Boots and the Heartbreaker: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 11 Read Free

head. “No one knows what caused the rift between the brothers.” He glanced down at Fancy and smiled. “Some think it was a fight over you. After seein’ you two around each other, I’m thinkin’ they’re right. Are they?”
    Her cheeks heating, Fancy was glad the lighting was dim in the saloon. She lifted one shoulder. “People will talk. I loved Brody, but not the marryin’ kind of love. More like a brother.”
    “And Colin?”
    Mandy at the diner had also mentioned Colin’s reputation. Fancy hadn’t believed it. But Dusty wouldn’t exaggerate. Fancy’s chest hurt with the thought of Colin dating all those women. Apparently their one night together hadn’t meant anything to him. She’d just been a notch on his bedpost. Swallowing a lump forming in her throat, she said, “After what you just told me about him, any girl would be a fool to fall for a guy like that. I’d just as soon keep my heart intact.”
    “What is he doing now, dancing with his mother?” Dusty asked.
    Fancy turned. Colin broke in on his mother’s and Landers’s dance, leaving Fancy’s uncle dancing with Alexis. What was Colin up to? He and his mother appeared to be arguing as they danced.
    Fancy’s uncle danced Alexis across the floor toward Fancy and stopped. “Excuse me for cutting in, but as lovely as Miss Alexis is, I don’t want to be accused of being a dirty old man.” He twirled Alexis toward Dusty. “Would you be so kind as to dance with this beautiful young lady?” Without waiting for a response, her uncle grabbed Fancy’s hand and pulled her into a promenade hold.
    Fancy glanced over her shoulder at Dusty and gave him a wan smile.
    He shrugged and held out his hand to Alexis, who laughed and took it.
    “What’s going on?” Fancy asked her uncle.
    “I think the McFarlan boys have heard of my reputation and don’t approve of me as a suitor for the charming and beautiful Maggie McFarlan.” His brows dipped.
    “They don’t think you’re good enough for her?” Fancy snorted. “Maybe she’s not good enough for you.”
    “Now sweetheart, I don’t want to get sideways with the boys. They’re only trying to protect their mother.” He danced her, with purpose, toward Colin and his mother. “But I would like my dance partner back.” He tapped on Colin’s shoulder. “Pardon me, but I’m cutting in.”
    “Sorry,” Colin said without turning around.
    “Colin!” his mother said sharply. She stepped back and held out her arms to Fancy’s uncle. “I would prefer to dance with Carl. Why don’t you dance with Fancy? She’s your age. Leave us old folks to dance with each other.”
    Carl smiled down at her and swept her into his arms. “You’re hardly old, Maggie. Why I don’t believe you’ve changed one bit since high school.”
    Maggie’s cheeks flushed with color. “Oh, Carl. You’re such a charmer.”
    The two danced away, leaving Colin and Fancy blocking the dancers on the wooden floor.
    Colin held out his arms. “This can’t be happening.”
    “What?” Fancy stepped into his arms, her heart thundering at his nearness. And she thought she’d gotten over him long ago. So much for time healing all wounds or broken hearts.
    “My mother going out with the Heartbreaker.”
    “He’s not the same person he was when he was younger,” Fancy argued. After all, he was her uncle and she’d never known a nicer, more considerate man. He’d stepped up to the plate when her parents had been killed in a car wreck. The man was her surrogate father.
    “What do you know about him? I thought he was just a client.” Colin’s brows dipped low. “You aren’t dating him too, are you?”
    She laughed. “Not hardly. I don’t get into incest.”
    If possible, Colin’s brows dropped even lower and he came to a stop in the middle of the dance floor. “What do you mean, incest?”
    Damn. Her uncle had wanted to spare her his reputation, and she’d gone and spilled the beans. “Carl Landers is my