Love & Such by Elle James

Author:Elle James [James, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twisted Page Inc

Shall We Dance?

THE UGLY STICK SALOON

By Elle James

* * *

Sadie Lushbaum checked her odometer again before turning onto the gravel drive and passing beneath the arched rock and cedar gate with the words “Flying M Ranch” seared into the wood. The M had to stand for McCallister. She had to be in the right place. The directions had indicated the ranch was fifteen miles outside of Hole in the Wall. The sun still burned bright, beginning its slow descent to the western horizon.

“This is your chance,” Audrey had assured her. “He’s willing to pay you as much as you make in an entire month for one night. One lousy night. I’d do it myself, but he broke my toe at his last lesson at the Ugly Stick Saloon. If I thought I’d be of any assistance, I’d drag my ass to his place and turn cartwheels all night. The man’s desperate. He promised a woman he’d dance with her at a wedding tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Sadie had asked. “He broke your toe at your last lesson, and you expect me to teach him how to waltz by tomorrow?”

“Honey, if you don’t do it, any one of the other girls at the saloon would give their left breast to take the job. You saw him. Joe McCallister might have two left feet, but he’s six-feet-six-inches of gotta-love-me-some-smokin’-hot cowboy. I’m offering it to you because, number one, you need the cash more than any of the others, and two, you have the patience of a saint. And I believe it might take a miracle to get him dance-worthy by tomorrow.”

Sadie’s heart warmed. That Audrey had that much faith in her ability to teach a hopeless man to dance said a lot. And to think, six months ago, Sadie had been resigned to the fact she’d never dance again. Funny how it took a divorce, losing her job and being flat broke to shake her out of the giant rut she’d lived in for the past ten years and, finally, chase some of her own dreams.

"Oh, and Sadie…he's a widower."

Sadie frowned. "This isn't an attempt at matchmaking, is it? I don't need a man in my life. If you recall, the last one wasn’t so great."

Audrey shrugged, a secretive smile playing on her lips. "Just sayin'. Not all men are cut from the same cloth. You might want to give the vibrator a rest."

Audrey's words echoed in Sadie's head as she wound along the driveway beneath gnarled oak trees, emerging into the open at the base of a low hill. Perched at the top of the rise was a beautiful white limestone and cedar ranch house with a wide, shaded porch surrounding the two-story structure.

She parked and climbed out, straightening the sweeping fabric of the calf-length dress she wore when she danced because she liked the way the skirt swung out when she twirled. Her knees shook, and her heart beat a rapid tattoo against her ribs. Audrey had been right. Every girl who worked at the Ugly Stick had drooled over the handsome cowboy with the shy smile and faded jeans.

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