Page 60 of Cowgirls Love French Kisses
I reach into my pocket, feeling the small velvet box that holds the promise of a future I'm ready to embrace.
“Annie! Mathieu! That was a-freaking-dorable!”
Natalie.
“Want to give him a spin?” Annie casts me a look with a challenge. “We’ll see if it was just a fluke or if the Frenchy truly has rhythm in his boots.”
“May I have this dance?” I ask Natalie with a hand outstretched.
“Mais oui!” she declares and grabs my hands before I can say otherwise.
I make sure the box is tucked away, and it’s just as well, because Natalie is a powerful dance lead. Annie smiles from the sidelines, her eyes so full of love that I think I might melt on the spot, despite my tapping feet.
“My turn now!” She playfully shoves her cousin out of the way, setting Natalie off in giggles. “You’re mine, city boy,” she says as she snuggles into my neck and we dance a slow one, our bodies moving in time together.
I've not only fallen for Annie but for everything that has made her who she is. In twenty-four hours, Texas, with all its quirks and charms, has stolen a piece of my heart.
The box stays in my pocket, its contents a secret a little while longer. The right moment will come, and when it does, I'll be ready. For now, I'm content to be here, in this joyous whirl of music and laughter, with the woman who's become my world.
ANNIE
The sun's already high and mighty by the time I nudge Mathieu awake. His muddled grumble about the ungodly hour makes me chuckle.
"Come on, sugar," I say, passing him a mug of coffee that's strong enough to wake the dead. “It’s eleven in the morning and the county fair is a-waiting. But first, the girls have a plan for you.”
“The girls?” He wipes the sleep from his eyes.
"Come on, city boy," I say, tugging at Mathieu's hand." Natalie and her posse are waiting for you."
He raises an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and caution in his eyes. "Waiting to do what exactly, Annie?"
I flash him a roguish smile. "Oh, you'll see."
The second we step downstairs, we're ambushed by Natalie and her gang: Laura, Gina, Jess, Chrissy, and Annelise. They're all grins and giggles, a tornado of enthusiasm.
"Mathieu,mon chèr, we've got big plans for you," Natalie announces, twisting her hand around like she’s some kind of French royalty.
Mathieu looks at me, a silent plea for help, but I just shrug. "Better you than me, hon."
Before he can protest, they've got him surrounded, each armed with cowboy essentials—a hat, new boots, a belt buckle the size of a dinner plate. The transformation begins, and Mathieu, bless his heart, dives right in.
"Okay, ladies, show me how to be a real Texas cowboy," he says, his accent thickening the words in the most charming way.
Natalie plops a hat on his head, tipping it just so. "First rule, wear it like you mean it," she instructs.
Laura steps in with the boots, shiny and new. "These bad boys will make you dance like you've got ants in your pants," she quips.
Gina wraps the belt around him, the buckle gleaming. "This here's your trophy, cowboy. Wear it with pride."
Jess and Chrissy, perfect identical twins, are giggling, fussing over his shirt, tucking and adjusting. "Gotta look sharp," Jess says. "The ladies love a well-dressed cowboy."
Annelise steps back, her hands on her hips, surveying their handiwork. "Well, I'll be. Look at you, all decked out! Now just make sure you act the part, a real gentleman. No funny business with our friend, you hear me?"
“Yes, ma’am.”
I can't help it. I'm doubled over with laughter, watching Mathieu strut around, playing the part with a confidence I hadn't seen before. He tips his hat at me, a sly grin on his face.
"Howdy, darlin’," he drawls, the accent all wrong but utterly endearing.
