Best of Cowboys Bundle

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Barbara White Daille, Judy Christenberry, Christine Wenger, Shirley Rogers, Crystal Green, Nina Bruhns, Candance Schuler, Carole Mortimer

  “I know you could have, Hector. And that’s why Clint won’t be part of the contest. One of the original twenty-one will be voted Hottest Cowboy.”

  Clint felt as if the air had been sucked out of his lungs. He wouldn’t be able to compete? Had he made this trip for nothing? He glanced at Denny, who looked very upset.

  Meg smiled at everyone again. Then she turned to Clint. “Could I see you out in the hall for a minute?”

  Whistles and catcalls followed them out the door. She led the way down the hall and ducked into a small room that held a table, some chairs and a pop machine. A break room, most likely. This is where she’d read him the riot act about showing up unannounced. What a dumb idea that had been.

  She grabbed his arm and gazed up at him. “I can’t believe you came to New York!”

  His cheeks burned. “I shouldn’t have. I didn’t realize I’d mess up the contest. I thought—”

  “You’re messing up nothing! But we can’t let you be voted on, because we had no chance to prepare the other guys.”

  He felt like such a doofus. “You told me to let you know, but I didn’t decide until the last minute. I wasn’t thinking about how it would work with the other contestants.” He’d only been thinking about seeing her again.

  “Really, it’s no big deal. The audience will eat you up with a spoon. You should see the bags of mail we’ve collected for you.”

  He stared at her, not understanding. “Bags of mail? You mean like the little plastic ones from the grocery store?”

  “I mean like twenty-gallon trash bags. At least six. We have them in a storeroom, tagged. Some other guys have maybe one bag, if that. And the calls won’t stop! Every caller, and they’re mostly female, wants to know if we’ve booked you on the show yet. Quite a few asked if you’re married.”

  Clint’s brain went on overload. “Six twenty-gallon trash bags?”

  “Yeah.” She grinned. “Listen, I’m rushed for time, but I wanted you to know that Sharon, our executive producer, is already talking about bringing you back in a couple of weeks to find out all the ramifications for you. You’re a celebrity.” Her smile faltered. “Whether you want that or not.”

  He took a long, shaky breath. “I do want that. I mean, I don’t, but I do. You were right. I need to earn what I can and try to buy back the ranch.” He didn’t have the courage to say more.

  “Good. I’ll help you through this, so don’t worry. I’ll set up a meeting with my agent if you want for later today.”

  “I guess…I guess I need one.”

  “Definitely. I’ll see you after the show. And Clint…I’m so glad you decided to come.” Then she stood on tiptoe, placed a quick kiss on his mouth, and hurried out of the room.

  By some miracle Clint found his way back to the greenroom, which was a good thing because someone had arrived there to escort them onto the set. Clint walked along like a zombie as he tried to make sense of what Meg had told him. The good news was that money should start rolling in as a result of this. The bad news was that his old way of life might be gone, at least for a while.

  Then there was the confusing part. Did Meg still want him, or not? He couldn’t tell. She was happy that he’d decided to appear on the show, because it seemed like that would be good for ratings. High ratings would mean she’d keep the job that meant so much to her.

  But he had no idea how she felt about a future relationship with him. After the show, he’d have to dredge up enough courage to ask her. Right now, he needed all the bravery he had for the ordeal ahead.

  “What did she say?” Denny asked as they headed down a hallway.

  “That it was okay for me to be on the show, and I’ll probably need an agent.” He didn’t think mentioning the six twenty-gallon trash bags of mail would be tactful.

  “So she thinks you’ll get offers from this! That’s awesome! I knew it was the right thing, you coming here.”

  “Guess so.” He had to keep from passing out, though. That might tarnish his cowboy-hero image. Right now he was about fifty percent sure he could stay upright.

  They arrived at a curtained-off area where several people ran around with headphones on and constantly put their fingers to their lips when they looked at the guys gathering there. From beyond the curtain came the sound of Meg and Mel giving their opening remarks interspersed with laughter and clapping from the studio audience.

