Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? Read Free Page B

for most men.
    He smiled and picked up her carpet bag. ‘I was getting worried. I thought you’d run out on me.’ He held out his hand and she took it, relishing his firm grasp, aware of how insubstantial her fingers looked wrapped in his. The remembered scent of his aftershave wound around her.
    ‘I wouldn’t do that to you.’
    He glanced down, his eyes considering. ‘No, I didn’t think you were the type to turn tail.’ He steered her away from the exit doors and towards a small coffee shop. Before she could protest, he said, ‘I thought we should straighten a few things out before we go. If things don’t work out, it’s a hell of a long drive back from the ranch.’
    Lauren allowed herself to be ushered into the shop. She sat down at a vacant table and waited until Grayson returned with two plastic cups. He held one out to her. ‘I got you green tea. I seem to remember you said that was all you ever normally drank.’
    Lauren smiled her thanks, surprised he’d remembered. If only she’d kept to tea in Las Vegas, she thought glumly, and not started on champagne, she wouldn’t be in this embarrassing situation now.
    ‘What exactly do you want to discuss, Grayson?’
    He angled his hat back so that she could see his face. His skin was tanned, faint laughter lines around his eyes and mouth only added to his allure. ‘I want to make sure that we agree on what’s going to happen over the next two weekends.’
    Lauren sighed. ‘We’ve been over this a thousand times. I’ve agreed to stay with you for a weekend on your ranch and in return, next weekend, you get to stay with me at my apartment in San Francisco. During this time we will try and see if we can make our so-called marriage work. Do I have this right?’
    Grayson smiled into her eyes and she tensed. ‘Not bad, darlin’ but you’ve forgotten one thing.’
    Lauren concentrated on his long fingers, which were wrapped around his coffee cup. His calloused hands were large, yet capable of being so gentle, especially when he touched a woman’s body – her body. ‘Are you talking about sex?’
    Grayson grinned. ‘Yes, ma’am. You agreed to allow me to use all my powers of persuasion on you this weekend.’
    Lauren lifted her chin and stared right back at him. ‘And you agreed to allow me to persuade you to get a divorce when you come to San Francisco. You don’t really know me at all and I just don’t want to be married, Grayson, not to you or to anyone.’
    He reached out and took her hand. ‘I know how I feel. But are you still willing to try?’
    Lauren shrugged. ‘If it’s the only way to get rid of you.’
    His fingers tightened over hers. ‘I’ve already told you. I believe in marriage and I want to see if we can make this one work.’
    Lauren laughed. ‘Really? And when did you come up with that old-fashioned notion? After you found out that my family is wealthy?’
    She tried to pull away but he was too strong. He slowly relaxed his grip and shook his head, his smile lingering on his lips. ‘You city folks are all the same. Greedy, greedy, greedy. I’m not asking for much, just a chance to get to know you. The only mistake you make is in thinking the rest of us are just like you.’
    He sat back and took a slug of coffee. ‘If you recall, Lauren, I was ready to jump into bed with you five seconds after you landed in my lap. Hell, what did you think you were sitting on? A baseball bat?’
    Lauren knew what he’d wanted. She’d been shocked and aroused to discover she wanted the same thing. He seemed to have reached inside her and flicked on a switch of intense sexual awareness she hadn’t known she possessed.
    ‘I don’t want your money, Lauren. I want you,’ Grayson said. ‘And if I’m the first man who’s ever seen you that way, you should be praying I’ll hang around, not trying to kick me in the teeth. This weekend is not just about sex. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other better.’
    He slipped his hand