Rough Cowboy by Maggie Carpenter

Author:Maggie Carpenter [Carpenter, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 2019-07-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Slipping from the bed and leaving Megan’s warm, yielding body wasn’t easy. The hour was early, and watching her deep even breathing he didn’t have the heart to wake her up. Scribbling a quick note, he left it on the nightstand and crept from the loft.

Returning to his house and taking a shower, he downed a bowl of cereal while Catch gobbled up his breakfast. The drive to his first stop was about twenty-five minutes. The western show barn wasn’t far from Carrie Phillips’ place, and jumping into his truck, he rolled out the driveway and headed to the diner for a large coffee to take on the road.

As he pulled into the parking lot he spied only two other cars. The calm before the storm. In the next half-hour the place would be jammed. Strolling through the door, he spied Maria taking an order from four beefy men. As she turned in his direction, she broke into a happy smile and hurried forward to greet him.

“Hey, cowboy,” she said with a wink. “Do you want a table?”

“Nope, just a large coffee to go.”

“Sure thing.”

She hesitated before stepping behind the counter, as though she had something else to say but changed her mind. He watched her hand off the order for the men she’d been serving to the kitchen, then pick up the coffeepot and pour the rich, hot beverage into a tall paper cup.

“Here you go,” she said with a smile. “You know where to find the creamer and sugar. We’ve added a shaker of cinnamon.”

“Gettin’ fancy!” Brad remarked, pulling two dollar bills from his pocket and handing it to her. “Keep the change.”

“Thanks. Hey, uh, that girl you were with...”

“What about her?”

“Is she—uh—are you two an item?”

“An item?”

“Sorry, I know it’s none of my business, but sometimes a girl’s gotta ask what a girl’s gotta ask.”

Though Maria had always been overtly flirtatious she’d never spoken up, and her unabashed question took him by surprise.

“Are you two dating?” she pressed, her tone betraying her nerves. “It seemed like you were together, like, together.”

“It did?”

“Yeah,” then pausing and lowering her voice, she added, “Brad, you may not know this, but I’ve always had a thing for you, and seeing the two of you, I—uh—I thought I maybe should find out in case I was wrong and you’re still single. Sorry, I’m making a mess of this.”

“No, you’re not, Maria, but you weren’t wrong.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, if you ever get lonely, or need someone to talk to...”

“Maria, you’re very attractive and I’m complimented, but I’m not a guy who gets lonely, and when I need a chat I talk to Catch. I don’t have to worry about him spillin’ any beans.”

“Ha, ha, that’s funny.”

“Funny but true. You have a good day.”

The craving look he knew so well danced in her eyes. He felt sorry for her, but stepping across to the counter with the condiments, he splashed some cream in his coffee then walked outside. He’d known for some time

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