Page 52 of Wounded Cowboy
Autumn grinned at hearing her husband’s nickname.“Matt and Jayden went to the opening night of the new James Bond movie in Livingston.” She sighed.“I can’t wait until the Snowberry Springs Cinema is open again for business and we don’t have to drive all the way to Livingston anymore.”
Still grinning, she surveyed him from hat to boots, and wolf-whistled.“I thought you told me you and Kelsey weren’t going on a date,” she said accusingly.“That it was‘just friends.’”
A hot flush crept up Spring’s neck, and he fought the urge to tug at his collar.“It isn’t a date! We’re just going to the concert together.”
“And dinner, too?” Autumn’s eyes sparkled with mischief.“Thought so!”
“I hope Daddy and Kelsey get married,” April blurted suddenly.
Spring stared at her in shock.
“I want her to be my new mommy,” Abby declared.
Disbelief and hurt ran through him like a lance. How could his girls eventhinkof replacing their mother?
Then he remembered Abby saying she wished she could remember her mother. A wave of renewed pain and grief ambushed him.
Autumn threw him a sympathetic glance.“Let’s give your dad some space, okay?” she told the girls. Then she looked back up at Spring.“You okay?”
“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, raking a hand through his hair and accidentally knocking his hat off.
He caught it before it hit the ground, then looked down at himself. Maybe hewasa bit overdressed for a night out with a friend. No wonder Autumn thought he was dating Kelsey.
“Excuse me,” he said to his sister.“I think I’m going to go change into something more casual. I don’t want Kelsey to get the wrong idea.”
Autumn looked stricken.“Hey, I was just giving you a hard time. You look just fine. It’s actually nice to see you wearing something other than those dirty old work shirts and holey jeans for a change.”
He glanced up at the clock. Too late to find new clothes now. Kelsey was due to arrive at any minute.
On cue, he heard her footsteps on the porch boards. An instant later, she pushed open the door.
His jaw dropped at the sight of Kelsey in a stunning low-cut red dress which highlighted her curves and showed off her cleavage. She’d put her hair up in a sleek twist, and rhinestone barrettes glittered against her smooth black hair.
He looked down, admiring her legs, and saw she wore red heels that matched her dress.
“Wow! You—you lookamazing,” Spring stammered, trying to maintain his composure.
Seeing her dressed to kill made him feel better about his own decision to wear his cowboy formal attire.
“Thanks, you clean up pretty well yourself,” Kelsey replied, a blush sweeping up her throat and over her cheeks.
“Ms. Kelsey, you look like a princess in that dress!” Abby exclaimed.
“You really do!” April agreed.
“Thank you, girls,” Kelsey said, shooting them a dazzling smile.“Hey, Autumn! I’m so glad you could babysit tonight.”
“It’s always nice to have some girl time with my nieces,” Autumn said warmly.“You two have a great time, and don’t worry about coming home late. I brought a toothbrush and I can just sack out on this couch.”
“Let’s get going,” Spring told Kelsey. He was eager to escape before his sister teased him some more.“Thanks again, Autumn. I bought cheese puffs and peanut butter ice cream for you.”
“And there’s some homemade blueberry syrup in the fridge. If you want to try that over the ice cream,” Kelsey said.
“You guys are the best!” Autumn said, beaming at them.“Have fun!”
As he and Kelsey left the house and walked to his pickup, Spring felt a renewed pang of uncertainty.Washe overdressed? Would Kelsey think he was trying to turn their friendly outing into something more?
He suddenly wished he’d told her that yes, this was a date.
