Home on the Ranch: Colorado: Big City Cowboy / Colorado Cowboy. Julie Benson

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      Her mind raced, trying to develop ways to capitalize on the situation. Hopefully, people would still be there when she arrived. That way they could keep the impromptu autographing going. If she got lucky, and it was a slow news day, maybe a local channel would stop by.

      Why leave the situation to chance? Make it happen, but not with the local stations. The Wake Up America studio sat right on Times Square. She pulled out her phone and called a reporter on the show that she’d met at a breast cancer awareness event she’d attended last year. “Brooke, have you seen the new Times Square billboard?”

      “Is it one of yours?”

      “Sure is, and this cowboy’s a dream.”

      “I’ll have to check it out.”

      “My guy’s there now, and from what I hear, he’s gathering quite a crowd. Women are already recognizing him.” Elizabeth sped up and dodged a cab. “If it’s a slow day, it could make a cute filler piece on tomorrow’s show. Colorado cowboy takes the big city by storm.”

      “Trolling for free publicity again?”

      “This could be mutually beneficial. Rory’s the new spokesman for Devlin’s men’s jeans. He’s going to be hot. You could be the first show to interview him.”

      She turned the corner onto Broadway and spotted a crowd of at least thirty women. “Got to go. Trust me. Get over here. You don’t want to miss out on this.”

      Adrenaline shot through Elizabeth’s system. She couldn’t have orchestrated a better scenario. Rushing forward, she started handing out Rory’s photo to women, and shoved a Sharpie into his hand.

      “Get me out of here,” he pleaded, his eyes wide with fear.

      She almost laughed. The man towered above the women and outweighed most of them by at least fifty pounds.

      “No way. We’re making the most of this.”

      He leaned down and his warm breath tickled her ear. “They’re getting grabby. I’ve been pinched three times.”

      She couldn’t hold back her laughter this time. To these women Rory probably looked like a piece of chocolate cake at a Weight Watchers meeting. “You’ll survive. Sometimes you’ve got to take one for the team.”

      He glared at her. “The team damned well better appreciate this.”

      “Duly noted.”

      Part of her did feel sorry for him. Models expected this kind of thing and had experience dealing with public appearances. Rory was completely out of his element. She made a mental note to prep him for these types of public situations. Her instincts told her this wouldn’t be the last time someone recognized him.

      “Ladies, Rory will be glad to talk to all of you. If you could just move back a little bit to give him some breathing room, that would be great.”

      While he signed autographs and answered personal questions, she told everyone they could find Devlin’s men’s jeans at most department stores. She and Rory made a pretty good team. Once they returned to the office, she’d call Devlin to tell him Rory had been recognized from the billboard, and that the reaction he’d received had been exactly what they’d hoped for.

      The situation went great for about ten minutes. Then suddenly, a fortysomething woman dressed in skintight jeans and a rhinestone T-shirt cupped her hand around Rory’s magnificent butt and goosed him. He jumped, his panicked gaze locking with Elizabeth’s.

      She placed her palm gently on the diva’s arm. “Please treat Rory with respect.”

      “Are you accusing me of something?”

      The woman tugged her arm free at the same time Elizabeth removed her hand. Elizabeth flew backward, knocking into part of the crowd. Coffee rained down.

      Another woman grabbed Rory. The brittle sound of tearing material filled Elizabeth’s ears. Glancing at him, she saw his shirtfront was ripped from the pocket to the waist, revealing his bronzed, toned chest.

      The noise grew deafening. Women yelled about getting splashed with coffee. Some screamed as they fell to the sidewalk. Others threatened to trample them. Women lunged at Rory.

      Elizabeth reached for the fallen ones. “Watch out. Don’t step on anyone,” Rory said as he helped a middle-aged lady to her feet.

      Women shoved each other, trying to get away or to get to Rory. An even bigger crowd grew as passersby stopped to watch the scene. It looked like one of those old films, with the blundering cops falling over each other.

      What had she done?

      “This wasn’t what I had in mind,” Elizabeth said as she helped another woman to her feet.

      “You didn’t mean to start a catfight?” Rory asked.

      She shook her head. “What do we do? How do I stop this?” She had experience creating buzz, not shutting it down.

      “Running comes to mind.”

      A whistle blew, immediately halting the chaos.

      “Who started all this?” a policeman asked as he approached.

      Every person except Rory pointed to Elizabeth.

      “Officer, this is all a terrible misunderstanding,” she said, desperate to diffuse the situation and pacify the cop. “A crowd had gathered. People got a little close. Someone bumped into someone else, and then everything went crazy.”

      “Everything was fine until she got here,” the woman in the rhinestone T-shirt yelled.

      What was it with her? Did she wake up this morning intent on destroying someone’s life, and Elizabeth held the lucky ticket?

      “Everyone seems pretty clear you’re the instigator. Start at the beginning with why a crowd had gathered,” the officer told Elizabeth.

      She paused, not quite sure what to say. Police frowned on impromptu advertising events. They were sticklers for permits and advance notice. Both of which she’d forgotten in her excitement.

      “Women started asking me for autographs when they recognized me from this,” Rory said, pointing upward.

      The officer glanced at the billboard. “Nice photo.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Were you one of the autograph seekers?”

      “I work with Rory.”

      “In what capacity? Are you his agent?” The man glared at her disapprovingly.

      What she wouldn’t give to be beamed out of this situation. Or to have the ability to erase everyone’s memory, starting with this cop and the question he’d just asked. Because unless she lied, her answer would not make him happy.

      She swallowed hard and prayed she could talk her way out of this sticky situation. “I’m not his agent. I’m the executive in charge of the ad campaign.”

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