Beauty and the Cowboy Read Free Page A

entry forms until next Monday,” Charlotte said. “So far we’ve received seventeen entries. But we’re expecting several more based on the amount of interest. We’d like to plan on twenty-five girls or so. Would we have to buy these or do they rent them?”
    “You’d have to buy them.”
    “But they’re not air conditioned, and with the summer humidity and all that makeup and hairspray, that could be a problem.”
    Jesse shrugged. “I want to help you, Charlie, but I only have so much space to offer. I can’t manufacture it.”
    “How much do these things cost?” Charlotte asked.
    Before Jesse could answer, Jane got to her feet. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to go.” She held up her phone. “I have a situation that I tried to solve via the magic of text, but unfortunately it requires my presence. I’m going to leave this meeting in your capable hands, Charlotte. But will you walk out with me? Excuse us for a moment, Jesse?”
    “Sure, I’ll see how Mattie is doing with the papers we’ll need for the walkthrough.”
    Charlotte went outside with Jane. The two of them stopped next to her small, dark blue SUV.
    “Is everything okay?” Charlotte asked.
    Jane waved off her question. “Everything’s fine. It’s an issue with the Chamber directory. The printer needs me to sign off on proofs before they’ll start the job. If I don’t sign within the hour, they’re going to put a big job ahead of us.”
    “Oh, good. I was afraid maybe it was about Sam.”
    Jane’s hand fluttered to her neck. “Oh, no. He’s doing fine. Healthier than ever, thank God.”
    The day after Jane and Sam McCullough had announced their engagement in late May, Sam had suffered a mild heart attack. Charlotte was relieved to hear that he continued to do well. It just went to show what the power of love could do for a person. It also proved that life and love were precious and not to be taken for granted.
    Charlotte rubbed her bare ring finger again.
    She decided when she got home this evening, she’d call Tom so they could talk through some of the ambivalence she’d been feeling. Why had she been keeping all the weird emotions inside when, for all she knew, he might be harboring the same doubts and fears? Marriage was for sharing—for better or worse. Now was as good a time as any to start living those tenants.
    “Be firm with him and get what we want,” Jane said.
    “What?” Charlotte asked.
    “Talk to Jesse about the extra lighting and the dressing rooms. The city could shoulder the cost of the dressing rooms and use them for future events. Remind him that we’re not in this to make money, but we have to break even. Get him to work with you. And don’t be distracted by that fine ass.”
    Charlotte felt her face flame. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Yes, you do. It wouldn’t hurt you in the least to do a little sightseeing while you and Tom are trying to figure things out. You know I love my husband, but I’d certainly endorse Jesse Guthrie’s ass as one of Marietta’s natural wonders.”
    “Oh, really? Will that be an official Chamber of Commerce campaign?”
    “There’s a thought. See, I knew you were looking. You may be engaged—”
    “Almost engaged.”
    “Almost engaged is all the more reason that you should be considering your options.”
    Options? Please. Jesse was hot, but she’d never considered him an option.
    But, God, he was pretty hot, wasn’t he?
    She didn’t even have that marquise ring on her finger, but she could feel it digging in. And now she had to go back in there alone, with her eyes opened and her head spinning with thoughts that shouldn’t be there, and face Jesse with his fine ass and those piercing blue eyes.

Chapter 2
    “S o, you and Tom are finally tying the knot?” Jesse said as he and Charlotte set out to do the walkthrough of the stage and the backstage areas they’d use for the Miss Marietta Fair pageant. “When’s the big day,