Her Perfect Cowboy

by Trish Milburn

  Ginny half stood and craned her neck. “Yes.”

  “My friend Keri owns it, and she’s having a cupcake contest during the rodeo. We were wondering if you’d like to be one of the three judges? You would get to taste each of the cupcakes people enter in the contest and vote for the ones you like the best.”

  Ginny’s eyes widened, as did her smile as she looked at Liam. “Could I?”

  “Hmm. Do I want my daughter hopped up on so much sugar she’ll be bouncing all night?”

  “Please, Dad,” Ginny pleaded in that way that only little kids had mastered.

  With a glance at India, Liam nodded. “Fine. But no sweets for a week after that or you’ll have a mouth full of cavities.”

  “Deal.”

  India laughed when Ginny stuck out her hand across the table to shake hands with her dad, sealing the cupcake deal.

  “Well, there’s at least one thing I can mark off my to-do list.”

  “Speaking of to-do lists,” Liam said as he stood. “We have some paint to go buy.”

  “How are things going?” India asked the question partly because she wanted to know, but she had to admit that there was a little part of her that wanted Liam to stay a bit longer. That was a desire she was going to have to do something to quell. Maybe GQ would come to town to do a shoot of sexy, successful businessmen, and she’d be saved from herself.

  “Good. We should be able to wrap up work on the barn today. Then it’s on to the grandstands and prepping the inside of the arena. We could always use an extra pair of hands if you decide to get some fresh air.”

  India nearly snorted. “I’m pretty sure I’d be the world’s worst handyman...handyperson...whatever.”

  “You might be right about that.” Liam grinned then turned his attention to where Ginny had wandered up to the jewelry counter and nearly had her nose pressed against the glass. “You ready to go, kiddo?”

  Ginny stepped quickly away from the display case, almost as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. “Yep.”

  After India waved goodbye to them and they headed down the sidewalk, she crossed to where Ginny had been standing and looked in the case. She wondered what item inside had attracted the little girl’s attention and if her dad had even noticed.

  From everything India had seen, Liam was as good a dad as he could be to Ginny. But he was still a guy, and guys weren’t what one would call observant sometimes, especially when it came to what women wanted. And while Ginny was a long way from being a woman, she was still female. India wondered if underneath the minicowgirl trying to emulate her father beat the heart of a little girl wanting something pretty.

  It was India who jumped away from the case this time when the front door opened. Liam stood half in and half out of the door.

  “Sorry, quick question. Your friend with the bakery, does she do birthday cakes?”

  India nodded. “Yes, she’s a master with cakes.”

  “Good, thanks.” He started to leave.

  “Wait. Why?”

  “Oh, Ginny’s birthday is right before the rodeo. I thought since she’d be here instead of at home that I’d at least get her a cake.”

  Maybe Ginny wouldn’t mind hanging out with a bunch of rodeo cowboys and cowgirls on her birthday, but it didn’t sit well with India. It was as if the past grabbed her and yanked her back to all the birthdays she’d spent with parents who either forgot about her big day or gave her a half-hearted celebration before they either drank themselves into oblivion or got so high they forgot who she was.

  “How about I order it for you?”

  His forehead creased. “I can order a cake.”

  “I know, but I have to go see Keri, anyway. And I’m familiar with all the different kinds of cakes she can make.”

  He seemed to be thinking about her offer, and she hoped she wasn’t overstepping. “Okay, just let me know how much it is, and I’ll swing by the bakery to pay for it.”

  India nodded, already thinking about all the possibilities. But what was Ginny interested in? Maybe she could devise a way to find out between now and then.

  And for the second time in as many minutes, Liam left her alone in her store. After taking a deep breath, she looked toward the pile of discarded clothes. Was Celene right? Would expanding the store be a mistake? She let the lack of customers worry her, a lull that normally wouldn’t have registered. But Celene had put the doubt in her mind, and now India wondered if Blue Falls was big enough to fulfill her dreams.

  Chapter Six

  Liam shook hands with James Humphreys, who’d be providing several of the bulls and a couple of broncs for the upcoming rodeo. “Sounds like a deal to me.”

  “So, you going to be riding in this one?”

  Liam swept off his hat and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Hadn’t really thought about it. Been too busy pulling everything else together.”

  “Remember, it’s use it or lose it.” With that, James waved and headed for his truck.

  As James drove away from the fairgrounds, Liam spotted India’s car followed by a blue pickup truck that had a few years and dents on it. Damn if his pulse didn’t kick up a notch. With a shake of his head, he sauntered toward the vehicles. When a guy stepped out and smiled at India as he rounded the front of his truck, a surge of unexpected jealousy shot through Liam. What the hell? They’d agreed to stick to a professional relationship. And good thing since they were nothing alike and after the rodeo would probably never see each other again. Fort Worth to Blue Falls was a bit of a drive to pick up a date.

  So why did he feel this overwhelming urge to step between her and this guy and sweep her into his arms?

  He needed to go out on a date, just not with froufrou India Pike.

