A Cowboy's Woman Read Free Page B

fastened the ends. “Whereas when it comes to grown-up, dignified behavior, mine is already about as bad as it can get. Although what happened between us here tonight—” Shane nodded his head at Greta as he rummaged through yet another bureau drawer and emerged with a pair of clean socks “—will probably be considered a new low.”
    â€œExcept nothing happened,” Greta said as Shane sat on the edge of the bed to pull on his socks.
    â€œWe know that,” he agreed, before bounding back to his feet and heading for the closet. “No one else does.”
    Greta rolled her eyes and folded her arms in front of her. “Is this supposed to comfort me?”
    â€œYes.” Shane pulled out a pair of alligator cowboy boots that were polished to a high gloss. “And you know why?” He sat again and tugged them on.
    Greta flashed him a smile she couldn’t begin to really feel, considering the mess they were in. “I’m breathless with anticipation, waiting to hear.”
    â€œBecause our climbing into bed together on a whim is a promiscuous thing to do.” Shane explained. Boots on, he pushed to his feet.
    â€œBut if we were to run off and get married tonight, what happened earlier would merely be seen as romantic, foolhardy and impulsive.”
    He was great at making unexpected moves, she thought, not so great at long-range planning. “Aren’t you forgetting one thing?” Greta asked Shane, stepping closer. “We’re not in love.” Although, she added silently, given half a chance and a lot more kisses, she certainly could be.

    Shane grinned as he took her hand in his. “That’s the beauty of the plan.”
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    â€œNO ONE’S GOING TO WANT US to stay married if we’re not in love,” Shane continued, wondering how it was he had never noticed Greta before. Not in the way he was noticing her now.
    Greta disengaged her hand from his and began to get dressed. “You think they’ll try to convince us to reconsider and get it annulled?” she asked as she tugged a T-shirt over her head, then stepped into a denim skirt.
    â€œDon’t you?” Shane watched Greta tug a brush through her mane of hair. She sat on the edge of the bed, and put on a pair of white cotton crew socks, then tugged on a pair of bright blue Western boots that showed off her long, sexy dancer’s legs to heart-stopping advantage. It was all Shane could do to keep from taking her in his arms and kissing her again. Just to see how it’d end without an audience.
    Greta frowned. “My parents think there’s only one reason to get married, and that’s true love.”
    Till now Shane had agreed. “Same with mine.” And yet, for reasons he chose not to examine too closely, the idea of pitching a tent with Greta and calling it home was very appealing.
    Greta sighed. “Well, my parents always did have their hearts set on giving me a big, romantic wedding. My mother’s been planning it for years, right down to the tiniest details, even when there’s no groom in sight.”
    â€œSo if we elope, it stands to reason they’d want you to back up and do it with someone else, and do it right.” Although come to think of it, Shane realized, stunned, the idea of Greta as someone else’s bride bothered him. Though why that should be he didn’t know—all they
had done was kiss and embark on one all-too-limited escapade together.
    Greta bit her lip. She turned to him, her eyes searching his in a way that suddenly made him feel very protective of her. “What if our folks don’t ask us to get it annulled?” she asked softly.
    Shane brushed off her worries. There’d never been a father who truly welcomed him in his daughter’s life yet. “Trust me,” Shane told Greta, taking her arm and leading her down the front stairs. “They will.”
    â€œSo when did you want to do