Cowboy to the Core. Joanna Wayne

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      “I’ve never heard of it.”

      “It’s a small town, just a few miles down the road.”

      “We live in Austin,” Katie said. “You said you were in combat, but you look like a cowboy. So which one are you?”

      “A former serviceman and a cowboy to the core.”

      “Do you have a ranch?” Celeste asked.

      “No, but I live on one.”

      “With horses?”

      “Lots of horses.”

      “Wow!”

      “Yeah,” Katie interjected. “I love horses.”

      He’d captured the girls’ interest, but Dani was a harder sell. “You really should let me check your pulse again.” This time when he reached for her wrist, she extended it.

      “Back to normal,” he said. Actually it was fast, barely noticeably so, but he decided to claim responsibility for the higher rate.

      “See,” she said, “just a harmless fainting spell, as I said. Nothing to worry about.”

      “Most likely,” he agreed, “but I suggest you take it easy for a while. How about I buy you and the girls some lunch? Strictly as a medical professional looking after your health,” he teased before “no” formed on her full, red lips.

      “Thank you, but you’ve done more than enough.”

      “In that case, you should offer to buy mine,” Marcus said, interrupting her protest with an argument he hoped she couldn’t refuse.

      A hint of a smile touched her mouth. She was weakening.

      “Okay,” she said. “Lunch it is. Choose your junk food booth.”

      Her color had returned, adding a healthy glow to her cheeks. She was damn good-looking. On a scale of one to ten, she might even top out at an eleven. But it was that episode back there where she looked as if she were dealing with the Devil that really had him going.

      He’d bet a week’s pay she was in some kind of trouble.

      Dani strode away toward the nearest row of food stands. Back straight, head high, hips swaying. The view was every bit as good from the back as it had been from the front. Gorgeous and intriguing.

      Yep. She needed him. She just didn’t know it yet.

      WITH FISH AND CHIPS and cold soft drinks in hand, Dani and Marcus settled at a wooden picnic table tucked under a tree next to a face-painting kiosk. The girls had taken their food and gone to catch the end of a juggling act a few yards away.

      Marcus’s presence flustered Dani. Partly, she decided, because he was too virile for comfort. But mostly because she was pretty sure he was about to hit her with questions she couldn’t answer.

      The fainting spell was a first for her. Even her worst psychic visions only stunned her, but all anyone ever noticed was that she lost her concentration.

      Which meant this probably had nothing to do with her abilities. Perhaps she had spent too many hours out of town on business. She needed to slow down, and not let this green dress scenario ruin the whole festival experience.

      “Great day for an outing,” she said, going for a light tone that she didn’t quite reach.

      “The weather is definitely cooperating.”

      Marcus delved into his food as if he were starving. She picked at hers, her usually hearty appetite nonexistent. She was almost convinced the episode in the shop hadn’t been a trance with deeper meaning, so why couldn’t she shake it from her mind?

      “You’re not eating,” Marcus said. “Don’t you like the fish?”

      “I do. It’s a bit salty, but the flavor is good.”

      “But you have something else on your mind?”

      He was much too perceptive. “I was just thinking of my friend’s wedding,” she lied.

      “Do you disapprove of it?”

      “Not exactly. I’ve never met the groom, but the bride has two failed marriages on her resume. I know I’d be scared to death to go for a third.”

      “All marriages scare me.”

      “Does that mean you’re single?”

      “I am now. My first attempt crashed and burned.”

      “Ah, that explains the fear of commitment.”

      “Let’s just say I know enough to avoid playing catch with a hand grenade. What about you? I don’t see a wedding band.”

      “I’m divorced.”

      “Stupid man.”

      “Thanks. He wouldn’t agree. He likes to trade up.”

      “Oh, one of those gotta-have-this-year’s-model type.”

      “You got it. And you?”

      He grinned. “My pickup truck is practically an antique.”

      Dani took a bite of the fish. Crispy crumbs of coating sprinkled her blouse. She brushed them away with her napkin. Marcus used his to dab at a tidbit that must have stuck to her chin.

      His hand lingered a moment too long, and a tingle of awareness shot through her. Not psychic but pure sensual attraction. To her credit, she knew the difference. Well, most of the time she knew the difference.

      She poked a fry into her mouth and nibbled while she put things in perspective. Even if she were receiving genuine psychic messages—which she didn’t believe—there really was nothing she could do about it. She couldn’t identify anyone involved. Case closed.

      She might as well enjoy the moment. The fascinating cowboy whose smile and easy mannerisms promised any manner of sexual pleasures would be out of her life in a matter of minutes.

      That was fine, too. As nice as it might be to sample his virility, she simply didn’t have time to add the complications of a long-distance relationship with no chance of succeeding to her extremely busy life.

      She finished her meal with a lot more enthusiasm than she’d begun it. Once she’d wiped the grease from her mouth and hands, she wadded the napkin and started to get up.

      Marcus reached out and wrapped his hand around her arm.

      Her breath caught on the intake. “My pulse is fine,” she said, though she was pretty sure it was racing. No way she could deny such a dynamic attraction. “And I really do need to get back to the girls. We’ll have to pick up the pace if we want to cover the festival before sundown.”

      “About the fainting spell…”

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