Claiming the Rancher's Heart. Cindy Kirk

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СКАЧАТЬ thought for a moment. “I like to cook. He likes to eat.”

      Anna’s lips twitched. “What else?”

      “We both love animals,” Stacie added, warming to the topic. “And he’s easy to talk to.”

      “You enjoyed his company,” Anna said matter-of-factly. “He enjoyed yours.”

      Stacie nodded. She couldn’t deny it. In fact, when Josh had driven her home that night, he’d taken the long way, giving them more time to talk. He hadn’t been uncomfortable, despite what happened. And though he hadn’t kissed her again, the look in his eyes had told her he wanted to…

      “Some guys are looking for a wife.” Anna stood and moved to the mirror, pulling her long blond hair up in a ponytail before letting it drop back down. “But a lot of them would be satisfied with simply meeting someone who enjoys their company. Someone to go out with and have a good time. Someone to be their friend and take the edge off their loneliness.”

      Stacie took a moment to digest Anna’s words. She thought back to her evening with Josh. She’d had fun and knew he had, too. Maybe that was enough.

      “Okay. I’ll do it,” Stacie said reluctantly, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake. “I’ll do it. But I refuse to wear a hat. And square dancing is absolutely out.”

      Chapter Four

      “All jump up and never come down, swing your pretty girl round and round.”

      Stacie twirled, the pink boots sliding on the sawdust-covered dance floor. Her breath came in short puffs and her heart danced a happy rhythm in her chest.

      The large wooden structure that housed the Sweet River Civic Center was filled to capacity. The dance floor, brought in specifically for the occasion, took up a good third of the building. The rest was filled with tables decorated with red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. Baskets of peanuts doubled as a centerpiece.

      Food supplied by ladies in the community sat on tables against a far wall, next to kegs of beer.

      Though many of the younger men and women had left the floor when the square-dance caller took the stage, Stacie and Josh had stayed. She adjusted Josh’s cowboy hat more firmly on her head during the promenade, a smile lifting the corners of her lips.

      She’d been determined to remain hat free. But when Josh teasingly plopped his Stetson on her head, declaring her the prettiest cowgirl he’d ever seen, it seemed right to leave it there. And when the square dance had started and he asked her to give it a try, she hadn’t had the heart to say no.

      Surprisingly Stacie found herself enjoying the experience. But she hadn’t realized how exhausting this style of dancing could be. The two-step and country swing moves had been challenging, but this—she allemanded left for what seemed like forever—set her heart pounding and turned her breathing ragged.

      When the set ended and the caller started up again Stacie shook her head at Josh’s questioning look. They’d barely relinquished their spot when an older couple took their place. Though it was almost midnight, the party showed no sign of slowing down.

      Stacie wove her way through the tables, hopping aside just in time to avoid being plowed over by a drunken cowboy with a ten-gallon hat.

      Josh slipped an arm around her shoulders, sheltering her with his body. He shot the man a quelling glance. “Watch where you’re going, Danker. You almost ran into the lady.”

      Danker—all 285 pounds of him—stopped and turned. Stacie had never liked bulky linebacker types. Their size made her uneasy. But not this guy. With his chocolate-brown eyes and thick curly hair, he wasn’t a grizzly but a teddy bear.

      A huge, drunk teddy bear. His glassy eyes fought to focus.

      “I did what? Oh.” His gaze shifted from Josh to Stacie and a big grin split his face. “Is this her? Your new honey?”

      “This is Stacie Summers,” Josh said, then proceeded to introduce her to Wes Danker.

      She learned that Wes raised sheep and that his ranch was twenty miles from Josh’s spread. But when Josh mentioned Wes had recently returned to Sweet River after a stint in a Wall Street brokerage firm, Stacie couldn’t hide her surprise.

      “I need another drink,” the man bellowed, punctuating his words with a belch.

      Josh’s gaze narrowed. “Tell me you’re staying in town tonight and sleeping this off.”

      Wes’s expression brightened as his gaze returned to Stacie. “I could sleep with you. If’n you’d let me.”

      Josh’s blue eyes turned to slivers of silver in the light. “Ain’t gonna happen.”

      Wes let loose a hearty laugh. “I was just kiddin’. I know she’s yours.” His expression sobered. “I wish I had a woman.”

      “That’s why you need to fill out the survey,” a familiar voice responded. Seth pushed through the crowd to stand beside Wes. “I told you, buddy. You want a woman. You fill out a survey.”

      “Probably won’t get matched anyway.” Wes grabbed two full plastic cups out of the hands of a man passing by. He took a big gulp out of one and then the other.

      The cowboy whose beers he’d stolen just laughed and continued through the crowd.

      “You won’t know if you don’t try.” Seth’s gaze settled on Stacie and Josh. “Look at Collins. Who’d a thought he’d get matched?”

      “Hey.” Josh gave Seth a shove. “Watch it.”

      “I want one as pretty as her,” Wes said, as if placing an order for a side of fries, his gaze lingering on Stacie.

      Was it only her imagination or did Josh’s arm tighten around her shoulders?

      Seth slapped the big man on the back. “You stop over at Anna’s house tomorrow, fill out that survey and she’ll do her best.”

      “’Kay.” Wes finished off the beer in his right hand and crushed the plastic cup between his massive fingers. “I gotta take a leak.”

      As he stumbled off, Stacie swallowed the laughter bubbling in her throat. “I cannot imagine him on Wall Street.”

      A smile lifted the corners of Josh’s lips. “He was good at what he did. Made bucket loads of money.”

      “Sounds as if he’s going to do the survey.” Stacie slanted an admiring glance at Seth. “Anyone ever tell you that you are one fantastic recruiter?”

      Seth winked. “I’m not done yet.” His eyes settled on a group of cowboys at a nearby table. “Five more and I make my quota.”

      Without a backward glance, he was gone.

      “I hope Wes finds someone.” Josh’s expression turned thoughtful. “Though he’s not at his best tonight, he’s a good guy. Moving back to take over the ranch when his dad got sick was hard on him. I know he’s lonely.”

      Stacie’s СКАЧАТЬ