Page 42 of Wounded Cowboy
Besides, it’s probably all in my head. He thinks I’m some kind of flake.
And even if, by some remote chance, hewasinterested in her that way; he was her client. Plus, he wasn’t even her usual type. She preferred clean-cut men who weren’t control freaks.
But when Spring walked into the house a couple of minutes later, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. There was something undeniably sexy about Spring Snowberry when he was sweaty and scruffy-looking from a hard day’s work outdoors.
She nervously pushed a stray lock of her long black hair behind her ear and put on a smile.
“Hey, Spring! You’re just in time for dinner,” she said, her voice bright and welcoming.
“Smells amazing in here,” Spring replied. He looked like he was in a good mood for a change. She saw him note the flowers and the tablecloth, then turn an inquiring glance her way.“I, uh, appreciate the extra effort.”
Kelsey’s face grew hot. “Oh, that was the girls’ idea,” she said quickly, so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea.
Spring looked down at his dusty, stained blue work shirt with a wry twist of his lips.“Do I have time to wash up and change before dinner?”
“Absolutely,” Kelsey assured him.“Take your time—the casserole still has fifteen minutes left to bake, and then it needs to cool for at least ten minutes before we dig in.”
“Great. I’ll be back in a few,” Spring replied before disappearing down the hallway.
When Spring returned to the kitchen fifteen minutes later, his hair was wet, as if he had just taken a shower. He’d changed into a black cowboy shirt with pearl buttons and new jeans.
“Wow, you clean up nicely,” Kelsey blurted.“I feel underdressed now.”
“That’s a pretty dress,” he replied with a hint of a smile.
She felt that strange flutter in her chest again.
He continued,“Anyhow, I thought I’d make an effort since you went through all this trouble for dinner.”
“Daddy, can we dress up, too?” Abby asked.
“I want to put on my princess dress,” said April.
“Sure, if you promise not to spill any food on your clothes,” Spring said.
The girls dashed off to their rooms. They reappeared a few minutes later dressed in ankle-length satin gowns, frothy with tulle and sparkling with rhinestones and sequins.
“Don’t you two look pretty!” Kelsey exclaimed.
“My little princesses,” Spring agreed.
He walked over to the dining room table and pulled out Kelsey’s chair.“Ma’am, if you’ll take a seat,” he said with mock formality.
“Why, thank you, kind sir,” she responded. She knew he meant the gallant gesture as a joke, but it reminded her Spring had always behaved like a gentleman.Which is more than I can say about most of the guys on dating apps.
She shuddered as she recalled her last disastrous date with a software developer named Elliot Crane. He’d insisted on meeting at a trendy microbrewery in Bozeman, then spent the evening critiquing her dinner choices and lecturing her on the benefits of intermittent fasting.
Kelsey shook her head, wondering why she was even thinking about dating right now. Spring was the last man on earth she’d want to date.Right?
She watched as Spring moved around the table and pulled out a chair for each of his daughters. The tender smile playing around his lips as he watched them spread their fancy skirts made her swallow hard.
The smile lingered when he took his seat and gazed around the table.“Well, now, aren’t we a fine-looking bunch tonight?”
“The best-looking diners in Snowberry Springs,” Kelsey agreed, grinning.
“With the best food!” Abby exclaimed.
“April, do you want to say grace tonight?” Spring asked.
