Page 37 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“You know you’d be perfect.” He eased closer, with a soft look meant to convince her, no doubt.

“Because I’m a flirt? Because I don’t have feelings?” This was like April telling her to throw herself at Cole. Nobody seemed to think she wanted love and commitment. He was choosing her because she wouldn’t complicate things, and there’d be no sticky, troublesome feelings like love.

“Because I like you. Because I trust you.”

The earnestness in his gaze shook her resolve.

She focused on the toes of her cowboy boots, centered her thoughts on the reasons he felt she would be perfect for something fake, then focused on the resulting pain.

“Because I don’t do long-term, serious relationships?” She ignored the fact that she always ended it before anyone ever got close to love.

“Jackie, this could help both of us.”

She saw it so clearly from his point of view that all she could do was shake her head. “Because this is fake, there won’t be a big blowout. Things will naturally fade away. Right? You’ll look like you gave me a shot, like a nice guy, and I’ll look like I finally caught my Wylder.”

But she’d be one step further from finding her own happily ever after.

“Will you think about it?”

She sighed, knowing she couldn’t avoid considering the angles. A fake relationship would do both of their images good, and maybe it would finally show men she was worth considering, if Mr. Uncatchable chose her for more than a fling. And maybe people like April would stop laughing off her desire to have love and a family. Sticking with one man for a while would likely be good practice, too. It might also help her hone in on what she was looking for in a life partner.

“I suppose,” she said thoughtfully, “anyone who thinks you’re still angling for a way to get April to return to you—”

“I’m not.”

“—will give up that line of thinking, because you and I will be some hot new thing.”

“And exclusive?” he asked, a possessive set to his jaw that surprised her.

She moved to the hood of her car, using it as a seat. “Who said I’m agreeing to this asinine idea?” She crossed her arms and glowered at him, letting him know she was still the boss.

The problem was that now all she could think of was what would cause him to want exclusivity.

Well, it would be bad for their images if they were dating others on the side, obviously. This ploy would be about his reputation, not about him wanting her all to himself for some primitive reason based on obsession or emotions.

“Of course exclusive,” she said with exasperation. “We’re aiming to build a good reputation.”

She eyed him, that handsome angle of his jaw, the way the brim of his cowboy hat shaded his eyes, giving him a look of mystery. Her anger faded, and a feeling of futility washed over her.

“It would also help beat off all those women drooling after you. I mean, after all, it’s just a matter of time before you weaken and give in.”

She studied her boots again. She wanted this. She wanted Cole all to herself. And ever since their first kiss, her desire to have a shot at a relationship with him had been renewed with an unrelenting vigor. An honest shot. Just one. And knowing this was all he could give, she would take it.

The bright side was that a relationship with him—even fake—would be an expedient way to crush the obsession she’d had for him all her life. In her experience, there was nothing like dating someone to dim her fantasy and send her running in the opposite direction.

She studied Cole carefully. So handsome. So rugged. Could it be that easy? Date the man, spend some time in his arms, and poof! The crush faded and she could move on?

Was it possible that eligible men sensed she was holding a candle for someone else, and that was what kept her from finding love? The crush was all a daydream, but that didn’t matter. She’d made her heart unavailable. And it was time to free it with a dose of reality.

Cole was looking at his own feet, his hat hiding his expression.

She cleared her throat. “The point is…” She softened her tone when he glanced up warily, waiting to hear what she had to say. Waiting for her to reject him, cut him down. Her heart softened even further. “I want you to succeed at winning back your family and the town.” She realized how true that was. He’d made so many sacrifices, and instead of being celebrated, he was being punished. “And a relationship might help, as well as serve as a protective shield against…” She paused, unable to say something he might find negative or derogative.

“Womanizing? Bad decisions? Brawls? Drunken rages?”

She laughed. “That’s not really you. Never was. And drunken rages? Really?”

“There’s still time.”

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