The Cowgirl & The Unexpected Wedding. Sherryl Woods

the rest of the afternoon. There’d been a challenge there, no doubt about it The man had actually been flirting with her, which had to be a first She couldn’t help wondering whether that was because he’d finally seen that she was all grown up or whether something else was going on. living with a houseful of manipulators had made her wary of sudden shifts in attitude.

      Of course, wariness wasn’t enough to keep her home. She was curious to see just where this brand-new attitude would lead them. In fact, now that she’d been reassured by her father’s doctor that his heart had suffered no permanent damage, she could devote all of her attention to Hank and figuring out just how much he really mattered to her.

      Cody wandered in as she was pacing in the living room, awaiting Hank’s arrival.

      “Going someplace?” he asked, looking her over, then scowling at the short skirt she’d chosen.

      “I have a date.”

      “With?”

      “Hank.”

      His gaze narrowed. “Is that right?”

      “Do you disapprove?”

      “Of Hank? Of course not. But you might want to consider adding a couple of more inches to that skirt before you walk out the door.”

      Lizzy glanced down. “Why? Don’t you think he’ll like it?”

      “Oh, he’ll like it. A little too much would be my guess.”

      She grinned. “Then I got it just right, I think.”

      Her brother studied her worriedly. “Lizzy, what are you up to?”

      “Up to?” she repeated innocently. “I have no idea what you mean.”

      “Oh, yes, you do. You’ve got that sneaky-female look in your eyes.”

      Lizzy laughed. “And what would you know about sneaky-female looks?”

      “I’m married, aren’t I? Melissa always gets a look just like that in her eyes right before she pulls the rug out from under me. I’ve watched my own daughter use it on every man she’s ever dated, too. Now that Sharon Lynn’s engaged, poor old Kyle Mason spends most of his life looking thoroughly bewildered by her. I actually feel sorry for him.”

      Lizzy gave a little nod of satisfaction. “Then I suppose I’ve finally got that right, too.”

      Something that might have been panic flared in her brother’s eyes. “Lizzy, I will not have you going out with Hank and doing something you’re going to regret.”

      “Regrets are for people who never took any risks,” she retorted.

      “Risks?” Cody demanded, his voice escalating. “Just what risks are you intending to take?”

      Lizzy heard Hank’s car outside and decided Cody had had about all he could take of her teasing. She reached up and patted his cheek. “Don’t worry about a thing, big brother. I’ve got everything under control.”

      Cody moaned.

      Lizzy walked out on him before he could get it into his head to try to run Hank off the property. That was not the sort of trouble she’d intended when she’d made this date. No, if there was going to be trouble tonight, it was going to be between her and Hank Robbins.

      She could hardly wait.