Winning the Cowboy

by Emma St Clair

  Adele didn’t doubt that Kat had experience. She radiated confidence and had a unique style, with tattoos running down her arms and fifties-era flare in her high-waisted pants and blouse. All topped off with pink-tipped hair. A far cry from Adele’s more conservative and classic look, but Kat totally rocked it.

  As she’d spoken those words, Jem’s tiny hand had fluttered up and stroked her mom’s cheek. Adele’s heart cracked open not just with longing for a baby of her own someday—maybe one with Easton’s dark gray eyes? —but a desire to support this young, single mama.

  She didn’t know Kat’s story (yet) and didn’t need to in order to hire her on the spot. Her own mom had struggled through raising Adele with no man in the picture. Solidarity for single moms. Plus, maybe Kat would shake things up and add a fresh edge to Adele’s look.

  If she ever got here.

  “Looking so fetch!” Danny called, his smile bright against his dark beard.

  Adele giggled at the Mean Girls reference, which she knew had been Danny’s intent. He always found ways to coax genuine smiles and laughter out of her. Danny liked to call that the light of the soul, and he sought it as much as he did the perfect natural lighting.

  Growing up, Adele never would have imagined modeling for a photo shoot. Not just because she didn’t have the waify look like Gemma Ward or some of the other famous models that graced magazine covers. But because she basically did her best to fly under the radar in high school, not seek out the spotlight. She had been pretty shy, and the constant teasing about her weight through the years didn’t help.

  It wasn’t until college that Adele really became comfortable in her skin and in who God made her to be. Not that she didn’t struggle from time to time with insecurity, but she had come to realize every woman did, regardless of size or weight. Most of the time, she didn’t even blink at the rude comments on her photos, which showed massive progress.

  Kat’s minivan pulled into the parking lot, coming to such a quick stop that gravel spun out under her tires. Adele lost her smile, feeling that same stress rise again. Kat was now about twenty minutes late. Glancing over, she watched Kat as she unfolded a stroller, secured Jem inside, and then made her way over with a cardboard box in one hand, pushing the stroller in the other.

  Danny stepped closer, lowering the camera. He wagged a finger at her. “You lost your light.”

  “I know. I got distracted. My assistant just got here.”

  “Want to take a quick break?”

  “That’d be great.”

  “And then you’ll come back focused, right?” His tone was teasing, but Adele knew he meant it.

  Sighing, Adele held up her hands. “I know. I know. I’ll get my light back.”

  Grinning, Danny patted her shoulder. “I know you will. I got some great shots so far. You’ll love them.”

  Danny dropped his lanky body down onto a nearby picnic table, scrolling through the photos on his camera while refueling on his coffee.

  “I’m so sorry!” Kat called as she neared them.

  Jem squealed happily in the stroller. Her daughter’s pink cheeks were the only sign that she might not be feeling well. She smiled a toothless grin and Adele couldn’t help but hold out her hand when Jem reached for it. Immediately, she clutched one of Adele’s fingers and drew it to her mouth, gumming it happily.

  “It’s fine. Really. And how are you, big girl?”

  “She’s teething, I think. Hence the fever. Doctors always say babies don’t get sick when they’re teething. Ask any mom and they’ll tell you the truth. Doctors are wrong.”

  Danny made his way over and took Kat’s hand, stretching out his arm until he could give her outfit a full perusal. “I love what you’ve got going on.”

  Adele did too. The black, high-waisted skinny jeans and cropped gray top somehow worked perfectly with the chunky motorcycle boots. Her hair was in a high ponytail that was just the right amount of messy, but her cat-eye black liner looked perfect.

  “Thanks. I’m Kat.”

  Danny pulled her into a hug. “Danny. We’re going to get along just fine.”

  Adele breathed out a sigh of relief. Kat was late, but she was here. This would be fine. A yawn overtook her. And then she could go home and nap.

  “Who’s this ray of sunshine?” Danny asked, crouching in front of the stroller.

  Adele gently extracted her hand from Jem’s mouth. The baby moved right on to Danny, who leaned forward enough that she could tug on his beard, squealing happily. Danny laughed.

  “That’s Jem. Short for Jemimah. She’s seven months old and is the absolute best. But is also the reason I’m always late. Sorry again,” Kat said to Adele.

  “Not a big deal. Really.”

