Page 75 of Country Mist

His eyes seemed to say, Who are you and what have you done with the woman I just met? “I’ll do that.”

“Thank you.” She rubbed her temples again, pressing against them with her thumb and forefinger. She handed the shotgun to him. “I’m sorry. I’ve had a rough couple of days.” She shook her head. “And I am coffee deprived. It’s dangerous to be around me until I have a few cups.”

A moment of additional appraising, then the corner of Jayson’s mouth quirked as he took the shotgun. “I’ve been known to cut off a few heads before a pot of good ol’ cowboy coffee.”

“Let’s start over.” She held out her hand. “Celine Northland. I’m the fashion designer for Celine Originals, and you know the rest.”

He shifted the shotgun to his left. “I’m Jayson McBride. I own this hunk of Arizona.” He took her hand and a charge went through her that caused her to catch her breath. “I’m certain I don’t know the rest. But after that shooting demonstration, I’m sure there’s a lot more to the story.”

It took a moment for his remark to sink in. “It’s nothing special.” She smiled. “I imagine you have a few stories to tell.” She tried to withdraw her hand, but he held it just a little bit longer.

“Why don’t you come on in for cinnamon rolls and coffee?” He nodded in the direction of the place she’d barely acknowledged when she arrived. “That is, if you can handle sludge that’ll grow hair on your chest.”

She breathed a sigh of relief when he finally released her hand. “Sludge?”

He flashed her a grin that would make a lesser woman’s knees weaken. “Just sayin’ I put more than twice the amount in the coffee pot than is called for. My sister, Bailey, says you can stand a spoon in it.”

Celine grimaced. “Sounds…like it would probably get me through this before anyone gets decapitated.” She glanced at the people scurrying around them. “No, decapitation is still a possibility.

Jayson grinned and shook his head as he slid the shotgun back into its scabbard. “Come on over.”

She pushed her hair over her shoulder. “Give me about fifteen minutes to take care of a couple of things and get my Xena sword.”

Jayson took the horse’s reins and gave Celine a questioning look.

She shook her head. “Never mind. I have to get coffee before my Hyde side returns.”

He gestured in front of them. “Ladies first.”

She walked past. “I always heard cowboys are notorious for being gentlemanly.”

“Notorious, huh?” He and the Border Collie fell into step with her as he led the chestnut mare. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Right now, it’s a good thing.” She glanced at him and found it refreshing to not be eye-to-eye to a man or looking down. She’d always liked a tall man, and Jayson qualified.

Not to mention he qualified for a whole lot more.

She almost groaned aloud. She’d better stop thinking this way or she’d need to have her head checked when she got back to New York.

Rod stood on the path in front of them as they walked around the trailer.

“She let you live?” Rod said to Jayson. “When Charlie told me about the coffee, I thought you were a goner for sure. And then when she got out that shotgun…”

“You’re half the reason I need so much coffee.” Celine narrowed her gaze at Rod. “Send Charlie to pick me up again, and they’ll be scraping you up off the ground.”

Rod made a poor attempt at looking concerned. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You’d better.” She turned to Jayson. “You’ve met Rod.”

“Yep.” Jayson gave a nod.

Celine said, “I’ll take care of the issue we spoke about and a couple of other things, and then meet you at the house.”

“I need to turn out Starlight, but that won’t take long,” Jayson said. “When you get to the house, come in through the back door. Everyone does, considering that’s where the coffee is.”

“Believe me, I’ll be there in no time.”

“I’ll have a mug waiting.” He turned and headed toward the barn, leading his mare beside him, the Border Collie at his heels.

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