Claiming the Rancher's Heart. Cindy Kirk

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СКАЧАТЬ gave it to me when I was small,” Anna explained before shifting her attention back to Josh. She wagged a finger at him. “You were supposed to forget that name.”

      “I have a good memory.”

      Stacie could see the twinkle in his eyes.

      “I have a good memory, as well,” Anna teased. “I remember Seth telling me that you and he preferred the traditional dating route. Yet, you both filled out Lauren’s survey. Why?”

      There was a warm, comfortable feel to the interaction between the two. Stacie found herself wondering if Josh and Anna had ever dated. A stab of something she couldn’t quite identify rose up at the thought. It was almost as if she were…jealous? But that would be crazy. She wasn’t interested in Josh Collins, cowboy extraordinaire.

      “Seth probably did it because he knew you’d kill him if he didn’t,” Josh explained. “I completed the survey because Seth asked and I owed him a favor.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I never expected to get matched.”

      He’s no more excited about this date than I am, Stacie thought, pushing back her chair and rising, finding the thought more comforting than disturbing.

      “I’ll try to make the evening as painless as possible.” Stacie covered the short distance separating them and held out her hand. “I’m Stacie Summers, your date.”

      “I figured as much.” He pulled a hand from his pocket and his fingers covered hers in a warm, firm grip. “Josh Collins.”

      To Stacie’s surprise, a tingle traveled up her arm. She slipped her hand from his, puzzled by the reaction. The cute attorney’s hand had brushed against hers several times during their date, and she hadn’t felt a single sizzle.

      “Would you care to join us?” Anna asked. “We have fresh-squeezed lemonade. And I could bring out the sugar cookies Stacie made this morning.”

      His easy smile didn’t waver, but something told Stacie he’d rather break a bronc than drink lemonade and eat cookies with three women.

      Though several minutes earlier she’d been determined to do whatever it took to cut this date short, she found herself coming to his rescue. “Sorry, Anna. Josh agreed to a date with one woman, not three.”

      Lauren rose and stepped forward. “Well, before my roommate steals you away, let me introduce myself. I’m Lauren Van Meveren, the author of the survey you took. I also want to extend my thanks to you for participating.”

      “Pleased to meet you, Lauren.” Josh shook her hand. “Those were some mighty interesting questions.”

      Stacie exchanged a glance with Anna. Obviously Josh didn’t realize he was in danger of opening the floodgates. If there was one thing Lauren was passionate about, it was her research.

      “I’m working on my doctoral dissertation.” Lauren’s face lit up, the way it always did when anyone expressed interest in her research. “The survey is a tool to gather data that will either support or disprove my research hypothesis.”

      “Seth mentioned you were working on your Ph.D.,” Josh said. “But when I asked what your research question was, he couldn’t tell me.”

      Stacie stifled a groan. The floodgates were now officially open.

      Lauren straightened. “You’re familiar with the dissertation process?”

      “Somewhat,” he admitted. “My mother is working on her Ph.D. in nursing. I remember what she went through to get her topic approved.”

      “Then you do understand.” Lauren gestured to the wicker chair next to hers. “Have a seat. I’ll tell you about my hypothesis.”

      “I suggest we all sit down,” Anna said with a smile. “This may take a while,” she added in a low tone only loud enough for Stacie to hear.

      Stacie slipped back into the chair she’d vacated moments before. Josh snagged the seat beside her, his attention focused on Lauren. Even if Stacie wanted to save him, it was too late now.

      Lauren’s lips tipped up in a satisfied smile. “I was ecstatic when my subject was approved.”

      “And what are you studying?” Josh prompted.

      Shoot me now, Stacie thought to herself. Just put a gun to my head and shoot me.

      “Having relevant, personally tailored information about values and characteristics central to interpersonal relationships increases the chance of successful establishment and maintenance of said relationships,” Lauren said without taking a breath. “It’s a concept already embraced by many of the online dating services. But my study focuses more on what goes into forming a friendship rather than just a love match.”

      “Very interesting,” Josh said, sounding surprisingly sincere. “What made you decide to do the research here?”

      “Anna suggested I consider it—”

      “I told her about all the single men.” Anna poured a glass of lemonade and handed it to Josh. “And that I had a house where she could stay rent free. I decided to come along since there was nothing keeping me in Denver.”

      Josh shifted his attention to Anna. “Seth mentioned you lost your job.”

      “My employer was supposed to sell me her boutique.” Anna took the last seat at the table. “Instead, she sold it to someone else.”

      Josh shook his head, sympathy in his eyes. “That sucks.”

      “Tell me about it,” Anna said with a sigh.

      The handsome cowboy seemed to be getting along so well with her roommates that Stacie wondered if anyone would notice if she got up and left. When her gaze returned to the table, she found Josh staring.

      “It’s been great catching up.” He drained his glass of lemonade. “But Stacie and I should get going.”

      He stood, and Stacie automatically rose to her feet. She adored her roommates, but going with her match seemed a better option than staying and talking research with Lauren or rehashing job disappointments with Anna.

      Josh followed her to the steps. Though he’d already given her a quick once-over when he’d first arrived, she caught him casting surreptitious glances her way.

      If the look in his eye was any indication, her khaki capris and pink cotton shirt met with his approval. Stacie felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. Anna had said he was a nice guy, and his interactions with her roommates had shown that to be true.

      There was certainly no need to be stressed. But when she started chattering about the weather, Stacie realized her nerves were on high alert.

      But if Josh found the topic dull, he didn’t show it. In fact, he seemed more than willing to talk about the lack of rain the area had been experiencing. He’d just started telling her about a particularly bad forest fire near Big Timber a couple years earlier, when they reached his black 4x4.

      He reached around her to open the door. When she stepped forward, he offered her a hand up into the СКАЧАТЬ