  She spotted Liam then and waved. He nodded as she turned toward the passenger door of the truck. A little girl who looked to be about Ginny’s age, but paler and thinner, opened the door and slipped out as the guy hovered.

  It suddenly dawned on Liam who this must be as he crossed the distance between him and the others.

  “Hey, Liam,” India said. “Is Ginny around?”

  “She’s in the barn playing with a cat that took up residence overnight.”

  India glanced toward the barn. “I thought she might like to meet Mia.” She shifted her attention to the man standing with his hand on Mia’s shoulder. “This is Jake Monroe, Mia’s father.”

  Liam shook the other man’s hand. “Good to meet you.”

  “You, too. We appreciate all you’re doing here.”

  “Just doing my job, and glad to help.” Liam shifted his attention to Mia and bent to her level. He extended his hand to her the same way he had her father. “And, Mia, it’s very nice to meet you.”

  Mia gave him a shy look before putting her small hand in his. “Are you a real rodeo cowboy?”

  He smiled. “Yes, I am.”

  “She’s been asking a million questions about the rodeo ever since she found out about it,” Jake said.

  “Well, then. I should give you the grand tour.” Liam extended his arm.

  Mia giggled as she wrapped her fingers around his arm.

  Liam glanced toward India, and she gave him a smile that made his heart swell. He smiled back then turned all of his attention on Mia as he guided her to the arena, telling her about all the different events that would be included in the rodeo.

  “And India and her friends are planning a lot of other activities, too. They even roped my little girl into being a judge in a cupcake contest.”

  The bright look on Mia’s face dimmed a little. “I wish there was something I could do.”

  Her words and the reason behind them broke his heart. He didn’t know how Jake Monroe was able to get through the day knowing his little girl was fighting for her life. But he
guessed Jake had no choice. He had to be strong enough for both of them.

  As they turned for the barn, Liam’s mind searched for some way Mia could contribute without overtaxing her. He hit on it just as they entered the barn. “You know, I do have something you could do.”

  “Really?” Mia sounded so hopeful he wanted to scoop her up and hold her close, add another layer of protection to her father’s.

  “Yes. Every rodeo needs a rodeo queen, and we don’t have one. Do you think you’d be interested in something like that?”

  “Yes!” She paused for a moment. “What does a rodeo queen do?”

  Everyone laughed, and Jake ruffled his daughter’s sandy hair. “Maybe you should ask that before you agree, squirt.”

  “Oh, it’s a very important job,” Liam said. “You would ride in at the beginning of the rodeo, leading in all the riders who would be competing. That is, if your dad says it’s okay.” He probably should have asked Jake first, but the offer had just slipped out.

  Mia, showing more energy than she had since arriving, looked up at her dad with a pleading expression on her face. “Oh, please, Daddy, can I?”

  “You can ride in with her,” Liam said, trying to put her father at ease.

  “If you feel okay, then sure.”

  Mia hugged her dad, seemingly with all the strength she could muster.

  “And I think I can help with a little something to wear,” India said.

  “You don’t have to do that,” Jake said.

  India waved away his concern. “It would be my honor. After all, it’s not every day that Blue Falls has a queen in town.”

  That settled, Liam motioned for them to follow him the rest of the way into the barn. “Ginny?”

  Ginny popped up from one of the far stalls, an orange cat in her arms.

  Liam waved her out. “India brought someone for you to meet.”

  Ginny stepped out of the stall and set the cat down next to her feet. The cat seemed to be just as attached to her as she was to it since it stuck close as she approached.

  “This is Mia,” Liam said. “Mia, my daughter, Ginny, and her new best friend.”

  “Peach.”

  Liam laughed a little and shook his head. “Honey, you know that cat may live around here somewhere and probably already has a name.”

  “No, he doesn’t have a collar.”

  He opened his mouth to tell her that didn’t mean he didn’t have an owner, but then he noticed Mia bent down and rubbed the cat’s head. The cat really was good-natured and seemed to enjoy the attention.

  “I like the name Peach,” Mia said.

  It really did fit considering his coloring. They could have the cat conversation later, if the cat was still around in a few days.

  With the girls occupied, the adults wandered to the opposite end of the barn.

  “I appreciate what you did for her.” Jake sounded genuinely appreciative but also bone-deep tired.

  “It’s good for everyone,” Liam said.

  Jake’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out to check the text message. He glanced at Mia then back at the phone. “I hate to pull her away, but we’ve got to go. Bill’s got an extra delivery run for me.”

  India looked toward where the girls were giggling and getting along as if they were already the best of friends. “Why don’t you let her stay with me until you get back? Once we’re done here, I can take her back to the shop. She can play dress-up for a while.”

  “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

  “You didn’t ask me. I offered. Really, it’s no problem at all. We might even wander down to the Primrose for a slice of pie.”

  “I’m never going to be able to repay you,” Jake said.

  “Don’t be silly. Seeing Mia get better will be payment enough.”

  Jake pulled India into his arms for a hug then a peck on the cheek. A flash of jealousy hit Liam again, but it was gone the moment Jake let go of India and headed into the barn to tell Mia about the change of plans. For India’s part, she looked a little startled, but her heart was also sitting out on her sleeve as she watched Mia hug her dad goodbye.

