Single-Dad Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Chapter Seven
When the music ended, Zeke walked his partner back to her table. What was her name again? She’d told him when she’d asked him to dance, and he’d spaced it.
“That was fun.” She remained standing as the other two women left their chairs. “I have to go. We’re due at a graduation party, but I’m glad I trusted my instincts and asked you to dance before we left.”
“I had fun, too.” He stepped back. “Don’t let me make you late for your party.”
She glanced at her two friends. “Go ahead, guys. I’ll be there in two minutes.” As they nodded and left, she pulled her phone from her purse. “I’d like to trade digits.”
He flashed her a smile. “Sorry. I dance but I don’t date.”
“Oh! Are you—”
“Unavailable. Much obliged for the dance, ma’am.” Tipping his hat, he started back toward the gang’s usual booth. He’d taken two steps when a woman sitting at a table on the other side of the room looked his way. Nell? Yep. She gave him a little wave.
Geez, now what? He should at least go over and say hello before returning to the gang. Nell’s principal was part of a group that had pushed three tables together. One of the ladies looked familiar, too. She’d poked her head in a few times to say hi while he and Nell worked on the greenhouse.
Okay, he got the picture. Apple Grove Elementary had let out for the summer yesterday. The faculty was likely here to celebrate the end of the school year.
These were folks from Claire’s school. Her future teachers would be in that gathering. He should absolutely say hello.
As he crossed the room Nell’s expression brightened. She was glad to see him. Heaven help him, he was glad to see her, too. Couldn’t help returning her smile.
Her hair was different, a mass of dark curls tumbling around her shoulders. Her blouse was cut lower than any she’d worn in his presence before. He kept his gaze on her face.
She stood. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“The gang was going and Claire wanted to have a sleepover at Henri’s.”
“It was her idea?”
The other shoe dropped. “Did she know about this celebration?”
“Probably. It’s not a secret. The faculty’s been doing this for years. The Moose’s owner foots the bill. I think he and Henri—”
“Are close.” Claire wasn’t the only one who knew about this shindig. If it was a long-standing tradition Ben created, the entire town would know. And somehow he’d been kept out of the loop. Hmm.
“Let me introduce you to everyone.”
“Thanks. That would be great.” As she went around the long table, he despaired of keeping track of the names, but he zeroed in on the familiar-looking blonde lady. Valerie Jenson taught fourth grade and would have Claire next year. She acted pleased about that.
Several others commented on his daughter, too. She’d made a name for herself, which didn’t surprise him. She’d also set him up tonight, aided and abetted by the Brotherhood. He should have clued in when she’d made a point of telling him to have fun.
When Nell finished the introductions, he glanced around the table. “Claire loves her school and I thank you all for giving her such a warm welcome. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Now I’ll let you get back to your celebration.” He looked at Nell and touched two fingers to the brim of his hat. “See you Monday.”
“See you then.”
He left it at that and walked back to the booth where the gang sat, delighted smiles on their traitorous faces. He let out a breath. “You knew all about this, didn’t you?”
Matt didn’t even have the decency to look guilty. “We might’ve.”
“Come on, Zeke.” Garrett gave him a knowing look. “Don’t tell us you’re not happy to see her.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Just doing you a favor, little brother.”
Jake had taken to calling him that, and he didn’t mind. He mostly liked it, but not tonight. “Yeah, well, if you thought something would happen because we’re at the Moose together, I hate to disappoint you. Nothing will happen.”
Jake grinned. “You can say that, but Nell is headed this way even as we speak.”
His heart rate picked up. His see you Monday comment was supposed to signal they should go their separate ways this evening. For some reason, she was bypassing that. As the Brotherhood stood to welcome her, he turned.
Nell gave them a smile. “Oh, please, sit.” She waved at them, which had no effect. They continued to stand. “Okay, then. I just need to borrow Zeke for a minute, but first I wanted to find out if you got the thank-you notes from the kids.”
“We did,” Matt said. “Very cute. Claire’s pasted them all over the walls of the bunkhouse.”
“And I grabbed some to put up in the Raptors Rise visitor center,” Jake said.
“That’s awesome. Anyway, like I said, I just need a quick chat with Zeke.” She glanced at him. “Is there a quiet corner where we can talk?”
“Um… I’ve never—”
“Go around the far side of the bandstand, little brother, past the end of the bar. Like you’re going toward Ben’s office.” Jake kept his expression bland.
Didn’t fool Zeke for a second. The minute they were out of sight, the speculations would begin. “Okay, thanks.” He put a hand at the small of Nell’s back, which seemed to be the gentlemanly thing to do since he was guiding her over there.
“I—” Nell paused to clear her throat. “I need to ask something before Monday. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.”
“What is it?” Maybe they could get it out of the way before they made it to this secluded corner that had temptation written all over it.
“It has to do with the riding lesson. I was wondering if—”
The band launched full blast into Luke Bryan’s What Makes You Country, drowning out the rest of her sentence.
He leaned down, inhaling her springtime perfume. “Never mind. We need to move upwind of those speakers.”
“What?”
“Never mind!” He hustled her around the bandstand and toward the office and storage areas at the back of the building. With the speakers pointed in the other direction, they should be able to hear each other. He stopped and turned to face her. “What’s up?”
She raised her voice. “I was talking to Valerie about the lessons and—”
“Hang on.” He stepped closer. “There. Now you don’t have to shout.”
“Thanks.” Her cheeks turned a pale shade of pink.
Maybe he shouldn’t have moved in like that. He was close enough to feel her body heat, which made breathing normally a challenge. Backing up would be lame, so he held his ground.
She swallowed. “So Valerie would love to join our class. She’ll have those girls next year and she’s eager to get to know them better.”
Her eyes were beautiful. He’d never been this close, never had the luxury of gazing into them when she was inches away and he could pick out the flecks of green and gold. Mesmerizing.
“So is it okay if she joins us?”
“Sure.” He’d agree to just about anything if it would bring this glow of happiness to her amazing eyes.
“Thank you, Zeke. That will mean a lot to her. And me.”
A couple of seconds elapsed before he figured out it was his turn to say something. “Happy to help. I may be able to use more horses for the lessons, but I’ll have to talk to Henri about it. If for some reason I can’t, adding another adult will mean less riding time for you.”
“That’s fine. I’ll watch and listen. That’s valuable, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He’d agreed to her request. Discussion over. Any second now she’d head back to her table. He didn’t want that. Not yet, anyway. “You and Val will need hats. The girls, too.”
“I figured we would.”
“Boots would be helpful, the kind with a heel, but if some of you don’t have them, that’s okay.”
“I’ll pass that on.”
“And sunscreen.” His attention drifted to her cleavage. Such soft, creamy skin... He wrenched his attention away. “So you don’t get burned.”
“Good advice.” She pressed her lips together, as if holding back a smile, maybe even a laugh.
“Is something funny?”
“Yes.” Her smile bloomed.
“What?”
“Your effort to avoid looking at my chest.”
He took a quick step back. “No, I’m—”
“Don’t bother denying it.”
His cheeks heated. “It’s just that I’ve never seen you in something that low-cut.”
“Valerie told me to wear a skirt that swirled for dancing and a top that would get me some partners.”
That reasoning stuck in his craw. But he’d taken himself out of the game, so why shouldn’t she look around for someone else? “Should work.” He hesitated. “Want to dance?”
Her face lit up. “I do.”
“We’re probably playing right into Claire’s hands.”
“It’s just dancing.”
“You’re right. Okay, let’s go. That number’s a slow two-step. It’s a good place to start.” He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He’d never held her hand before. He liked it more than he should.
