Page 24 of A Family With the Cowboy

They were so excited, they all started talking at once. Laura listened and nodded and smiled until Birdie’s mom called them back to their table. Waving at Birdie’s mother, Laura followed Cooper, who had been waiting patiently.

“Sorry about that.”

“They obviously adore you.” He smiled as he put a hand to her back and steered her toward the table where the rest of his family were already sitting. “I have to say, my second-grade teacher looked very different than you do.”

Cooper’s words faded as Laura caught Hayden’s gaze on her. Both he and Becket got up as they neared the table. Becket was smiling, but Hayden’s teeth were tightly clenched, his eyes shuttered, not giving anything away.

The butterflies in her tummy went ballistic. Her heart just about jumped out of her chest, and the roaring in her ears drowned out every other noise. Becket’s mouth moved, but she had no idea what he said, as she smiled and nodded to him and to Arlene and Willow.

Without his hat, in black jeans and a black shirt, Hayden was mouthwateringly sexy. Only when a small hand slipped into hers was she able to drag her eyes away from the gorgeous cowboy on the other side of the table.

“Hi, Luke,” she said. “Don’t you look handsome!”

“Grandma got me new clothes.” He smiled proudly. “Where are you going to sit?”

“She’s sitting next to me, buddy.” Cooper grinned. “But I’m sure if you ask nicely, she’ll save you a dance.”

“Will you, Miss Anderson?”

Gravely, Laura nodded. “It would be my honor, thank you.”

Happy, Luke skipped away.

Cooper pulled out a chair for Laura next to Willow and, gratefully, she sat down. At least she’d be able to talk to Willow and Arlene while trying not to stare at Hayden.

“Laura, okay if I get us a bottle of wine?” asked Cooper, who was still standing.

“Thank you, yes. And water, please?”

“Will do.” He smiled as he turned away.

“You look lovely.” Willow said.

“Thanks. So do you. And Arlene, I love that color on you.”

“Thank you, my dear,” Arlene said. “It’s a pity your friend Ellie didn’t want to come tonight. She could’ve met a lot of potential customers.”

“Who’s Ellie?” Becket asked.

“A new woman in town,” his mom laughed when Becket sat up straight. “Don’t even think about it. She’s so not the type of woman you’ll like,” his mother said quickly, winking at Willow. “She actually has a brain. And a sharp one, from what I’ve seen.”

Luke tugged on his grandma’s arm and she bent down to listen to him.

“She’s just opened up a yarn shop in town,” Willow said. “Next to the pharmacy. But as Mom said, not your type. She’s started a book club.”

Becket shuddered visibly. “You’re right. Yarn and books—so not my type.”

Just then a drumroll announced the band was ready. Becket jumped up. “Come on, Sis. Let’s dance.”

As they walked away, Luke appeared at Laura’s side, holding out his hand. “May I have this dance?” Looking over his shoulder toward his grandma, he grinned. “Like that, Grandma?”

Arlene laughed. “Exactly like that, Luke. You could teach certain other people around the table how it’s done.”

*

Hayden was gnashinghis teeth as he watched his son walk toward the dance floor with Laura. How he was going to survive this night, he had no idea.

Laura looked gorgeous. His eyes had zoomed in on her milk-white shoulders the moment he’d seen her. His first instinct was to jump up, throw her over his shoulder, and take her home, where nobody but him could look at her.

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