‘Sorry, darling. I was just trying to help last night. Sincerely, Ash.’ He
also brought you lunch, and he’s out in the store right now. I told him
you had someone in your office, and he didn’t want to interrupt you.”
Spurs and Heels
19
With a grin, she added, “I helpfully suggested that maybe you’d want
to thank him yourself and that he should hang around a bit.”
Juliana couldn’t help but smile, looking at the flowers. He’d sort
of stuck his foot in his mouth last night, but he’d had good intentions.
The flowers did brighten her mood. Lifting the box containing
Lawrence’s stuff, she stepped out of her office to go look for him
while she tried to formulate an apology for her behavior the night
before.
An employee stopped her to ask a question outside the hallway
that led to her office. Answering the question, she was distracted by
an unusual rhythmic sound and looked up the main aisle that ran the
length of the store.
Walking toward her from the front of the store, looking like sex
on a stick, was that tall, hot cowboy. She had to confess that he was a
sight for sore eyes, dressed in faded blue jeans, dusty cowboy boots, a
red Western shirt, a dark blue barn jacket, and his black felt cowboy
hat. She realized from the telltale sound that he’d left his spurs on.
Tingling heat spread over her cheeks, and she cursed her red hair and
fair skin.
He walked down the aisle to her, a knowing smile in his eyes and
on his lips. Her insides quivered, and she felt the heat in her cheeks
spread to her clit. Despite her blush, she continued her perusal, her
panties dampening slightly at the sight of the telltale bulge at his groin
and the sound of his spurs. Why the sound of spurs could get her a
little wet, she wasn’t sure. He chuckled as he came to a stop and
extricated the box from her hands.
“Darlin’, you keep looking at me like that and I might start
blushing. I don’t think I’d look quite as pretty doing it, though.
What’s in the box?”
“It’s Lawrence’s things. I plan to drop them by his house this
afternoon. I need to put it in my car.”
“Want me to put it in the dumpster instead?”
20
Heather Rainier
Juliana smirked. “Tempting offer. Thank you for the flowers and
my lunch. That was thoughtful of you.”
“Just trying to make amends for upsetting you last night. I figure
if you’re looking at me like you want to eat me for lunch, I must be
forgiven. Yeah?”
Juliana knew she could’ve just laughed and said yes, made more
light conversation, and maybe flirted a little with the good-looking
cowboy. For some reason, his words had the opposite effect, angering
her as did his egotistical assumption. Her emotions were on the
ragged edge and she took it all out on him.
“Don’t think so highly of yourself, Mr. Peterson. I find that
unattractive.” Snatching the box out of his hands, she strode away
from him. Did he have to be so coarse? So egotistical? Did he really
think so highly of himself? She heard his surprised exhalation of air,
but he didn’t follow her as she flounced out the front door to take the
damned box to her car.
Spurs and Heels
21
Chapter Two
Ash grinned, enjoying the view as Miss High and Mighty Meyers
sashayed away. His dick got even harder, watching those hips sway
angrily. The sight of her turned him on like she was walking away
naked, when in reality she was dressed in a matronly tailored blouse
and a shin-length skirt and sensible heels. His dick asserted that it
could have been a fricking burlap sack for all it cared.
“Oh, I like you, cowboy. You’ve got promise.”
He looked around and finally located the little elderly lady who
owned the voice speaking to him. Damn, he didn’t realize how tiny
she was. She must’ve had a stool behind the counter he’d stopped at
earlier.
“I’m sorry, ma’am?”
“Oh, call me Evelyn. Juliana likes you. You can’t tell right now, I
know. She has quite a temper to go along with her red hair. Some
would call that passionate,” Evelyn said, enunciating with care as she
walked up to him.
“I keep sticking my foot in my mouth.”
Evelyn chortled with amusement, “Yes, you do, cowboy. You
have quite a way with words. But she likes you, just be patient. Her
mind is on this breakup right now. She’s exhausted and
oversensitive,” she said, shaking her head sympathetically.
“Well, Miss Evelyn. I need to get back to the ranch. Would you
tell her that I didn’t mean anything by what I said? Just being
mouthy?”