Page 55 of Some Cowboys are Off-Limits

“What? He keeps looking over here like he’s expecting us to do something.” Annabel nudged her friend, forcing Scarlett to drag her attention from Elijah back to her. “So? What do you say? Derek says that he has a cousin coming into town, and he thinks you would be perfect for him.”

She didn’t mean to, but Scarlett snorted. “And what exactly does he have to base that off of? The one night when I practically forced you to dance with him? You know that’s a little ridiculous, right?”

Annabel rolled her eyes. “I just wanted to go on a double with my best friend before you—”

Scarlett’s whole body stiffened as her friend cut herself off. She swung her gaze to Annabel and frowned. “Before I what?”

She blushed and her lashes fluttered. “You know.”

“No, I don’t. That’s why I’m asking you. Before I do what?”

Annabel shrugged. “Before you leave again.”

Scarlett couldn’t even be mad at her. The more time she thought about what Elijah had accused her of, the more she realized just how right he’d been. She didn’t exactly plant roots here when she was younger. But everything had changed.

She found herself glancing toward Elijah again. At least a lot had changed. Scarlett wasn’t interested in leaving. She was fully prepared to stay put for her father, her friends, and Elijah.

“You’re upset. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.” Annabel hurried on to say, causing Scarlett to glance at her once more.

“What are you sorry for? You don’t have to apologize about anything.”

“But what I said—”

Scarlett placed a hand over her friend’s where it rested on the wooden rail. “You’re right. Well, not anymore, but you would have been right if this conversation had been taking place a few years ago. Normally, I’d be planning my next trip.” She hated the guilt that crept into her chest over Annabel’s sad expression. She’d been the one to cause that, and she could see that as clear as day. “But I want you to know that it’s different. I’m different. I’m not going to just up and leave.”

Annabel smiled, but it wasn’t one that offered much confidence in Scarlett at all. It would take more time for Scarlett to retrain her family and friends to understand why she wanted to change so much—an everyday process with baby steps. Thankfully, she was prepared to make such adjustments.

“Okay, so we’re on then? You’ll come?”

“Wait, what? I didn’t agree to that.”

“Sure you did. You promised you weren’t going anywhere.”

Scarlett laughed. “Yeah, that doesn’t mean I want to go on a double with Derek’s cousin. What if he’s a weirdo?”

Annabel groaned. “Everyone has a little weirdo in them. I mean, look at my brother.” She gestured vaguely toward Elijah. “Out of the oldest of my brothers, he’s probably the weirdest.”

Scarlett bit back a laugh but failed miserably when it came out like the strangled sound of a pig. Annabel shot a concerned look in her direction but didn’t comment on it. Instead, she continued with her point.

“He’s handsome, a hard worker, and yet he’s spending all his time over here helping you guys. I mean, what kind of guy would be willing to waste so much of his time on his sister’s friend? There has to be something he’s getting out of it, right? Your dad isn’t paying him, is he?”

Her questions were hitting a little too close for comfort. Before she could brush them off, Annabel continued.

“It’s either that, or he’s got a major crush on you.”

There it was. She’d hit the nail on the proverbial head. Great. Scarlett had a decent poker face, but she wasn’t so sure she could keep this one from Annabel if she looked too closely. Turning her focus to Elijah, Scarlett cleared her throat and then forced a laugh. “Your brother hates me. You saw the way he treated me when I got here. And it hasn’t stopped. He’s still insisting that I’m going to leave, just like you did…”

Oh, great. She shouldn’t have brought that up. Now Annabel would get down again and they’d have another apology session. She needed to get Annabel off her back, and the only thing that came to mind was probably a really bad idea.

“How about instead of a double date, we do some kind of group thing. We can bring a couple girls and a couple guys and just have one big, fun party.”

“I guess that would be kinda fun. Who did you have in mind?”

Ugh! Scarlett hadn’t thought that far. She didn’t really have any friends who were girls around here. Neither did Annabel, for that matter—at least they hadn’t when they were younger.

Annabel laughed. “You can’t think of a single one, can you?”

Scarlett joined in. “Well, I bet you couldn’t either.” She flung her hand in a gesture toward Elijah. “I bet he’d have an idea or two. And you’re always saying he’s too serious around here. How about you invite him?”

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