  Kat seemed to relax. “Look through the box to see what you like. It’s Gucci.”

  Adele’s eyes flew open. “You got Gucci to sponsor me?”

  Danny laughed, and Adele’s eyes flashed from him to Kat, who looked like she was about to laugh too. “No, um, that just means that it’s pretty great stuff. Like, it’s cool.”

  Gucci? Must be some new hipster slang. Apparently, I’m totally out of the loop. Or I’m now a grandma?

  Kat couldn’t be younger than nineteen or twenty, just a few years younger than Adele. Danny knew the term too, though he was in his early thirties. Adele shook her head. Hipsters.

  Adele stopped feeling embarrassed about her lack of slang knowledge the moment she saw what was in the box. “Oh! Kat! These are amazing!”

  “I know, right? Told you I’d have the hook-up.”

  Lifting a silk scarf from the box, Adele couldn’t help but press the soft material to her cheek.

  Kat reached for it, lifting her brows. “May I?” Adele nodded, and Kat pulled it from her hands, tugging Adele’s hair into a high ponytail. “I thought we could do some shots tying this up like this. It totally pops with your hair color. And then maybe more traditional look, around your neck.”

  Kat looked to Danny, who nodded. “Love it. Let’s start with that. Maybe over here in the shade behind that shed?”

  “What about underneath that … uh, whatever that thing is?” Kat suggested, pointing to a rusted metal structure behind one of the grain elevators.

  “Perfect,” Danny said. “Adele, over there. Maybe holding on to that ladder?”

  And that’s how the rest of the morning went. Danny and Kat worked seamlessly together as though they’d been doing so for years. Adele quickly forgot her exhaustion and her guilt over the night before, laughing and smiling along with the two of them as Danny snapped photos and Kat changed out scarves and necklaces, suggesting styling options that were somehow perfect for Adele but different than what she might have tried on her own.

  Jem added another layer of brightness with her happy squeals and giggles. Kat even took a few shots of Adele holding her while Danny was checking through his photos.

  “You’re a natural,” Kat said, smiling.

  “I like babies,” Adele said. Probably more than I should, considering I’m very single.

  After her hours alone with Easton last night, she’d still made no progress with him. When she left, he’d simply waved and given her a head nod. A head nod.

  No, babies didn’t appear to be in Adele’s near future. At least, not with Easton.

  Jem’s sunny disposition turned dark in a flash when she needed to eat. With a banshee roar, she began flailing in Adele’s arms. Kat snatched her back, tucking her under a nursing cover she pulled from the stroller.

  “The little lady is hangry,” she said, blowing her hair out of her face.

  “She’s not the only one,” Danny said, and as if on cue, Adele’s stomach growled.

  She giggled, holding her hand over it. “I think it’s time to call it a day. I need lunch and a nap.”

  “You aren’t the only one,” Kat said. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through an app. “I think we got all the shots that the brands requested. Danny, are you good?”

/>   “Good? This is our best shoot to date.” He put an arm around Kat and gave her a gentle hug, careful not to disturb the eating baby under the cover. “This girl’s going to be good for you.”

  “I agree,” Adele said. She gave Kat a broad smile. “I already feel lighter.”

  Kat’s whole countenance seemed to relax. “Seriously? I can’t tell you how much I needed this. I wish I could promise I won’t be late but …” She ducked her chin to look inside the nursing cover, then met Adele’s eyes and shrugged. “Jem’s a tiny dictator. What can I say?”

  Tired as she was, Adele found herself sad to be heading out. She didn’t usually socialize with Danny and she hardly knew Kat, but maybe it was time for a change. Her social circle was pretty small and basically included Cilla and the twins. “Would you guys want to grab lunch?”

  Adele’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her purse to see that Cilla had sent a text.

  Cilla: Official wedding venue scouting. I’ll pick you up in twenty.

  Groaning, she said, “Never mind. I’m apparently needed for wedding duty.”

  Both Kat and Danny looked disappointed but waved it off. Adele would definitely rather have lunch with the two of them and Jem than look at wedding venues. As happy as she was for Cilla, being a part of the planning meant near-constant reminders that Adele was nowhere close to walking down the aisle.

  “Rain check,” Adele said. “We’ll do it sometime soon. Promise. Thank you both! Danny, I’ll be looking for the pics in my Dropbox folder. Kat, I’ll message you later about content. In the meantime, feel free to be on troll patrol.”

