Her Perfect Cowboy

by Trish Milburn

  “So what’s a BlueBelles class?”

  “An enrichment class for young girls. Skyler, Elissa and I host them, and we cover different topics each time we have them. We’re trying something new this next time, the day before the rodeo. We’re going to have a day full of different presentations and classes.” She turned toward him suddenly. “Ginny should come. I bet she and Mia would enjoy it.”

  “Is this more of the dress-up stuff?”

  “Sometimes we do something related to fashion, but that’s not all it is. This time we have a native plant gardening class. Elissa owns a plant nursery, so she’s doing that. One on self-esteem. A lady who owns an art gallery in town is doing a painting class. It’ll be fun.”

  “I’ll think about it. We might be in West Texas. I may have to cancel that cake for Ginny’s birthday. Her grandparents are lobbying hard for me to bring her over for a visit for her birthday.”

  “The day before the rodeo?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s a lot of driving in a day’s time.”

  “Yeah, but we haven’t been out there since last summer. They came to Fort Worth at Christmas.”

  India picked at the edge of her sandwich. “Would they come here?”

  “I don’t think I can fit my entire family in the RV.”

  “No, but Skyler owns an inn. I’m sure she’d give a good rate since you’re working so hard on the rodeo. And you could even have the party there.”

  His instinct was to refuse, but he realized that would be no different than India not wanting to accept help. He could afford to put his family up at a nice place and rent a room for the party. “It sounds nice. I’ll check it out.”

  India lowered her injured foot gingerly to the floor and faced him. “I could put it together if you want.”

  He smiled. “There you are, volunteering again.”

  “True, but it’s the least I can do for the guy who has saved me from my own klutziness, twice.”

  “It was my pleasure.” He said the words before he thought about them, but he realized they were true. Something about India made him want to be there to catch her every time she fell, no matter how independent and capable she was. To try to push those types of thoughts out of his head, he went for teasing. “Maybe it’s time to think about safer shoes.”

  “You may be right.”

  But contrary to his words, he really liked seeing her in those impractical heels. They did nice things for her legs, legs that he had the sudden urge to feel wrapped around him. Unnerved by that burst of desire, he stood suddenly and grabbed the tray. He carried it back to the kitchen and returned the supplies to the refrigerator. After he was done, he took a moment to lean his hands against her sink and look out the little window above it. Even her backyard looked immaculate, with perfectly trimmed grass, a white gazebo and big pots of purple flowers spilling over the sides.

  He couldn’t imagine living like this, afraid to leave an inadvertent smudge or a wrinkle. He thought of Charlotte, of her designer clothes and expensive scent. She’d been flawless in appearance. It was what was inside that needed some work. He wouldn’t try to fit into someone else’s world, one where he didn’t belong, again.

  Still, India wasn’t Charlotte, was she? Could he chance letting himself think that way? Because this couldn’t possibly work out in the end, no matter how much the image of her had filled his head since his arrival in Blue Falls. No matter how much he wanted to stalk back into the next room, lay her flat on that couch and kiss her until all her stubborn resolve fell away.

  Chapter Nine

  India stared toward the doorway that led into her kitchen, wondering why it was taking Liam so long to come back. He wasn’t making any noise, so what in the world was he doing? Just as she was about to ask him, she heard his footsteps. She shifted her gaze away from the doorway and straightened the items on the coffee table.

  Liam walked into the room, and she couldn’t keep herself from looking up and staring at those long legs encased in denim. Luckily, his back was turned to her as he examined the items on her mantel. She was torn between wishing he would hurry up and leave, and acknowledging that a sliver of her wanted to find out what would happen if he spent the night.

  “You were a beauty pageant queen.” It wasn’t a question. He said it as if it weren’t a surprise at all, but she wasn’t sure he considered it a good thing.

  “The Belle of Blue Falls,” she said. “Elissa and Skyler wore that crown the two years before.”

  He turned halfway toward her, the picture in his hands. “Three peas in a pod.”

  “They’re very good friends.” If not for them, her teen years would have been so much worse.

  He stared at her for a moment, as if he could see deeper into her than what her words should have revealed. It scared her that she had the sudden urge to tell him everything. Instead, she forced her mouth to stay closed.

  She was saved by the fact that he turned his back to replace the framed photo of her in her crowning moment.

  “I better go get Ginny. Will you be okay?”

  “Yes.”

  He turned and headed for the door. He had the door open before she found her voice again.

  “Thanks. Contrary to how I acted earlier, I appreciate the help.”

  For a split second, he looked surprised. But then he nodded. “You’re welcome.”

  It wasn’t until he’d driven away that she realized she had no way to get to work the next day.

