Romancing the Conflicted Cowboy: A Sage Valley Ranch Romance by Walton Crystal

Author:Walton, Crystal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Impact Editions, LLC
Published: 2019-03-06T16:00:00+00:00

8

Not even in the dance hall yet, and Callie already felt like she’d two-stepped her way back to a time when quaint main street strips were all the rage, families still congregated around the dinner table together each night, and a simple glance across the seats could send nervous anticipation fluttering through her stomach.

In dark wash jeans and a Hunter green button-down, Reed helped her out of his pickup.

There went holding on to the relaxation she’d gained during the painting class at the ranch earlier today. As her palms slid down his sturdy arms, her heart reeled from a gaze flitting between his eyes and lips.

She looked across the parking lot in search of the composure she lost every time she was around the handsome vet who stole her chance at breathing normally. Forget calendars or magazines, the guy could’ve starred in every unwritten novel she’d ever dreamed of writing.

Sure, she’d found him attractive all along, but seeing him interact with his family had turned it into something deeper. Something that hadn’t stopped flustering her since.

His heart rate thrummed under her hand. His chest rose, fell. But when Callie lifted her eyes to his, he stepped back. Way back.

Keeping his gaze an even safer distance away, Reed rubbed his hand. “Sure you’re ready to line dance?”

Her pulse had already done five solid grapevines across the parking lot before he’d ever let go of her waist. Either he hadn’t noticed, or he was showing her up in the acting department.

She tugged her pink hat down and sported a confident grin she hoped he’d buy. “As a matter of fact, I’ve been practicing my do-si-dos all afternoon.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “And promised myself I wouldn’t actually say do-si-do out loud.” Her eyes reached for the sky. “Which I’ve now said twice… in a row.”

Reed’s lips twitched. “You know line dancing isn’t the same as square dancing, right?”

“Right. Yeah.” Nodding too long, Callie looked everywhere but at him. Where was Elvis when she needed an excuse to run away?

“Ow, ow,” Holden howled as he and Tricia approached from behind them. He lolled a bulky arm across Reed’s shoulders and tapped him in the chest. “I’ll tell you what, bro. It’s sure as heck good to have you back here. It’s been too long.”

If Reed had been drinking something, Callie was certain he would’ve spewed it. As it was, his eyes nearly matched Holden’s rodeo-size belt buckle.

“It’d be hard for you to get out, too, if you were on call all the time.” Callie looked between the two cowboys now staring at her like she was a sixth grader defending her boyfriend on the playground. Fabulous.

Saying nothing and everything, Holden tipped a grin of concession at her. “Which is why I’m impressed you got him out here.”

“Well, there might’ve been a few bargaining chips involved.”

Holden’s dimples sank in. “I have no doubt there were.”

Just like he probably had no doubt why the sun-coated blacktop had a better chance of hiding the heatwaves billowing off it than her cheeks did.

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