Page 28 of Trusting a Cowgirl

Grace stared at her sister with a flat expression. She didn’t share her sister’s sense of humor in this situation in the slightest. “How am I supposed to go in there and go dancing with him, or anyone else for that matter, and not get some of the weirdest looks.”

Brielle shrugged. “Not my problem, baby sister. Maybe you should have thought about that before you asked me to bring you some clothes. You really should clean out your closet, you know. There’s a lot worse I could have brought you.”

“I doubt it.”

Brielle lifted a brow. “Oh yeah? I seem to remember a time when you were really into My Little Pony. Aren’t there a few onesies that still fit you?”

Grace gasped.

“See? I could have brought that.”

She shook her head. “You know I wouldn’t have worn it. I would have made my excuses to Riley and gone home.”

Brielle snickered. “Exactly. I could have brought it, but I didn’t because I wouldn’t do that to the guy you’re seeing.”

“I’mnotseeing him,” Grace argued.

“Treating, seeing, same difference.” She spun around and headed for the building.

“No, it’s not!” She stared at the bag in her hand and called out again. “Hey, unlock the truck. I have to put my clothes in there.”

The headlights flashed and she yanked open the door, tossing the bag of clothes on the floor. The lights flashed again and the horn honked, signaling it was locked once more.

Grace stared up at the building before her one final time before she trudged toward the entrance. It wasn’t her clothing that mattered. She could still look professional while wearing this dress. It was the way she carried herself.

Riley stood by a fireplace. Flames flickered within the brick box, dancing to the beat of the music. Grace stopped and watched him while he was unaware. He wasn’t like the guys who lived here. That was for certain. There were several men here who were broody and unwilling to open up to the women they dated, but his quiet brooding was different.

Nope, there was something else that hovered beneath the surface—something she wanted to figure out. It was strange, the pull he had on her. It probably had more to do with the way she viewed him as a client. She wanted to dig deep and help him overcome whatever it was that had spurred him to bedisorderlyin the first place.

He must have felt her gaze on him because he spun around and his eyes locked with hers. She should have expected the reaction inside her. It had been happening a lot as of late.

Heart, lungs, stomach—all vital organs went haywire. She wasn’t a rule breaker, and yet as they studied one another, she started to wish she was. What would happen if she allowed herself to get closer to him in that kind of way? Would it royally mess up his progress?

Or would it be just the thing to make him trust again?

Her stomach blossomed with heat and she clasped her hands behind her back tightly, if only to steady herself. He smiled at her and she moved forward.

The room and all the occupants disappeared like the stars in the sky as soon as the sun made its appearance. Riley took a few steps toward her and they met in the middle. The corners of his lips twitched. “That took a little longer than I expected.”

“My sister’s truck was locked and I needed the key.”

He lifted his chin, understanding filling his eyes. Then he shifted his focus to the room. “This place is really busy. Does it always fill up like this?”

She followed his gaze. “Actually, I don’t know. This is probably only the second or third time I’ve come.”

Riley lifted a brow. “Really?”

Boy, she hated the way he could make her blush with just one word. Grace ducked her head, staring at her feet. “Don’t forget my father and his overprotective nature. Events like this were a breeding ground for his daughters to find suitors so we weren’t allowed.”

He gently lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. The gesture was so simple and yet so much more intimate than she would have ever guessed. There was this spark where his skin touched hers that made her feel like her insides could start on fire at any second. And yet she remained frozen in her place. “Well, then, I guess we should take advantage of this opportunity. Would you like to dance?”

Her throat went dry and she couldn’t find the words to let him down easy. Because that was exactly what she should do. He wanted her there as a support system. He didn’t need a romantic interest. And she didn’t want to lead him on, despite wanting nothing more than to explore the way he was making her feel.

Riley didn’t wait for an answer. The second a slow song started, he reached for her hand from behind her back and tugged her toward the dance floor. He placed her hand on his shoulder, then put his at her waist.

There was no turning back now.

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