  * * *

  THANKS TO THE ICE PACK and staying off her foot all night, India’s ankle felt much better the next morning. It wasn’t even swollen or bruised. She had Liam to thank for that. If he’d let her stubbornness rule the day, she likely would have had a lot more pain this morning. Still, she wasn’t going to risk heels today. Instead, she pulled out a pair of copper ballet flats that matched a sleeveless, satin top. She normally wore it with a cream skirt, but when she spotted a pair of jeans hanging at the back of her closet she found herself pulling them from the hanger.

  For today, just today, she was going to dress down a bit. At least dressing down for her.

  She still hadn’t decided whom to call for a ride to work. No matter what number she dialed, the person on the other end of the line was going to have questions. She had no doubt that word of her fall and subsequent departure with Liam was already making the rounds. Honestly, she was surprised Elissa or Skyler hadn’t called her yet.

  Her decision ended up being made for her. The sound of a car door outside drew her to the window of her bedroom. She spotted Verona headed up the walkway to the front door. India reached the door and opened it before Verona had a chance to knock.

  “Should you be on that foot, honey?”

  India stuck out her leg and wiggled her foot. “Good as new.”

  “Well, someone must have a healing touch.”

  India knew exactly whom Verona meant and that she was fishing for information. “Nothing a little ice and rest couldn’t cure.” She grabbed her purse and scooted out the door, locking it behind her.

  The fact that Verona didn’t keep asking questions as they slipped into the car and headed downtown made India nervous. Questions, she was prepared for. This silence, not so much. It wasn’t until Verona turned onto Main that she spoke again.

  “So, it seems Liam was at the right place at the right time.”

  “Not sure he’d feel that way. I did, after all, slam right into him.”

  “Yeah, he said you were in a big hurry.”

  India glanced at Verona’s profile as she stopped at a red light. “You talked to him?”

  “Yes, saw him at the library picking up his little girl yesterday. Said he’d just come from here, and that you’d need a ride to work since you would probably be stubborn enough to not skip a day
of work.”

  Now wasn’t the time to be skipping work. If anything, she needed to work harder to boost her business. If Kevin and Mark, or anyone else, bought the building, she needed to do everything in her power to make them want to keep Yesterwear as a tenant. Plus, there was the not-so-little part of her that didn’t want Celene to think that her decision to sell had made India so distraught that she couldn’t even manage to come to work.

  When Verona pulled into a parking space in front of the shop, India reached for the door handle.

  “Thanks for the ride.”

  Verona took India’s hand, stopping her. “Why don’t you try to get to know Liam more? Maybe if you give him a chance, you two might find out there are some sparks between you.”

  India placed her other hand atop Verona’s. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not in the market for a man, not right now, anyway.”

  Verona held her gaze for a long moment. “Be careful you don’t wait too long, or you might wake up someday and realize you’re old and alone.”

  India would swear she saw genuine sadness in the other woman’s eyes. But then Verona retrieved her hand and shifted her gaze forward, India’s cue to get out of the car. Even after she was out on the sidewalk and watching Verona pull away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Verona hadn’t just been issuing a generic warning. It was as if she was speaking from experience. Verona had always seemed like one of the happiest people in the world, but she’d never married, never had children of her own. Was she always trying to help others because she was lonely?

  India headed inside, but as she worked throughout the morning she kept thinking about Verona and what she’d said. Was she right? Would India end up alone because she never took a chance?

  But even if she did decide she could take that chance, shouldn’t it be with someone like Kevin and not Liam? Or had she just told herself that for so long that she’d convinced herself it was the truth?

  The door opening drew her attention. A teenage girl walked in, and it took India a moment to place her. “Hello, Lara. How are you?”

  “Good, thank you.”

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “I’ll just look around a bit, if that’s okay?”

  “Sure. Take as long as you like.” India deliberately made herself seem busy, allowing Lara to wander through the racks of clothes to her heart’s content. She knew Lara couldn’t afford anything in the store, hadn’t been able to even before her parents’ house had been struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

  India’s heart squeezed, feeling a sudden kinship with this young girl who was by all accounts a sweet person and a good student. No, their parents were nothing alike, Lara’s being hardworking ranchers. India’s parents had been takers, moochers on society. Lara’s were proud, unwilling to take help even when most people would. India had heard Lara was staying in town with her grandmother while her parents gradually rebuilt.

  When Lara finally wandered back to the front of the store, she hesitated at the end of the jewelry counter. “Can I have a job application?”

  India’s first instinct was to think that she couldn’t afford to hire anyone, but she stopped herself when Verona’s words echoed in her head. Even if Liam wasn’t part of her future, maybe a little more freedom was. Maybe if she had a little help, she wouldn’t be so stressed. And she thought of how she’d longed to be able to get a job when she was Lara’s age. Even if she hadn’t lived so far out of town to make it impossible, she doubted anyone would have hired her.

  “I actually don’t have any, but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about anything that would be on it.” She motioned toward the table at the back of the entry room. “So you’re looking for a summer job?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  India made a dismissive wave. “None of that ‘ma’am’ stuff. I’m not that much older than you.”