  Clint couldn’t hear what they were saying because his ears were buzzing. Some young woman in jeans and a T-shirt came over with one of the microphone thingamajigs for him. She clipped part of it to the back of his belt and asked him to feed the tiny microphone up under his shirt and clip it on his collar. He was shaking so much he had trouble doing it, so Denny helped him.

  Then another woman lined them up, with Clint last. One by one, she sent them through the curtain and out onto the stage. Clint had never parachuted from a plane, but he pictured it being like this—waiting your turn to leap and hoping you wouldn’t freeze when your time came.

  The crowd went crazy with each new cowboy introduced. Then they were down to three, then two, then one. And it was Clint’s turn. His stomach rolled, but he went through the curtain and plastered a smile on his face.

  The audience was closer than he’d thought, and when he appeared, the noise was deafening. Women stood up and shouted his name. Others threw things onto the stage. Coins bounced and rolled on the floor, and a pair of women’s panties sailed onto the set.

  Mel got up, strolled to the edge of the stage and held up both hands. “Control yourselves, ladies! This poor man lives out in the middle of nowhere and doesn’t see more than five people in a week! You’re going to traumatize the guy! And by the way, how come you don’t throw money and underwear at me when I come out?”

  Amid much laughter and shouted comments, everyone sat down again.

  “Okay, everyone!” Meg walked forward. “Now that you’ve had a peek at Clint Walker, I’m going to ask him to leave the stage. He’s not an official Hottest Cowboy in the West contestant, but—”

  She was interrupted by groans and shouts of dissent.

  “But we’ll bring him back for a special interview later! Don’t worry—you’ll be seeing a lot of Clint in the future!”

  More cheers erupted, and a blonde who looked like a runway model came out to lead Clint back behind the curtain.

  “I must have watched the tape of that thing you did with Meg’s horse about a zillion times,” she said in a low voice as they made their way offstage.

  “It was really nothing special.” Clint couldn’t believe people were making such a big deal of that.

  “Spoken like a true hero.” She smiled at him. “Now stand right here, and someone will let you know when to go back out.”

  Clint nodded and took a deep breath. Well, he’d survived his first experience, and during the time he was out there he’d discovered two things. The longer he was on the set, the easier it was, and he was so fascinated watching Meg in action that he’d almost forgotten to be scared.

  Any fool could tell she was a natural when it came to performing. She’d be involved in this kind of career for the rest of her life, whereas he’d be a temporary celebrity. No matter how he looked at it, he and Meg didn’t have a very good chance of building a life together.

  That depressed him so much that the buzzing in his ears let up and he was able to hear Meg interviewing each of the cowboys. Clint thought Denny did well, not sounding nervous or anything, but from the audience reaction, Hector had the contest won. Still, Denny would have something to tell his grandchildren.

  Then Meg announced the voting and soon after Mel broke away for a commercial. A woman in headphones came over to Clint. “After the Hottest Cowboy is announced, and he’s been congratulated and given his trophy and cash award, then all those guys will come off. You’ll go back out and walk over to the living-room set on the far side of the stage. Sit in the chair on the right as you’re facing the audience.”

  “Okay.�
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  The woman smiled at him. “You’re doing great.”

  “Thanks.” He didn’t think so. Compared to the relaxed way Meg behaved in front of the camera, he must look like a robot.

  As the drum roll started for the announcement of the winner, he leaned forward, hoping against hope that Denny would get it. But Hector did, and the audience seemed really happy about it. Meg asked Hector what he planned to do with the money, and Hector said he’d buy a new pickup and a better horse.

  Clint figured Hector would be able to buy more than that with the fame that would come his way, but maybe Hector hadn’t thought that far ahead. Then Clint had no more time to think about Hector, because the guys were filing back through the curtain. Clint caught Denny’s eye and gave him a thumbs-up.

  Denny grinned back. Obviously, losing to Hector hadn’t ruined his day.

  “You’re on,” murmured the woman in the headphones, and gave Clint a gentle nudge.

