The Cowboy’s Mixed-Up Matchmaker

by Valerie Comer

  “Bailey Gabriel. I’m visiting from Chicago with a couple of girlfriends.” Her gaze drifted the length of him and back up. “But I could be talked into more.” She fluttered her eyelashes as she clasped his fingers between both hands and leaned closer. “What do you say?”

  “I say no thanks.” James tugged his hand free and tried to keep a generic smile in place.

  She pouted. “Drat, you are taken. Though, of course, she’d never need to know...?” Her voice curled suggestively at the end.

  “That’s not how I operate.” Why did he feel the urge to apologize for turning this brazen offer down? Politeness could be taken too far.

  “We’ll be here for two weeks in Cabin Nine, so you know where to find me if you change your mind.”

  Cabin Nine? Right next door. James’s blood chilled. He’d never felt he needed to sneak into his own place before, but no way did he want Bailey to figure out where he lived... alone. Plus, he’d better start keeping his door locked, just in case.

  “Are you and your friends scheduled for lessons or a trail ride today?”

  “Only if you’re there.” She winked.

  “I won’t be.” He turned back to Domi and nudged the horse over so he could pick up her other hoof. “I hope you enjoy your vacation.”

  “That’s the plan.” Bailey giggled.

  Did he dare send Matt out with this group? No. James didn’t want to find out the hard way that Bailey or her friends weren’t picky about a cowboy’s age. Looked like Tori had just scored some hand-holding over the next couple of weeks. Lucky her.

  * * *

  “Girl! You look amazing. Let me see.” Denae walked all the way around Lauren. “Your mom’s a miracle worker.”

  Lauren shifted from one foot to the other. “Um… thanks. I think.”

  “No, really. Your hair has more bounce. Those curls! I’m jealous.”

  “There’s so much more you can do with long, straight hair. If I let mine grow out, it mostly goes sideways.”

  Denae fingered her long strands. “At least yours has body. Mine just droops. But, seriously. I like the look. I didn’t realize how long your hair had gotten until this cut.” She grabbed Lauren’s hand. “And look! Your nails are gorgeous. What’s the event?”

  “Nothing. My mom took over.” As though that were something new.

  “And here I thought it was so you could show James what he’s missing.”

  Lauren shook her head. “That’s not going to work.”

  “Because you’ve tried it? Don’t give up. Not yet. Put your heart on the line and make an all-out effort to snag that cowboy. What do you say?”

  “I say you’ve read too many romances.”

  Denae smacked her arm gently. “Romance is real, silly. You don’t have to read fiction to believe in happily-ever-after. Look at Cheri and Kade or Megan and Eli for examples. Look around at church on Sunday and see couples who’ve been together for ten, twenty, or even fifty years.”

  Both Cheri and Meg had gone through significant trauma on their way to true love with no guarantees they’d emerge married to their soulmates. Both had made every mistake in the book and found Jesus in the depths of their darkness. Then the light had shone, with Kade and Eli waiting to make the transitions complete.

  Lauren hadn’t made those huge mistakes. If that’s what it took to find her heart’s match, she’d live without him, thank you. She had plenty of beauty in her life even though James was a stubborn, misguided fool. She lifted her chin.

  “Yay! We’ll make it an event.”

  “Huh?” Lauren blinked at Denae.

  “I could see your thought process as you decided to go for it with James. Now all we need is an actual plan. Let me see your closet.”

  “Um...” Her friend was delusional. No way was Lauren strolling up to James and telling him she’d loved him since they were kids and, yes, she’d accept his proposal if the offer still stood. But she could be the lifeblood of the party again and show the man what he was missing by taking her for granted.

  The rattle of wire hangers from her bedroom caught Lauren’s attention. She scooped Felix into her arms and followed Denae. “I don’t have anything nice.”

  “Wow. You’re not kidding. How many T-shirts and pairs of sweats does one girl need? And then there’s this turquoise number.” Denae pulled out Lauren’s bridesmaid dress from Cheri and Kade’s wedding and twirled it around. “This is uh-maze-ing, but it’s a bit much for a night on the town. You don’t have anything in between?”