  Lara smiled, and it showed just how pretty she was. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a braid, and she had the body of a runner. If India remembered correctly, Lara was on the local high school’s cross-country team.

  “Have you applied any other places?”

  Lara’s smile faltered some, as if she thought India was trying to gently guide her in a different direction. “No. I came here first. It’s the coolest store in town.”

  India knew within a couple of minutes that she was going to hire Lara. Even if the building was bought and they kicked Yesterwear out, surely they’d at least give her three months to find an alternate location and make the move. That would give Lara the summer of employment she needed, and India would feel good about doing the right thing even if it did put a ding in her bank account.

  “When can you start?”

  Lara’s eyes widened. “Does that mean I got the job?”

  “Yes, it does.”

  Lara looked as if she wanted to jump up and hug India, but she managed to stay seated. India’s heart swelled with happiness. This turn of events was unexpected, but it felt like just the thing that needed to happen to her today. She felt lighter and freer already, which was odd because she’d never felt trapped by her job and responsibilities.

  “As soon as you’d like me to,” Lara finally said.

  “How about right now? I’m going to order some lunch from the Primrose,” India said as she stood. “What would you like?”

  “I don’t need anything.”

  India walked toward the phone behind the front counter. “Nonsense. It’s my treat, your welcome to the job. Plus, I need someone to split a piece of pie with me. If I keep eating full ones, I’m going to be as big as the town water tower.”

  She placed the order, gave Lara a few quick instructions in case anyone came in while she was gone, then headed to the Primrose to pick up the food.

  The moment she stepped in the front door of the café, her gaze settled on Liam. And on Gretchen Toliver’s hand resting on his shoulder. A wave of jealousy slammed into her with such force that she found herself striding across the dining room and plopping herself down in the empty chair between Liam and Ginny.

  “Hey, India,” Ginny said, her face brightening.

  India patted Ginny’s hand. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”

  “Good.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, India saw Gretchen retrieve her hand.

  “I think your order is ready,” Gretchen said.

  India met the younger woman’s eyes as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on. “Great.” But she didn’t move to the counter where she normally picked up her to-go orders.

  After a moment’s hesitation, Gretchen headed toward the pickup window.

  “Your ankle must be better,” Liam said.

  “It is, thank you.” She let her gaze stay locked with his for a moment longer than usual. She thought she saw a question before Ginny spoke again, drawing her attention.

  “Dad says I’m going to have my birthday party at your friend’s hotel.”

  “Is that right?” India glanced at Liam.

  “I talked to Skyler this morning, got everything worked out.”

  “Will you come to my party, India?”

  India smoothed some fuzzy hair atop Ginny’s head. “If you want me to.”

  Ginny nodded.

  “Then I’ll be there.”

  Gretchen approached the table with two large and one small to-go boxes. “Here’s your order.”

  India wondered if Gretchen knew how obvious she was being about her attraction to Liam. A shot of fear went through India. Was she acting the same way? In an effort to make sure she wasn’t, she handed over her money to Gretchen. “Keep the change.” She stood, not so quickly that she looked nervous but not so slowly that she seemed reluctant to leave. “Well, work calls.”

  And then she ran away while trying
not to look like that was exactly what she was doing.

  * * *

  LIAM WATCHED INDIA LEAVE, feeling a little as though he’d been picked up by a tornado and almost immediately spit back out.

  “Do you like India, Dad?”

  He jerked his gaze away from India, realizing he’d been staring too long. “She’s nice.”

  “No, silly.” Ginny shook her head as if he were as dumb as a box of rocks. “Do you like her like boys like girls?”

  “How do you know about boys liking girls?”

  Ginny rolled her eyes. “Katie has a boyfriend,” she said, naming her best friend back home.

  “A boyfriend, in second grade?”

  “I’m in third grade now.”

  “Oh, excuse me, third grade.” Why did kids always want to grow up so fast? Not that he had been any different.

  “Well?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  Ginny shrugged and looked down at her empty plate.

  “Honey, is something bothering you?”

  “I don’t know.” Now she sounded very much her age instead of a teenager masquerading in a nearly eight-year-old’s body.

  “Did someone say something to you?” If Verona or one of India’s matchmaking friends enlisted his daughter in their plans, he wasn’t good with that.

  “No.”

  He wanted to keep pushing, but he could see Ginny closing in on herself. She rarely talked about not having a mother in her life, but was she getting to the age when she’d miss having a mom even more? He thought back to the day when she and Mia had such a good time playing dress-up at India’s. Ginny had always been his little tomboy, but what if she only did that to make him happy? That would break his heart. But the thought of her becoming more like a little girl scared him, too. He didn’t know how to be a parent to a regular girl. What if he did it all wrong?

  “How about we go down to the bakery and pick out what kind of cake you want for your birthday party?” Even though India had said she’d get to it, she had too much on her plate to worry about picking a cake for a kid she barely knew.