Page 22 of Spilling the Tea

“Why wouldn’t you? Though you bailed on getting any interest from your cowboy, he did introduce you to his cousin, who sounds just as sexy.”

Yes, but Chance wasn’t her cowboy, Zoey thought despondently. She had hoped to see him again today when she went to his ranch but hadn’t. She’d been slightly disappointed, although she should not have been. She could understand him putting distance between them since he was involved with another woman.

“Although Corbin is a very handsome man, I’m not attracted to him like I am to Chance.”

“And you’re sure Chancellor Madaris has a girlfriend?”

“I’m not sure of anything about him other than our attraction. That can’t be denied. I think even Corbin picked up on it. But since Chance is fighting the attraction, so will I.”

“How did today go at the ranch?”

“It was nice. Chance was kind enough to have a horse saddled for me, so I could ride to that lake. It was a beautiful place, and I saw several things that I remembered from my dream, but nothing jogged my memory there.” She paused momentarily and then said, “Just being there and knowing I shared time there with my parents touched me deeply, and it was hard not to get emotional. I left soon after that.”

“Did you see Chancellor again?”

“No. He was busy on another part of the ranch.” She then told Lucky how his housekeeper had been the one to give her a tour of his home. She also told her about the jewelry armoire and how charming it was.

“It was nice of Chancellor to give you that portrait of your grandmother and let you have the armoire.”

Zoey shrugged. “Yes, it was. They’ve been in his attic for years. He was planning to toss them out. I’m glad he never got around to it.”

“I am, too. I can’t wait to see them. Especially the portrait of your grandmother. Are you ready to meet his great-­grandmother tomorrow?”

“Yes. Too ready. I doubt I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

“Well, go to bed early and get plenty of rest so you don’t fall asleep on her tomorrow.”

“Good idea. Give Burke my love, and I will talk to you later.”

Chapter Seven

Chance entered Vance’s Tavern and scanned the establishment. He hadn’t been here for a while, but the place was crowded as usual. Vance had expanded the size of the tavern earlier that year to add more space for dancing. Already, several people were out on the floor doing a Texas line dance.

He removed his Stetson and hung it on the rack before crossing the floor to a vacant booth. He had barely sat down when Cheryl Carlyle slid into the seat across from him. The same Cheryl Carlyle who had gotten Corbin in a tizzy last month when he’d heard the rumor Mama Laverne would marry them off. A rumor Chance figured was started by Cheryl herself.

“Hello, Chance.”

“Cheryl.”

“What is it you want that would bring you off your ranch on a Thursday night?”

One thing for certain, he thought. It wasn’t her. He wasn’t that desperate. “I thought I’d come here and enjoy a drink or two. Alone.” He stressed the latter, hoping she took the hint that he didn’t want company.

She ignored it when she said, “Well, I’d rather not be alone tonight. In fact—” she deliberately loosened the top button of her blouse to expose that she wasn’t wearing a bra “—I want a drink or two myself. You buying?”

“No,” he said flatly, not caring if his response sounded rude.

She frowned. “You’re not being friendly.”

“Most people don’t consider me much of a friendly person. And since I’m on a roll, I might as well take being bad-­mannered to another level and say I prefer you vacate that seat.”

Her frown deepened. “Why? Are you expecting someone?”

“It doesn’t matter if I am or not. I don’t want you sitting in it.”

“You’re worse than bad-mannered, Chance Madaris. You’re an ass.”

He’d been called worse. “Duly noted. Now I suggest you leave before this ass tells you what he thinks of you. Uncensored.”

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