  His heart pounded as he returned to the set, but at least the feeling was slightly familiar, now. The audience clapped and cheered, but apparently they’d been warned not to throw things, because nothing came flying at him this time. As instructed, he walked over to where Meg and Mel stood next to a group of three chairs. He shook hands with Mel, but Meg gave him a kiss on the cheek, which everyone seemed to love.

  “So tell us about this ranch in Arizona,” Mel said as he settled into his chair.

  “Uh…well, it’s…beautiful.” Clint heard himself and cringed inside.

  “Yes, it is,” Meg said. “And so peaceful. You should see the view from the porch, Mel. Clint, hasn’t this ranch been in your family for generations?”

  Then Clint understood what he was supposed to say. Focusing on Meg, he described the historic nature of the ranch. He talked about the changes that had taken place and even mentioned his dream of quarterhorse racing.

  “Sounds idyllic,” Mel said. “I know Meg can’t talk enough about what a great time she had there. I think you’re hoping to pay another visit, right, Meg?”

  “I would love to.”

  Clint wished he could tell if she meant that or not. “You’re always welcome,” he said.

  “From the way she raved,” Mel said, “I couldn’t tell if it was the ranch or the rancher that had her so enthralled.”

  Clint had no idea how to respond to that. He glanced at Meg, whose smile seemed frozen in place.

  “They go together.” Meg met Clint’s gaze. “I wouldn’t be able to separate one from the other.”

  So maybe she had given up on him. But he couldn’t leave New York without knowing for sure.

  Mel waggled his eyebrows at Clint. “She’s single, you know. Extremely single.”

  Meg’s cheeks turned pink. “Why don’t you put it in lights in Times Square?”

  “I’m sure she’s single because she wants to be,” Clint said. “If she ever decides to get married, she could have her pick.”

  “My sentiments, exactly,” Mel said. “But we’re all getting impatient, waiting for her to do that!” Then he announced another commercial break.

  Meg hurried over to Clint. “That was terrific.”

  “Thanks.” Clint didn’t think he had a snowball’s chance in hell of seeing her again after today, but he’d decided not to leave without saying his piece. “Listen, can we have a minute to—”

  “Yes. I’ve asked Julie, she’s the blonde who escorted you offstage before, to take you back to my dressing room. Wait there. We’ll get the musical part of the show out of the way, and then I’ll be finished.”

  So he’d have some time alone with her. He’d have to make the most of it.

  MEG COULD HAVE STRANGLED Mel for his broad matchmaking efforts. But it was done, now. As she hurried back to her dressing room after the show, she wondered if Clint was sitting in there thinking about whether this was some sort of marriage trap. She’d have to put his mind at ease right away.

  After opening the door, she walked in and found Clint leaning against the wall of the tiny room. He looked too big, too masculine, and very uncomfortable. Of course he wouldn’t want to use the girly chair in front of her dressing table, and that was the only place to sit. But she’d been so flustered by having him show up this morning that she hadn’t been able to think straight about where to stash him until she could see him again.

  “Listen, before we talk about anything else,” she said, “I want you to know that I didn’t put Mel up to those remarks this morning. I’m not trying to trap you into some long-term relationship. I—”

  “You’re not?” He pushed away from the wall and walked toward her. Two steps and he was within touching distance.

  She looked into his eyes and their two weeks apart disappeared. Suddenly she was back at the Circle W, where they’d made love in front of the fire, in the shower, in his four-poster bed. At least she’d been making love. She couldn’t speak for him. In his case, maybe it had only been sex.

  With the kind of longing she felt right this minute, breathing became an afterthought. Mostly she wanted to kiss him. But she didn’t know what he wanted. She decided to go for the light-hearted approach. “I’m not trying to hog-tie you, as they say out west.”

  He didn’t smile. “I was sort of hoping you might be.”

  Now she really couldn’t breathe very well. “You…were?”

