His Cowgirl Bride Read Free Page B

to.
    â€œWhy don’t you pick for me,” he said, interrupting her internal commotion. “You know what I don’t like. See if you can guess what I do like.”
    Huffing like he was getting on her last nerve— because he really was, in more ways than one —she tapped her pencil on the pad and met his teasing challenge. “Are we talking the whole menu or just the items I’ve told you about so far?”
    He grinned. “The items you’ve told me about so far.”
    â€œToo easy, but here goes. I’d say that on occasion you enjoy a good chicken-fried steak, smothered with gravy and saddled up with a heaping order of mashed potatoes—” He started to say something and she held up her hand. “Not so fast, buster. I’m not done. I said on occasion that’s what you enjoy. But this afternoon I’m going with the meat loaf.”
    He looked genuinely surprised. “And how exactly did you figure that out?”
    She shook her head. “Sorry, a girl doesn’t reveal her secrets.” She walked to the kitchen. “One meat loaf,Sam. Light on the gravy,” she called through the swinging café doors.
    â€œComin’ right up,” Sam fired back, glancing her way and lifting a questioning brow. “You shor—”
    â€œThat’s what the cowboy ordered,” she shot back.
    â€œWell, alrighty then. One meat loaf comin’ right up. You seen what time it is?”
    â€œYes, I hate to leave you, though.”
    â€œRush hour’s done. I got it from here and my Adela is expecting you.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll get the meat loafer’s drink and then catch you tomorrow.”
    â€œGot it, kiddo.”
    She spun back to Brent, more than ready to leave. “What’ll you have to drink? Tea, soda, coffee?”
    â€œYou’re so good at this, what do you think the, ah, meat loafer wants?”
    â€œNope again. I’m not choosing your drink for you. I’m one for one and my shift’s over so I don’t want to chance ruining my perfect score.”
    â€œIn that case, I’ll take a tall glass of iced tea.”
    She grabbed a glass and filled it with ice, then reached for the pitcher. “You get the horses settled?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her even as she glanced at the clock.
    â€œPretty much. You talk to Sheri?”
    She placed his tea in front of him. “Yup. Seems they just forgot to tell me you were filling in. Looks like I’m not going to get to call the law on you after all.” Doggoneit!
    â€œYou mean I’m going to get to stick around and do my job?”
    She snorted. “Not by my choice.” She ignored the fact that her traitor pulse did a little yee-haw at the idea of him sticking around Mule Hollow.
    â€œI’m just doing what Pace asked me to do. And whether you want to believe it or not, it’s for the best.”
    â€œWell, isn’t that just peachy,” she gritted through a fake smile. “This has been real fun but I’ve gotta run.” Boy, did she. “Sam will take real good care of you, though.” At the end of the counter she paused. “And remember, I warned you about the meat loaf.”
    â€œWarned me?” His straight brows dipped questioningly.
    â€œYup.” She arched a brow, grabbed her purse from under the counter and headed toward the door.
    She grinned all the way out to her truck. Poor dude should have had the quesadillas.
    Â 
    Brent watched Tacy sashay out of the building to the catcalls from several tables of cowboys. Her vibrant, copper-colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail and danced a jig as she plowed through the diner, waving goodbye to the room on her way out the door. He had to admit she was cute. No doubt about it—and obviously popular. Not that he was interested.
    He had no intention of pursuing any kind of relationship while he was here. He didn’t