The Twins' Rodeo Rider. Tina Leonard

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      “Now that we have that settled, you’re going to escort me to the upcoming Bridesmaids Creek swim.”

      “The newly christened Cisco feels like he’s missing a bit of info. We just had a swim for Jade Harper and Ty Spurlock, which is why they’re married, according to the tenets of the fabled charm, right? As I recall, I swam that race pretty quickly.” And he was none too pleased, because the way the rumor mill worked in Bridesmaids Creek, the prize for winning the swim was the woman waiting on the banks at the finish line.

      The woman at the finish line that day had been Daisy Donovan, and a more annoying wild woman he’d never had the bad luck to come across.

      He wanted Suz. Not Daisy.

      But supposedly the legend, charm, magic—whatever you wanted to call it—of Bridesmaids Creek had never, ever misfired. Daisy definitely thought she was his—and was convinced enough of that fact that lately he’d been considering taking himself to parts very far away from the small, family-centered town.

      “Yes, your swim was impressive. But another one is scheduled. I’ve decided to challenge Daisy for you.”

      This was news he could use. “Really?”

      Suz nodded. “Yes.”

      “Does the charm work that way?” He scarcely dared to hope.

      “We don’t know. In your case, we’re calling it an evil spell. You might say we’re messing with our own potion here in BC.” Suz looked thoughtful. “It’s very experimental. Frankly, we don’t know what could happen if we sidestep the legend.”

      “Well, I won’t be going off with Daisy,” he said cheerfully.

      “Or you could fall head over heels in love with her. As I mentioned, we’ve never tinkered with our town mysteries before.”

      He felt some hope. “So, you want to win me, huh?” He resisted the urge to stick out his chest, show off his pecs, showcase himself a little.

      “Not really, but I drew short straw.” Suz got into her truck, completely unaware she’d just flattened his ego. “Ladies don’t swim the race. It’s the man’s job to win his female. Or so we’ve always assumed. It’s been this way dating back to the early days of Bridesmaids Creek.”

      He gulped. “You mean I’ll be standing on the banks waiting for the winner to win me?”

      “Exactly.”

      That scared the hell out of him. Suz was diminutive, while Daisy was more...well, Daisy was mean and beautiful and hotheaded. Looked pretty athletic, too, as she raced up and down the main drag on her motorcycle.

      “Can’t I just say I don’t believe in voodoo and ghosts and crap, and it’ll blow over?” The thought gave him hope. “I could just ignore it and it might go away. Or Daisy might find another guy.”

      “She’s got her sights set right on you. And just so you know, we don’t do voodoo in BC. We have magic.” Suz started the engine. “I learned to swim in the sixth grade, and though I really haven’t done more than dog-paddle in years, it’s got to be like falling off a bike, right?”

      Oh, boy. “Cisco” smiled, felt a bit pained and wondered how he’d come to land in a town that was, as his friend Ty said—that same Ty who’d convinced him to come to Bridesmaids Creek—a town full of carneys and soothsayers all selling the BC shtick.

      Yet if he hadn’t come to BC to help the locals breathe new life into BC, he would have never met the amazing, gifted, full-lipped, daunting Suz Hawthorne. And that would’ve been a shame. Even if she didn’t seem to reciprocate his feelings, he was certain this radioactive doll had his name all over her. Reserved especially for him. “Do me a favor. Since I’m agreeing to escort you.”

      “Name it.”

      “Kiss me.” He leaned close to the window to give her prime access.

      “Why would I want to do that?” Suz’s blue eyes widened.

      “Because I have nice lips. Or so I’ve been told. Pucker up, dollface.”

      “I don’t pucker for anyone who calls me ‘dollface,’ unless you want me to look like I bit into a grapefruit. Now that kind of pucker may be available to you.”

      He laughed. “So much sass, so little honesty.”

      She sniffed. “I’m trying to save you, cowboy, not romance you. Don’t confuse this.”

      “No kiss? I really feel like I need to know if you’re the woman of my dreams, if you’re determined to win me. And a kiss tells all.”

      “Oh, wow.” Suz looked incredulous. “You really let that line out of your mouth?”

      “Slid out easily. Come on, cupcake.” He closed some distance between her face and his in case she changed her mind. Strike while the branding iron was hot was a very worthwhile strategy. It was in fact his favorite strategy.

      “If I kiss you, I probably won’t like it. And then what motivation do I have to win the race? I’d just toss you back into the pond for Daisy.”

      He drew back, startled. “That wouldn’t be good.”

      Suz nodded. “It could be horrible. You could be a wet kisser. Eww.”

      “I really don’t think I am.” His ego took a small dent.

      “You could be a licky-kisser.”

      “Pretty sure I’m just right, like Goldilock’s bed,” he said, his ego somewhere down around his boots and flailing like a leaf in the breeze.

      “I don’t know,” Suz said thoughtfully. “Friends don’t let friends kiss friends.”

      “I’m not that good of a friend.”

      “You really want a kiss, don’t you?”

      He perked up at these heartening words that seemed to portend a softening in her stance. “I sure do.”

      “Hope you get someone to kiss you one day, then. See you around, Cisco. And don’t forget, one week until the swim!”

      “Hey!” He stopped her from driving off. “How am I supposed to get you in shape in a week?”

      Suz raised a brow. “In shape for what?”

      “Winning me?”

      She winked. “I’m off to The Wedding Diner to eat a piece of four-layer chocolate cake Jane Chatham promised to hold back for me. I guess you’ll have to cross today off your list for training.”

      She drove away, her angelic smile doing nothing to ease his trauma. Suz wasn’t trying very hard, as far as he could tell. Somehow she’d gotten roped into this race—short straw indeed—and obviously had no plans to seriously go for the win.

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