Page 14 of A Family With the Cowboy

“What’s going on? Where’s Laura?”

“Walking home in heels,” Becket said.

Hayden got up. “I’ll offer her a ride. You go with Becket,” he said to Cooper.

“Who says I’m ready to go home?” Becket grinned.

Hayden glared at him. “I think you’ve given the folks here tonight enough to talk about for the next year. We have a business to run in case you’ve forgotten. You want respect? You need to earn it.” He walked away, ignoring all the curious looks and whispers.

*

Laura slipped onher coat as she quickly moved toward the exit of the hotel. The hotel had been restored over two and a half years ago, Becket had mentioned. The grand lobby glowed with lovely paneled wood, marble, and gleaming light fixtures, but she hardly noticed it again as she quickly made her way outside.

The only person she could blame for the fiasco of a date was herself. Hadn’t she vowed to steer clear of men, of relationships? And here she was, not quite two weeks in a new town, and already in the middle of someone else’s drama.

As she was digging into her purse for her phone, Aiden and Vivian O’Sullivan, Annie’s sister and husband, who she’d met while staying at Annie’s, stepped out of the hotel.

Frowning, Vivian walked up to her. “Everything okay, Laura?”

“We saw what happened inside. May we offer you a lift home?” Aiden asked.

“Thank you, yes. I’m so sorry…”

“We live on the same street. We’re Arlene’s neighbors on the other side,” said Vivian, taking Laura’s arm. “No problem.”

Within minutes, the O’Sullivans dropped her off. Vivian walked with her to her front door. “Oh, my goodness, it’s cold! We’re from Portland, and I’m still not used to it.” Vivian laughed. “I really admire the fact that you can walk in heels on these slippery surfaces.”

“I’m from Missoula. It does get pretty cold there, too, so I’m used to it. But, yeah, heels aren’t the best option in this weather.”

“Will you be okay?” Vivian asked as Laura put the key in the front door.

“I’ll be fine, thanks. I’m much happier at home, knitting and reading, than going on dates. I should remember that.”

Vivian smiled. “Has nobody told you about the magic of this town? It has a way of opening up your heart, whether that’s what you want or not.”

“My heart is in no danger…”

Behind them was the crunch of tires on snow, and both Laura and Vivian turned around.

“You have a visitor,” Vivian said, as Hayden got out of his truck. “You want us to hang around?”

Laura’s heart was beating so loudly she barely heard Vivian’s question. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. He won’t be staying. Probably just checking if I’m okay.”

“Okay, we’ll talk soon.” With a wave, Vivian walked away.

Hayden had stopped to talk to Aiden, who was sitting in his truck, but as Vivian approached he nodded in her direction and walked toward Laura.

She unlocked the front door and switched on the light in the entrance hall, but didn’t enter. If he had something to say, he could say it out here on the porch.

“I was going to bring you home,” he said, as Aiden drove away.

“Not necessary. As you can see, I’m fine. Good night.” As she quickly turned to open the door, her foot slipped. Everything happened in slow motion—her hand shot out to grab the doorknob, her bag dropped, her hand slid from the knob and two strong arms caught her before she could fall on the floor.

“Damn it to hell, woman,” Hayden muttered as she fell against him. He staggered a few steps backwards through the open door into the house with her in his arms.

Out of breath, she lifted her head. His amber eyes turned darker and his jaw tightened. “You are touching me again,” he growled, slipping his hands around her waist.

She should push him away, demand he leave, but something strange was happening. The whole entrance hall suddenly seemed to be vibrating with peculiar electric currents, and her limbs felt heavy. Moving was impossible.

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