  “Jeans?” Lauren put a hopeful lilt in her voice as she dropped to the side of the bed.

  Denae scowled at her with eyebrows raised. “I’ve seen your jeans. They put Michelle’s mom-jeans to shame.”

  Heat crept up Lauren’s cheeks as she clutched Felix to her chest. “I’m not skinny like you. Nothing looks good on me.”

  “Stand up. Put the cat down. Let me have a look at you.”

  Face burning, Lauren did as she was told, slowly pivoting at Denae’s instruction.

  “You’ve got curves. What’re you hiding that bod behind baggy junk for?” Denae swept a pile of folded sweats into her arms. “Where’s your garbage can?”

  “No!” Lauren grabbed the stack and tried to tug them out of her friend’s hands to no avail. “You can’t trash my wardrobe.”

  “That’s not a wardrobe, girlfriend. That’s a smoke-and-mirrors act to make you think you’ve got clothing. We’re going shopping.”

  “No...”

  “I’ll loan you a few hundred dollars if you need it, though it will take at least a grand to get you properly outfitted. More like two. What day can we drive into Missoula? We could stay at Dad and Michelle’s and take a whole weekend. I know some great little boutiques.”

  “I can’t.”

  “I bet you can.” Denae dumped the pile in the corner and tossed two pairs of jeans on top.

  There wasn’t much left besides the turquoise dress. Lauren eyed it. Once she’d gotten over the idea of the cross-pleated bodice and wide shirred waist and actually tried it on, she’d felt like a princess. The soft chiffon had swirled around her knees. She looked better than she’d expected in photos of the bridal party, even though the bright flowers she clutched in front of her didn’t camouflage the fact that she was wider than the other bridesmaid or the bride.

  Denae held up a gray T-shirt and scowled at it. “You know they make tees shaped for women, right? V-neck, trimmed in at the waist.”

  Lauren closed her eyes and let out a long breath. Was she going to let Denae do this to her? Throw away almost all of her clothes and bully her into spending a bunch of money on a new wardrobe? It wasn’t as though her bank account was empty. The duplex was paid for, thanks to her inheritance from her father, so her biggest expenses were the Jeep and takeout. She tried to remember when she’d last gone on a clothes-shopping binge. College?

  Maybe Denae was right. Maybe it was time.

  And it had nothing to do with impressing James Carmichael.

  Nothing much.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “I don’t know why I need to make all these decisions this far in advance,” James grumbled as he anchored the corner of the blueprint with the napkin dispenser. “And I don’t know why I need three bathrooms.”

  “Only three?” Kade propped his elbows on the table in Java Springs. “Don’t let Cheri hear you say that, or any woman. I think our new house will have four. Or is it five, with the basement one? I’ve lost track.”

  “You’re a big help.”

  “Besides, you know the answer. Yeah, one guy doesn’t need that much space, but you’ll have a family one day. We’re still in the apartment above the garage while we’re waiting for our house to be finished, and I can tell you I look forward to not having a kid pound on the bathroom door as soon as I get in there. Because when a kid’s gotta go, he or she has seriously gotta go.”

  James skewered his buddy with a look. “Quit trying to make it sound like having ki
ds is a downside.”

  “Yeah, well. I get it.”

  Did he? Kade hadn’t hung around waiting for Cheri to come back into his life. He’d married Daniela, become the father of Jericho, and been widowed before Cheri returned to Saddle Springs. Lauren, on the other hand, had come home right after college and remained tantalizingly out of reach. Totally different scenario.

  Kade peered at the paper. “Okay, so what decisions do you need to make right now? Something about bathrooms, I take it.”

  “Can they all be the same? I mean in finishes. Just one kind of cupboard and counter and tile and floor? Please?”

  “You might want to put some upgrades in the master bath. Cheri’s looking forward to a jetted tub.” Kade tapped the blueprint. “Good, you’ve got a nice big shower in there. You’ll appreciate that.”

  James didn’t even want to know why. “Upgrades in the master bath. Got it. But... like what?”

  The bells over the door jingled. Two females giggled. James froze, not daring to look up. Maybe they wouldn’t recognize him here. He could hope.