  “Yeah.” His gaze grew tender. “I meant to lead up to this, but I might as well say it straight out. I seem to have fallen in love with you, and I—”

  “You have?” Her heart beat frantically. This was far more than she’d dared hope for.

  “I know it’s ridiculous, with me being a cowboy in Arizona and you being a big star, but there it is. I can’t seem to help myself. I’ve tried talking myself out of loving you, but it doesn’t work.”

  Emotion tightened her throat, but she cleared it away because she had important things to say. “Please don’t talk yourself out of it. Because I seem to be in love with you, too.”

  Joy flared in his eyes. “Really?”

  She nodded.

  “Do you want to be?”

  “Yes. Yes, I do.”

  “That’s a start.” He reached for her.

  She moved happily into his arms, back where she belonged. “We can build on it, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah. We can definitely build on it.”

  When he kissed her, he blotted out all the lonely days and nights she’d spent without him. She’d given up dreaming of his kiss, and now, miracle of miracles, his kisses were back.

  Were they ever. In no time she started wondering if they could get it on right here on the floor. Probably a really bad idea. Someone would find out, and that wasn’t how she wanted to end her career with this studio.

  Clint seemed to have come to the same conclusion, because he released her and stepped back to gasp for breath. “We should probably be a little careful. We have a tendency to get carried away.”

  “Right.” Trembling, she fought for control when all she wanted was to rip those jeans right off him.

  “And we have some details to work out.”

  “I know. But you’re here! I thought everything was hopeless, but then you came to New York, so maybe it’s not so hopeless.”

  Some of the joy left his expression. “But I can’t live here all the time, Meg. What you said on the show is right. I don’t want to leave the Circle W. My thought was to try and earn some money and find out if there was any chance for us, but I’m still an Arizona cowboy.”

  “I know, which is what I love about you. I wouldn’t expect you to live here. That’s what I meant when I said that on the show.”

  “But I’ll visit,” he said at once, relief in his voice. “I’ll visit a lot. Tuck can handle the ranch so I can come to New York at least a couple of weekends a month. We’ll make it work, I promise.”

  “How about this?” She caught both of his hands in hers, deeply moved. He was willing to sacrifice so much for her, and he wouldn’
t have to. “I’m ready to try Hollywood, Clint, but that doesn’t mean I have to live there. Lots of Hollywood people live somewhere else.”

  “Like Arizona?”

  “Uh-huh. That is, if you think you could stand to have me hanging around the ranch when I’m not working on a—”

  “Good grief, woman.” He pulled her into his arms again. “I want you to hang around, all right. Hang around constantly. Be there when I’m building a fire in the living room, when I’m taking a shower, when I’m so hot for you I’m ready to explode.”

  She wiggled against him. “Like now?”

  “Exactly like now. You’d better figure out where we can go that has a bed in it. I’d suggest my hotel room, but I’m sharing with Denny.”

  “And I’d suggest my apartment, but this is the day they’re treating our entire building for bugs, and we’re not supposed to be there all day!”

  “And I’ll bet you have things to do.” He cupped her bottom and held her tight against his erection.

  “I do, and they all involve getting horizontal with you. Maybe we should just rent a hotel room.”

  “Good idea. We’ll—”

  A knock at the door made them jump apart.

  “You guys still in there?” called Sharon.

  Meg straightened her clothes and went to the door, but she only opened it a little way. “Hi, Sharon.”

  Sharon laughed, as if she knew exactly what had been going on a minute earlier. “I wanted to warn you that a bunch of reporters are outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mr. Killer Cowboy Charm, as we’ve suggested they call him.”

  “We should go out the back way, then.”

  Sharon’s smile grew wider. “We?”

  “Yes, we.” It felt good to say it. “Can you get me the car service?”

  “I can.”

  “And…and make it a limo…with tinted windows.”

  “Ooo, baby. You’ve got it.” Sharon winked and closed the door.

  “Thanks.” Meg turned to Clint. “Well, now that you’re a celebrity, you might as well start acting like one. We’re going out the back exit, which is how we spirit away all the big stars.”