  “That was a nice thing to do for him,” Liam said.

  India shifted her gaze to Liam. “He needs the work. Jake has a small ranch, but he also drives a delivery truck for one of the local flower growers. Bill, his boss, is trying to give him as many extra deliveries as he can when Jake is able to be away from Mia.”

  “He’s a single parent?”

  India nodded and turned a little toward Liam. “This is extra hard on him because Mia’s mom died of cancer when Mia was only two. Different kind, but still it was a huge shock when Mia was diagnosed.”

  Liam fought a sudden lump in his throat. He thought he’d been thrown a lot of curveballs in his life. It was nothing next to Jake Monroe’s challenges. “Some people just get the crap end of the stick in life.”

  “Yeah. But he’s been really good at trying to keep her spirits up. And speaking of doing good things, that was a great idea about the rodeo queen.”

  He shrugged. “It was nothing.”

  India touched his arm. “It wasn’t nothing. You made that little girl’s day, probably her month.”

  Why did the mere feel of her hand on his arm make his body go warm all over, a warmth that had nothing to do with the heat of the day? He wondered if she saw his thoughts in his eyes when he looked at her because she moved her hand back down to her side and shifted her gaze to where the girls were deep in conversation, as if they’d known each other their entire lives.

  “Do you mind if Ginny comes with Mia?”

  “To your store?”

  “Yes. I think they might enjoy spending the day together.”

  “Ginny’s not really girly.”

  “You might be surprised.”

  Liam looked at India, searching for censure in her expression, but saw none. But what was she really thinking? That he didn’t know his daughter as well as he thought he did? That rubbed him the wrong way, but a little part of him wondered if she could possibly be right.

  * * *

  INDIA LAUGHED AS GINNY tried on a blue pillbox hat and struck a pose. Ginny joined in the laughter as Mia clunked across the floor in a pair of heels about twice the size of her feet.

  “I think you both have a future in modeling,” India said.

  One of the two customers browsing the store smiled at the girls’ antics. “If you added a children’s section, I think it’d be a big hit.”

  In all her plans for expansion, she’d never considered adding children’s wear. But now the idea took root, and her imagination was off and running. Maybe the store could even host dress-up parties as an extra service for mothers wanting to shop for their own clothing.

  “There was a fashion show here today and we weren’t invited?”

  India glanced away from the girls at the sound of Elissa’s voice. Skyler stood to her side. “Oh, I forgot about our meeting.”

  “Evidently. But I can multitask.” Elissa stepped past India and plunked down in one of the cushy white chairs while Skyler rounded the table to sit in another.

  Before she joined her friends, India turned to her customers. “Can I help you ladies with anything?”

  One left without buying anything, but India followed the other to the cash register for a nice-size sale. Take that, Celene Bramwell.

  When she returned to the other room, Skyler and Elissa were laughing at the girls’ continued antics.

  “Did Mia tell you all she is going to be the rodeo queen?”

  “Oh, that’s impressive,” Skyler said.

  Mia beamed.

  “So, Ginny, you’ve been to lots of rodeos. What does a rodeo queen wear?” India asked.

  “Jeans, shi
rt, hat, boots.”

  Well, that didn’t sound very queenly. India made a mental note to do some online searching later, then find the best little rodeo queen outfit she could for Mia.

  As the girls continued to play, making up little stories to go along with their accessories, India turned to her friends. “Sorry for the delay. We should get to work now.”

  “So when did you become a babysitter?” Elissa asked.

  “It’s just an afternoon, so Jake could get an extra run to Austin in.”

  “And Ginny?”

  India knew by the look on her friend’s face that she was really asking what this meant about her and Liam. In truth, she couldn’t think too much about seeing Liam again because the man still gave her a jittery, buzzy feeling every time she was near him.

  “I thought they could keep each other entertained while I worked.”

  “Uh-huh.” Elissa didn’t sound convinced that was all there was to the story.

  India pretended that she didn’t notice and pulled out her notes regarding the rodeo. They all went over everything they’d finished and where they stood on all the other projects.

  “Are you going to have funnel cake?” Ginny asked.

  “Would you like there to be?” Skyler asked.

  “Yes!” Both girls answered with great enthusiasm at the same time.

  Skyler made a note on her list. “Funnel cake it is.”

  By the time India, Elissa and Skyler wrapped things up, Mia looked a bit more tired than she should have. That sent a shot of fear through India. Had she allowed Mia to do too much?

  “Girls, why don’t I let you watch some cartoons?” She led them to her office, where she had a small TV on her desk and a love seat in one corner. She turned the TV toward them before grabbing her laptop and returning to the front of the store.

  “I think you might make a good mom someday,” Elissa said.

  “Don’t be silly. Babysitting for one afternoon doesn’t make me mom material.”

  “But you’re always really good with the girls in the BlueBelles classes, too,” Skyler added.

  “A little ‘cart before the horse,’ aren’t we?”