  “Oh, look, it’s Mr. Hunky Cowboy!”

  Bailey’s voice. Great.

  “Two of them,” her friend countered.

  James had already figured out that all three women were eager for exploits to regale their Chicago friends with after their vacation. He’d managed to avoid any one-on-one time since being caught in Domi’s stall that first day. Now he and Matt made sure to work near each other, leaving Tori with the three blondes. It wasn’t as efficient, but it was necessary.

  The assault of Bailey’s perfume warned him a second before she leaned over his shoulder, her hand with its red-painted nails splayed on the blueprint. “Oh, what have we here? Building a house, cowboy?”

  “Or maybe your friend is?” Skylar all but crooned.

  Kade shot James a tight, questioning look. “Excuse me. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

  “I’m Bailey and this is my friend Skylar. We’re staying at the Flying Horseshoe, but I see now we should have been spending more time in this quaint little town.” Bailey pressed closer.

  James took a deep breath. “This is my buddy Kade, and he’s married.”

  Skylar offered a pout but didn’t pull away.

  “Happily married and father of two,” Kade said. “And I’d really appreciate it if you’d take a step or two back.”

  The bells jingled again. With any luck it would be... James didn’t know whose arrival would offer the salvation he needed, but any interruption would be welcome. Almost any. His gaze locked onto Lauren’s. No way. Anyone but her at this moment. Tori came in right behind her, her eyes widening at the sight of Bailey and Skylar invading James’s and Kade’s space.

  Lauren pivoted on her heel, but Tori blocked the escape.

  That’s when James noticed the slim black capris and long, soft-looking tunic — nothing like he’d ever seen on Lauren before. Her hair was different, too. The curls swished as she shook her head emphatically at Tori. James swallowed hard. Lauren looked... well, there wasn’t any other word for it. She looked hot. To say nothing of hot under the collar.

  “Hey, Tori, Lauren,” Kade said easily. “Abigail just put on another pot of coffee. Pull up a chair.”

  If Bailey leaned any harder, she’d push James off his seat. It would make a scene, but it might not be a bad way to go. At least Lauren would know this wasn’t his idea.

  Wait a sec. Tori. She’d told him not to give up on Lauren. Was she responsible for Lauren’s transformation? For them both arriving at Java Springs right now? He’d mentioned over lunch that he was meeting Kade for coffee. Yeah, his sister had set this up. Big question was, had she dropped a clue to Bailey and Skylar? She wouldn’t have stooped that low, would she?

  He raised his eyebrows at his sister and barely caught the twitch of her shoulders and the tiny shake of her head.

  “I just remembered I have a patient coming at three-thirty.” Lauren pushed at Tori.

  His sister didn’t move. “Then you’re so late they’ve already left. Come on. I’m dying for a coffee.”

  “Strawberry muffins just came out of the oven,” sang out Abigail.

  “Yum!” Tori grasped Lauren’s arm and towed her to the two vacant chairs across from James and Kade. The ones Bailey and Skylar might have grabbed if they weren’t so busy trying to touch men they had no business touching.

  “Hey, Lauren,” Kade said conversationally. “How are things? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “That can only be good news, right?” Tori beamed. “That means all the animals at Eaglecrest are healthy.”

  “What on earth are you talking about?” demanded Bailey.

  “Oh, hi, Bailey. I didn’t see you there.”

  Touché. At least Tori’s words made the brazen woman pull back a little.

  “This is my friend, Dr. Yanovich, the owner of Saddle Springs Veterinary Clinic.”

  “Co-owner.” Lauren straightened her shoulders slightly as she took the seat across from Kade.

  “Bailey and Skylar are at the ranch for a quick visit.” Tori swept her hand as though it were of no consequence. “They work in an office in Chicago.”

  How to downplay it. James cheered inwardly.

  Bailey’s hand rested on James’s shoulder. “We’re thinking of relocating.”

  * * *

  Lauren yanked out of the wooden chair and strode to the counter at the back where Abigail Evening set a platter of muffins in the display case.

