, she was determined to keep them all together, made sure they each had a fair chance to grow up as naturally as they could in the system without anyone who cared about them. And she had vowed that one day, there would be a place called home that all of them would know, where they belonged for the rest of their lives.

So strike the worddeserve. Maybe replace it withearned. She hadn’t had an easy road, but she had navigated it. Just as so many others had to do. If she was taking what she earned that evening, then it would be a free dinner, wearing a dressy outfit she had also earned the money to buy, and she would spend some time with another human, not a stack of papers and charts.

It had been three days since the auction. Tonight was the ‘romantic candlelight dinner’ that the winning bidder was due. She would fulfill her part of the deal. And she eyed the black dress that Maggie had said she should wear. It had hung on the door for the last two days…while she debated what to wear. Finally, she had decided to follow part of Maggie’s advice. She’d wear the dress. But the rest of her advice involving going after the man…well, that would be the part she ignored.

She had just finished applying the last dab of perfume when the doorbell rang. Her heart suddenly sped up.Calm down. It’s just dinner and then back home. He is just a business associate.

Maggie had been right on her suggestion of the little black dress if the look on Cade Lockwood’s face was any indication. His gaze made a slow scan of her and her outfit and it came back to meet her gaze.

“I’m beginning to think this might be even better than those feathers. You look beautiful. And far more relaxed.”

Relaxed? No way.Not when a handsome cowboy was standing on her doorstep calling her beautiful and looking at her the way she read about in those romance novels her sister would buy. Trouble might be ahead.

“Shall we go?” Cade’s words brought her back to reality. He took her evening coat from her and held it while she slipped it on. It was one of the reasons she had bought the outfit. The dress was classy and the matching coat was cut with a flair to it and tiny pearl buttons from the neck to the waist. She had braided her hair back into a French knot with a black ribbon intertwined. Tiny pearls shone in her earlobes.Classywas what she had hoped for.

“Did you trade in your truck?” She made the comment when she saw the shiny black limo at the end of the sidewalk. The chauffeur held open the door for them.

“Can’t win the title of Prince Charming if I pick up Cinderella in a truck, can I?”

“You have a competitive streak in you. Anyone ever tell you that?”

“A few rodeo cowboys. And now you.”

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