The Rancher And The RunawayBride: Part 2 Read Free

substance.”
    He winked. It was all just a game. Harmless conversation. Yet she couldn’t help but
     be pleased by his words. No one had ever told her she was pretty, not even in jest.
     Whether or not Brady meant the compliment, she was going to hang on to it with both
     hands.
    She slid out of the seat and slammed the door behind her. Brady paused on the sidewalk
     and pointed up the street.
    “We have a general store on the corner. Some folks call it a department store, but
     that’s stretching things a little. There’s clothes, shoes and other female kind of
     stuff.”
    “Gee, what would that be?”
    Confident Brady looked uncomfortable all of a sudden. “You know. Creams and junk.”
    “Makeup?”
    “That, too.”
    “Creams and junk. What a way you have with words.”
    He shoved his hands in his front pockets. “Just because I’ve brought you into town
     doesn’t mean you have the right to say anything you want to me.”
    “Sure it does. Here you’re not my boss. You’re just a guy who’s terrified of female
     stuff.”
    He rocked back on his heels. “I’m not afraid.”
    Wondering what it was about this man that made her want to have fun, she stretched
     out her hand and touched his cheek. “You ever have a facial, Brady? You could use
     something to tighten those pores.”
    He jerked his head away as if she’d burned him. “My pores are just fine.”
    “And those little lines around your eyes. They have stuff to prevent that.”
    He turned toward the storefront next to them. The large plate-glass window reflected
     the street. Brady frowned, then smiled, as if checking his wrinkle quotient.
    Randi covered her mouth to hold in her laughter. Who would have thought this big,
     tough cowboy would be so easy to tease?
    “I don’t know what you’re—” He glanced at her and drew his eyebrows together. “You’re
     laughing!” His voice accused her of an unforgivable crime.
    “No, I’m not.” She swallowed hard and forced her expression to stay neutral.
    “You’re mocking me. I don’t have a problem with my pores, or my eyes.”
    She gave in to humor and chuckled. Brady grinned. “I’ve been had,” he complained.
     “You should warn a man when you’re going to take advantage of him.”
    “You love the attention.”
    “Hey, I’m the strong, silent type. You want to continue to make fun of me, or do you
     want to shop?”
    She folded her arms over her chest. “Tough decision. Can I really pick either one?”
    “Why do I put up with you?” He placed his hand on the back of her neck and pushed
     her forward.
    “Because there isn’t another alternative.”
    She was proud of herself for managing a relatively long, coherent sentence. It was
     hard enough to keep breathing, let alone talking, while Brady was touching her neck.
    She told herself it was an impersonal gesture at best. That it didn’t mean anything. He was treating her like a little sister. Funny, though. She didn’t feel
     like his little sister. She felt strangely alive and happy. Being here with him—she
     couldn’t explain it, it just felt so right.
    When they reached the store, he released her neck and grabbed the door. As he pulled
     it open, he motioned for her to go first. Polite, charming, funny, sensitive, amazingly
     good-looking. Her original question still stood. Why wasn’t he married? Were all the
     women in the county blind, orwas there something she couldn’t figure out? Some flaw he’d kept hidden, or maybe
     something from his past?
    He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward the center aisle. “Female
     clothing to your right. Creams and junk to your left. Shoes are upstairs. I have a
     meeting with my banker, so I’ll be gone for about an hour and a half.”
    She turned her head so she could see him. “I’ve shopped before. Amazingly enough,
     on my own. So far I’ve avoided major disasters and shoplifting. I’ll be fine.”
    “You have enough money?”
    The question