Page 2 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

“Maybe I’m a princess of a faraway country. Or maybe I’m the girl next door. Or maybe I’m a celebrity.” She didn’t like those claims, though she needed his curiosity freshly stirred.

“I think, whoever you are, you’re a thief. I know you’re stealing my breath.” He whirled, then brought her back, his lips inches from hers.

And you’re stealing mine.

Oh boy. He was dialing up the charm, and based on her racing heart, it might start working.

She’d started this game, so she needed to respond. “I meant to.”

Okay, okay. She took a deep breath of air filled with a myriad of perfumes and colognes, including her own. But the most exciting scent from the mix was his—musky but fresh, undoubtedly masculine but with a slight note of vulnerability to it. If she’d made a commercial for his cologne, she’d praise it as irresistible.

Kind of like his blue eyes. Filled with so much confidence, which wasn’t a surprise, but the hint of vulnerability there was. It was so barely there she might’ve imagined it. Surely, she’d imagined it? And yet, wanting to know for sure drew her closer, tempted her to look again and again. Never look away, in fact.

A tremble went through her when she nearly got lost in his baby blues. Why was this happening? She wasn’t attracted to him. She couldn’t be.

People around them stopped dancing, giving them space, watching them.

She swallowed hard. She didn’t like being the center of attention. Her survival often depended on her ability to blend in. But she kept her head high and her back straight.

He whirled her around again, making her head spin for a different reason. “Are you a heartbreaker, Thief? Because when you look in my eyes, I feel you aim to steal my heart.”

Seriously? How many times had he used those lines?

She nearly stopped but forced herself to keep moving. “I’m not. Because when I aim, I don’t miss.” She meant when she aimed with her gun—which she’d still love to have with her—but again, he didn’t need to know that.

“I’m sure you don’t miss. So you’d like to keep your identity a secret.” His gaze bored into her. “Do you know who I am?”

“I do. But I want to know more.” That was the truth, but he wouldn’t like her reasons.

“I find myself at a disadvantage that you know who I am, but I don’t know who you are.” Despite his words, his tone wasn’t whiny but fascinated.

Did she intrigue him? Good.

“But don’t you enjoy a little mystery?” Her expression turned coy again, on purpose. She might be out of her league, but she’d give it her best shot.

He laughed, a deep throaty sound that sent her off-kilter. “I do. So can you tell me something about yourself? Your phone number would be best.” He dipped her, all the while staring into her eyes. “But I’m guessing you’re not going to divulge that.”

Her breathing went shaky, and not from the dip.Concentrate!“You’re guessing right. Well, let’s see.” What could she reveal about herself? “I have a stepmother and two rather arrogant stepsisters. I talk to my pet mice. And a resourceful female helped me get to this ball.”

His eyes widened. “That reminds me of something.”

No kidding.

She’d expected him to be quick-thinking. “Your turn. I already know you grew up in a local ranch family. All your brothers carried on the family tradition and became cowboys. But you have a tremendously successful company you founded yourself with your best friend, who happens to be a genius inventor.” She paused while they moved in sync with the music. “You like a well-done steak and a loaded potato with bacon and lots of sour cream. You work twelve-hour days and sometimes sleep in the office. Yet you always look like you stepped from a magazine cover.”

She almost mentioned his favorite cologne and car make and model, as well as his favorite color and scent of air freshener for said car. But she bit her tongue. After all, no reason to sound borderline stalkerish.

“I’m impressed and almost worried by how much you know about me.” He dipped her again, making her head spin even more.

“But you’re still a mystery,” she added, attempting to regain her balance. “Besides this charity ball you organize every year, you’re rarely seen in public. You’ve dated several celebrities in the past, but the relationships didn’t last. Are you married to your job?”

His lips curved up. “I’m only engaged to it, and now I’m considering breaking that engagement.”

At that moment, the music stopped, and a sharp stab of disappointment surprised her. She lingered in his arms longer than she should have. Then she forced herself to step away, pleased disappointment reflected in his eyes, as well.

“May I have the next dance, please?” He seemed reluctant to let her go. “I won’t ask you for your name. Unless it’s Cindy Ella.”

Her mouth curved up. So he’d caught her hint. Then she reminded herself to dim her smile. “I need to step out to make a call. Remember, you stopped me from doing so before?” She didn’t need to make a call, but she needed to move the cheese from his grasp while he was still hungry.

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