The Swinging R Ranch: The Swinging R Ranch / Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Debbi Rawlins

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      Mona nodded. “Candy Kane is out shopping but she should be home soon. There’s only three of us these days.”

      Oh, man. Max swallowed, not sure what to say.

      To his further embarrassment, Mona and Rosie exchanged knowing looks. Then Rosie smiled. “Don’t worry, Max,” she said patting his arm. “There may be snow on the chimney but there’s still fire in the furnace.”

      “WHERE IS SHE?” Abby stood on the porch of the Swinging R and planted her hands on her hips, waiting for Mona to deny that Gramms was here.

      “I presume you’re talking about Estelle.” Mona folded her arms across her chest, keeping the screen door open with one hip. “She’s not here.”

      “I knew you’d say that.”

      “She’s out shopping with Candy.”

      “Oh.” Abby hadn’t been prepared for the admission. “Well, what time will she be back?”

      “How should I know, Abigail? I’m not her mother.” Mona narrowed her dramatically made-up eyes. “And neither are you.”

      Abby lifted her chin. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what this show of rebellion was about. She knew Gramms thought she was too bossy. But Abby sure wasn’t about to discuss their personal business with Mona. “I’ll wait.”

      “Don’t you have campaign things to go worry about?”

      Abby was about to reply when she heard a deep rumbling laugh coming from inside. She’d already seen Herb Hanson’s car parked alongside the house. No surprise. Everyone knew he and Mona had been an item for a number of years. But that wasn’t his laugh she’d heard. Curiosity elbowed her and she shifted to get a look inside.

      Mona shifted, too, blocking her vision. “Abigail, you know we like to protect the privacy of our gentlemen callers.”

      Everyone knew the Swinging R had been closed to that kind of business for nearly twenty years. Mona was just trying to be a pain. Abby sighed. “Are you going to make me wait out here?”

      “I’m thinking about it. Unless you promise to leave Estelle alone. She’ll go home when she’s good and ready.”

      Abby tried to keep her chin up. But it hurt to think that Gramms was trying to get away from her. They’d always been close, and after Abby’s parents died, they’d gotten even closer.

      “Ah, shoot. Come on in, honey,” Mona said, and Abby stiffened at the trace of pity in her voice. “Rosie made some fresh lemonade a little while ago.”

      Abby was about to refuse, upset that she’d somehow revealed too much of her thoughts. But Mona’s eyes were kind, and that deep rumbling laughter coming from inside called to Abby again.

      “Thank you,” she said a little more stiffly than intended, and followed Mona inside.

      As soon as she crossed the threshold she saw him. He had his back to her. A very nice back. Medium brown hair a tad too long. Broad-shouldered, tapered waist. And his jeans fit him…extremely well.

      “Nice buns, huh?” Mona whispered.

      “I wasn’t looking there,” Abby shot back, obviously in too loud a voice.

      Both men turned.

      Heat blossomed in her cheeks. “I guess I’ll go find Rosie,” she muttered.

      Before she could slip away, Mona grabbed her arm. “Not so fast. There’s someone we want you to meet.”

      Abby had no choice but to stop and look up.

      Oh, no.

      Green eyes. She was the world’s biggest sucker for guys with green eyes. She’d made two huge mistakes over green-eyed men—one in high school, one in college. Both disastrous. And this man’s eyes were gorgeous, especially the way they lit up with his smile.

      “Hi, I’m Abby,” she said, disgusted at how tongue-tied she felt.

      “I’m Max Bennett.” His perfectly shaped mouth curved slowly, a faint dimple appearing in one cheek.

      “You certainly are,” she murmured, astonished by the sheer beauty of him. She cringed. Had she really said that out loud?

      “Did I tell you I’m Abby?”

      His green eyes gleamed with amusement and she found she couldn’t look away. When he started to nod slowly, she found herself absently nodding along with him. Horrified, she snapped out of the trance.

      This was not at all like her. The clammy palms, the speeding pulse. Sure, he was gorgeous but…she wanted to be mayor. She had to focus on her campaign, concentrate on her career, on bringing Bingo into the twenty-first century. Her future had been too meticulously planned. It did not include a man. Or a family. For now, anyway. Maybe later…

      She took a deep breath, trying to rein in her wildly galloping thoughts. For heaven’s sake, she was only being introduced to the guy. Campaign jitters, that’s all.

      She stuck out her hand. “Abby Cunningham. I’m running for mayor.”

      Surprise flashed in his eyes. “Mayor? I assumed you worked here as one of the…” He shrugged.

      Abby’s mouth opened but nothing came out. He thought she was a…She couldn’t even think it, much less say it.

      “Nah, Abigail’s been to college and everything,” Mona said. “She’s going to be our next mayor just like her daddy was.”

      “Good for you.” Max’s slow grin had her getting all rubbery again, and she forgave him for mistaking her for an employee here. The warm feel of his palm pressed to hers just about finished her off. “When’s the election?”

      She quickly withdrew her hand and inconspicuously rubbed her tingly palm down the front of her jeans. “In two months.”

      “Pity I won’t be here to help celebrate your victory.”

      He didn’t mean he would really celebrate with her, of course, but at the low intimate timbre of his voice, Abby got all shivery inside.

      “What do you mean?” Mona asked. “Who’s going to run the place if you’re not?” At Abby’s puzzled frown, she added, “Max is the new owner of the Swinging R.”

      Abby gaped at him. “You’re the new owner?”

      He nodded.

      The warm fuzzy feeling instantly vanished. What the heck was he doing here? If he had even a passing notion of reopening the place…or allowing Gramms to stay on…

      Abby got so worked up she could barely sustain the thought.

      “You’re right, Mr. Bennett. You won’t be here in two months. I’m going to shut you down.”

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