  “I’ll take a caramel macchiato to go, Abigail. Triple shot.” Yeah, her nerves were already strung to the max. There wasn’t much the extra jolt of caffeine could do to her. Probably. She looked back to the table as the woman who’d been draped over Kade settled into the chair she’d just vacated. James’s new love interest stayed where she was, touching him, but smiling at Lauren, her eyes wide.

  Hussy.

  If this was how James wanted to move on, more power to him. She hadn’t bought this outfit for him, anyway. She’d bought it because Denae had hauled nearly everything in her closet out to the curb in a trash bag. And Denae had been correct. This had nothing to do with James. Lauren had told him to date other women, had tried to set him up. She’d told him no when he’d sort of kind of proposed, so how could she complain when he finally got the hint?

  She pasted on a bright smile and turned back to Abigail. “I’d love a couple of those muffins, too.” She’d better not eat too many or she wouldn’t fit her new wardrobe for long, but today was for indulging. She’d probably expend all the calories in a crying jag anyway. Hopefully she’d make it home before the floodgates burst. Why had they walked, anyway?

  “I’ll take a vanilla latte to go,” Tori said from beside Lauren.

  “Oh, you don’t have to leave just because I do.”

  “Of course, I do. Friends don’t let friends caffeinate alone.”

  In a heartbeat, Lauren was turning sixteen on a raft on a small lake, surrounded by the gang and a cute guy who just so happened to share her birthday. Friends don’t let friends turn thirty... single.

  Oh, man. Those tears were about to gush. She’d been so innocent then. Crushed because Dillon had broken up with her when she should never have been stupid enough to date the moron in the first place. If only she could tell Past Lauren to save her tears for when they really mattered, and never, ever high-five on something important.

  The middle-aged barista set the to-go cup on the counter and snapped the lid tight. “Here you go, hon. I’ll do up Tori’s drink and then box up some muffins for you both.”

  “What do we have to do to get some coffee around here?” whined one of the women.

  Kade laughed. “You order it at the counter and pay for it, just like every coffee shop I’ve ever been in. Is it different in Chicago?”

  Silence.

  Lauren would not turn and look. Definitely not. She would stare at Abigail’s back as she prepped Tori’s drink then tap her card and be gone. S
he might or might not sneak a quick peek at James on her way past.

  A couple of minutes later she emerged into the cloudy June afternoon, Tori at her heels. When the door had clicked shut behind them, Lauren whirled on her friend. “You knew. You did that on purpose. You told me to change before we went out for coffee.”

  Tori winced, hands full.

  Lauren wasn’t done. “I trusted you and Denae. She’s probably in on it, too.”

  “Calm down.” The flick in Tori’s eyes assured Lauren she was right.

  “Calm down? After that display of... of lust?”

  Tori nudged her to start walking down Main Street. “Yes, calm down. Bailey, Skylar, and their friend are on an unfortunate mission. I’d like to point out that I had no idea they’d be there, and James looked super uncomfortable.”

  “Because he’d been caught.”

  “Hey. That’s my brother you’re talking about, and you know better.” Steel fortified Tori’s words.

  Lauren whirled, her elbow catching Tori’s arm. “Of course, you’re on his side.”

  “Listen to yourself. If that’s not jealousy talking, the world is silent.”

  “I’m not jealous. If that’s how he wants to play it, it’s his life. Go ahead.”

  Tori’s eyebrows rose.

  “Seriously. What have I been saying all along? I’m perfectly happy being single. My career gives me a full life. I live to ease the suffering of animals, teach the little ones in Sunday School — thanks for filling in, by the way — and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation here on the edge of the mountains. What more do I need?”

  “And what of the confession that night on the mountaintop?”

  Lauren shrugged, waving a hand. “A moment of weakness. I’m over it.”

  “It’s okay to be honest,” Tori said softly.

  Nope. Not with James’s sister. Look where that had gotten her. Lauren marched up the street, holding her to-go cup in front of her like a sword. If she could only get rid of Tori, but her friend’s vehicle was parked in front of the duplex. Plus, she needed those muffins. Nah, they were too healthy. What she really needed was Häagen-Dazs, and there happened to be a pint of chocolate salted fudge truffle in her freezer right now. Tori could have the strawberry muffins.