Cowgirls Don't Cry. Silver James

behind when Boots had left first thing to run errands. Surprised when Buddy didn’t jump up in the truck, Boots had shrugged and headed off. Cassidy had spent the morning mucking out stalls and making phone calls.

      The loan officer at the bank seemed to be dodging her calls and try as she might, she’d been unable to hire a cattle hauler to get the herd to the stockyards in Oklahoma City. Every company she called told her to call back when the calves were ready to haul. What did she know about selling cows anyway? The cattle would be ready in May or early June. April was just rolling around.

      And now Mr. Chancellor was pulling up in her front yard. Buddy leaped off the porch and charged the truck, dancing and barking as the driver’s-side door opened and six-foot plus of sexy man stepped out. Since she’d last seen him, she’d done her best to convince her libido that the man was not nearly as hot as she remembered.

      Her libido doubled over in laughter.

      “What’re you doin’ here?” She had to yell over Buddy’s excited barks.

      Her visitor waded around the dog’s determined forays to keep him away from the house and smiled. “A man can’t come see a lady just because?”

      “I’m not a lady, and I don’t believe for a New York minute that you ever do anything just because.”

      He pressed his hand against his chest. “You wound me, m’lady.”

      She rolled her eyes. “You are so full of it, dude, I’m glad I have my boots on.” He laughed, and the sound did funny things to her insides.

      “You going to make me stand out here in the sun, or can I come up and sit down?” The grin on his face challenged her as much as if he’d actually thrown down a gauntlet.

      “Buddy, come.” The dog responded to her instantly, but he never took his eyes off Chance. She returned to the little vignette of chairs and settled in her father’s. She’d overcome her aversion and now sat there in the evenings, watching the sun go down and visiting with Boots. The dog hopped up into Boots’s chair, and she chuckled. Sometimes, the Australian shepherd seemed almost human. She petted the dog and ignored the man as he clomped onto the porch and sat in the metal chair.

      “Buddy looks like a little ol’ cowboy sittin’ there.”

      She glanced at the dog and laughed. His shoulders, chest and front legs were white. A black stripe circled his back and tummy and below that, his fur was speckled gray with black spots. His lower legs were tan, like he wore boots. A brown-and speckled-gray mask covered his eyes and ears.

      “That or a bandit.” She leaned back in her chair and stared at her guest. “So why are you here again, Mr. Chancellor?”

      “Most people just call me Chance, since that’s my name.”

      The grin he flashed was devilish, and she wondered what thoughts were in his mind. “Fine. So, why are you here...Chance?”

      “Can I be honest with you?”

      “I don’t know. Can you be honest?”

      * * *

      Damn but that question hit a little too close to home. Good thing he was the poker player in the family. Okay, honestly, he wouldn’t want to play poker with any of his brothers. He deflected her question with a wink and a little smirk. “I’ll plead the fifth on that one. You know what folks say, all’s fair in love and war.”

      “Yeah, but which is this?”

      “You tell me, Cassidy.”

      “You still haven’t answered my question.”

      “Which one?”

      “Well, you’re a man so we know you can’t be honest, so that leaves the other one. Why are you here?”

      “Ow. I lodge a protest in the name of men everywhere.” He offered her another crooked grin and a wink as he added, “I came to see you.”

      “Why?”

      Time to lay his cards on the table. “Because I want to take you to dinner.”

      “Dinner.”

      “Yes, dinner. I know Boots goes to the Four Corners to eat. A lot. I figure you weren’t kidding about being a bad cook. I’d like to take you out to eat. To a real restaurant.” She folded her arms across her chest, and his eyes drifted despite his best efforts.

      “Yo, dude. Eyes up here?”

      Heat climbed the back of his neck. Was he actually blushing? He broadened his grin. “Sorry. A man can’t help it when the view is so lovely.” She snorted, and he laughed. He tossed a shrug of his shoulders into the mix and tried a boyish look on her. “The point remains. I’d still like to take you out.”

      “Like...on a date? A real date?”

      “There’s such a thing as a fake date?” She rolled her eyes again, and he couldn’t tell if that was progress or not. “Yes, a real date. Dressing up and everything. A nice restaurant, maybe a movie after? Or we could go to Bricktown, hit some of the clubs?” Or maybe not. He’d be recognized there. Crap. He’d be recognized at any of his usual haunts. He needed a Plan B in a hurry. “Or we could go to my place, order in pizza and watch the Cubs game.”

      “Cubs? Are you kiddin’ me?”

      “Okay...White Sox?”

      She looked disgusted. “Why do you think I’d be a fan of either one?”

      “Um...you live in Chicago?”

      “Yeah. But lifelong Cardinals fan here.”

      “Really? You like baseball?”

      “Really. And I like Cardinals baseball.”

      “So, does that mean pizza at my place and the Cards on the big screen?” He liked that idea. His media room was that much closer to his bedroom, and he had every intention of seducing her before the date was over.

      She snorted again. “How cheap do you think I am?” She eyed him speculatively. “Why should I go out with you?”

      “I was attracted to you when we bumped into each other in Chicago. That hasn’t changed.”

      Her lips pursed as she considered his offer; he wanted to kiss her but he’d remain patient. The time would come—sooner or later.

      “Dinner at a nice place then a sports bar to watch the Cards.”

      She looked so cocky he couldn’t help but grin back. For a brief moment, he toyed with the idea of calling up the corporate jet and flying her to St. Louis for the game. As a minority owner, Barron Entertainment had box seats, though he seldom got the chance to park his butt in them. Doing so would blow his cover, so he nodded in agreement. “Dinner out then a sports bar to watch the game. I’ll pick you up around five? Game starts at 7:30.” He stood up, and she looked startled.

      “You’re leaving?”

      “Yeah, I got what I came for.” Her expression changed, and he would have missed the flicker of sadness if he hadn’t been studying her reactions.

      “Well, don’t let me keep you.” She didn’t move to stand. Instead, her hand gripped the arm of the chair as if to keep her in it. She wore an expression of studied casualness.

      “Can you make coffee?” he suddenly asked. She stared at him like he was crazy. “We’ve established you can’t cook. Does that mean you’re a Starbucks baby, or can you perk a real pot of coffee?”

      “I make excellent coffee, thank you very much. Even Uncle Boots doesn’t complain.”

      Uncle Boots? This was a story he wanted to hear. “Then go make a pot, woman. Prove it to me.”

      “Ha! I made one just before you got here. So there.” She darted up and through the door before he could react.