Cowboys Like Us. Vicki Thompson Lewis

poisoning.

      2

      BEFORE JUMPING IN TO help Caro, Logan had spent a couple seconds weighing the pros and cons. Josie had asked him to stay away from Caro, but then again, Josie hadn’t anticipated Steve getting sick. Logan had seen the panic in Caro’s eyes when the band had stopped playing and the surge toward the bar had commenced.

      Finally, deciding Josie shouldn’t have to worry about working tonight, and surely she’d rather have happy customers than obsess about Caro and Logan working together, he’d swung into action. He couldn’t pretend it was a selfless act. He’d told Caro the absolute truth—doing something useful felt fantastic.

      And yeah, the idea of being Caro’s heroic savior for an hour or so was very appealing. The looks she gave him generated a sexual buzz he hadn’t felt in quite a while, and he was enjoying the hell out of that.

      He promised himself that once the rush subsided, he’d retreat to the other side of the bar. Somehow, the rush never let up. Part of that could be his fault, because he hadn’t been able to resist showing off a little. Besides juggling the martini shaker, he’d built a few flaming drinks, which caused folks to order more so they could watch the process.

      And damn, he was having a good time. He was also impressing the girl. He’d caught her staring a few times, although she didn’t allow herself to be distracted from her work. For two people who’d never bartended together before, they managed with a minimum of bumping into each other.

      That was a good thing, because whenever he accidentally brushed up against her, he registered exactly how soft and curvy she was. That message went straight to his groin.

      She also smelled of lemons, which might be her perfume or might be the lemons she’d been cutting before he took over the cocktail part of the bar duties. Whatever the reason, the scent fit her personality, which was fresh, bright, and sexy as hell.

      Once in a while his knee gave him a twinge, but then he’d take his weight off his right leg and be okay again. He was grateful for that, because the party showed no signs of letting up, even after Alex and Tyler left in a shower of birdseed. One o’clock came and went. Most bars closed then, but this one was owned by the sister of the groom, and she didn’t seem ready to kick people out.

      Caro slipped past him holding two brimming mugs of beer. “I’m worried about your knee,” she said.

      “Don’t be.” He garnished a cosmo. “I’m fine.”

      “I’m not sure I believe you.”

      “Working back here is a hell of a lot easier than dancing.” He delivered the cosmo and came back with a couple dirty glasses. “Besides, I’m enjoying the company.” He probably shouldn’t have said that, but it wasn’t as if he planned to ask her out.

      “Me, too.” She sent him a dazzling smile.

      That made him feel good, probably too good. He wondered what she had going on in her life that kept her from dating. She seemed like someone who was worth getting to know, on many levels, but they were too busy for him to ask any questions.

      Around two, the crowd finally began to thin, and Josie came to sit at the bar.

      “Can I get you something?” Logan asked.

      “No, thanks, but I owe you a huge debt for filling in tonight. I hope you haven’t stressed your knee.”

      “I’m fine.”

      “I’d forgotten you used to tend bar, but Alex reminded me after he saw you back here flipping martini shakers around.”

      “I had fun.” Working in close proximity with Caro had been ninety percent of that fun, but he’d keep that fact to himself.

      “I could tell. Anyway, we’re all about to head back to the ranch, and most everyone else is ready to call it a night, too. Or technically, I guess we have to call it a morning.”

      Logan took stock of the remaining dirty glasses, popcorn baskets and crumpled napkins lining the bar and grouped on the tables. “It was some party, Josie.”

      “It was. Alex and Tyler deserved a blowout, so I’m glad we did it up right. When you’re ready, I’ll give you a ride back, along with my slightly toasted husband.”

      Logan gestured around the room. “Do we need to take care of the final cleanup?”

      “We probably should, at that.” Josie straightened her shoulders. “You’re right. I don’t want to leave this for the morning crew.”

      “Or you can let Caro and me handle it.” He made the suggestion casually, but there was nothing casual about his intentions. He wanted to be alone with the lovely Caro Davis.

      “I can do it, Logan,” Caro said immediately. “No worries. Go home and rest your knee.”

      “My knee’s fine.” Logan started gathering glasses. “I want to stay and help get this cleaned up. It won’t take long.”

      Jack Chance wandered over and hooked an arm around Josie. “Ready to take off?”

      “Not quite,” Josie said. “I really need to—”

      “No, you don’t,” Caro said. “Go home, Josie.”

      “I hate to leave you with this.” She surveyed the room. “It’s too bad that Steve—”

      “Well, he isn’t here,” Logan said, “and I’d really like to help out. Besides, maybe one of the fabled ghosts will show up.”

      “It could happen.” Josie looked perfectly serious. “I’ve often seen them after a bash like this.”

      “Ghosts or no ghosts,” Jack said, “I need to get my pregnant wife home. I have a suggestion. Let Logan stay and help, and then he can crash at Grandma Judy’s.”

      Josie turned to him. “I’m not sure about that, Jack. Do you think your grandmother will—”

      “She’ll love the idea. She’s always complaining that nobody uses her guest room. Let me borrow your pen, Caro.” He picked up a napkin from a stack on the bar and sketched a quick map for Logan. “Here’s where she lives. When we drop her off we’ll make sure she leaves a key under the mat. The guest room is down the hall to your right.”

      Josie took one last look at the debris left by the wedding guests and sighed. “Okay. There’s probably some fatal flaw in that plan, but I’m too tired to think of anything better, and I do hate to leave Caro alone with this huge mess.”

      “And the ghosts.” Logan tucked the napkin with the map into his pocket, and did his best to sound nonchalant when he felt anything but. He wondered if Caro was anticipating some alone time as much as he was.

      “And the ghosts,” Josie said with a smile.

      “Thanks, Logan.” Jack stuck out his hand and the two men shook. “I’ll drive in tomorrow morning and pick you up.”

      “Sounds good.”

      “Josie said you’d like to stay on for a few more days and do some riding.”

      “I’d like that, but I’m a little rusty.”

      “Anybody with your athletic ability shouldn’t have any trouble.” Jack touched the brim of his hat with two fingers. “See you tomorrow.”

      “That was very gallant of you,” Caro said as the last of the wedding guests disappeared out the front door. “You must be exhausted.”

      He turned to her. “No more so than you, I’ll bet.” He took note of the wisps of hair that had escaped her ponytail and now curled around the nape of her neck. Any lipstick she might have applied earlier in the evening was gone. She looked infinitely kissable.

      Her hazel eyes were bright, as if she might be feeling some of the same excitement he was. “Yes, but I’m paid