  Kat laughed. “You got it. Thank you. I enjoyed today.”

  “You did a great job,” Adele said and meant it.

  “Enjoyed working with you, Kitty Kat,” Danny said, pulling her in for another hug. “I’ll help you get everything to your car.”

  Kat grinned, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink than her hair. “Um, sure. Yeah.”

  Interesting. Maybe there was something brewing there. As long as it didn’t mess up their ability to work together. Despite the age difference, Adele could totally see Danny and Kat together. Her phone buzzed again as she got into her car.

  Cilla: We good?

  Adele: Yes. I’ll be ready. But you have to feed me.

  Cilla: Fine. Oh, and your favorite twin is coming.

  Adele’s heart picked up its pace as she got into the car. She flipped down the visor and checked out her makeup in the mirror. Still good. Another message came through.

  Cilla: And by favorite, I mean your favorite twin you love to hate.

  Adele groaned and smacked the steering wheel. That twin. Of course. Her best friend was getting married, her photographer and assistant appeared to have a crush-at-first-sight thing going on, and Adele got stuck with the twin she would rather kick than kiss.

  Just her luck.

  Chapter Six

  Elton

  “This could be considered kidnapping, you know.”

  Elton couldn’t help smiling at Adele’s words. But smiling made his face ache. His face looked less swollen this morning, though he was getting a nice black eye. But the over-the-counter pain meds didn’t get rid of his headache.

  Being around Adele did more to make him forget the pain. He admired her auburn hair, wishing he could run his fingers through it. She had her body turned away from him, staring out the window of Pax’s SUV, which still smelled of new car. Which, technically, it was.

  Apparently, Pax’s truck hadn’t been as easy for Cilla to get in and out of unassisted. And she didn’t like having to put her wheelchair in the truck bed. The brand-new Honda Pilot was roomy and had been upgraded to be more accessible. Cilla could get in and out herself, but today she hadn’t seemed to mind Pax lifting her in and out of the car at every stop. He used every time as a chance to kiss her.

  Which, to be honest, was getting pretty old. Especially when Elton had to deal with Adele giving him the silent treatment the whole time Pax and Cilla dragged them around looking at possible wedding venues. And was it his imagination or was Adele leaning as far as possible away from him? Probably not his imagination.

  “You agreed to this when you said you’d be my maid of honor,” Cilla said. “Deal with it.”

  “I agreed to help,” Adele said. “But we’ve already seen the only three places that aren’t booked up through the fall, and you didn’t like any of them. How many more are we going to see today?”

  Cilla grumbled a response. Honestly, Elton was wondering the same thing. Though he didn’t mind the company. Even if Adele was pretending like he didn’t exist.

  “Seriously? Where are we going now?”

  Pax answered this time. “A surprise. Let’s call it a scenic drive.”

  Adele huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Elton leaned closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Are you saying that you don’t enjoy the company?” he asked, fluttering his eyelashes at Adele. Something about her irritation only made him want to poke the bear.

  The blistering gaze she turned on him could have scorched the earth. But Elton was a glutton for punishment. He liked her heat.

  Adele shrugged his hand off her shoulder and leaned further against the door. “Cilla? Will you please tell Elton that I’m still not speaking to him?”

  Cilla snorted and shook her head. “Leave me out of it. But please figure it out before our wedding.”

  Pax only grunted.

  Elton unbuckled his seatbelt and slid over to the middle seat, buckling up again before putting his arm around Adele’s shoulders. “Hey, doll. Let’s remember who got whom thrown into the slammer not twenty-four hours ago.”

  Cilla and Pax shared a look and a low laugh, but Adele just wiggled as much as she could away from Elton. He leaned even closer, erasing any of the space between them.

  Adele whipped her head around to face him head on. “Fine! You want me to talk?”

  Did he ever. Elton grinned. This close, her hazel eyes were electrifying. And her lips? His gaze dropped, and Elton couldn’t help the longing that moved through his body like wildfire.

  “Oh boy,” Pax muttered. Cilla flipped on the radio to a country station and turned the dial way up. Adele turned her glare toward Cilla. Elton took that chance to dip his head close to Adele’s, his mouth right next to her ear.

  When he spoke, it was a throaty purr. “Adele, I love it when you talk. Even when you’re yelling at me. So, if there’s something you want to say, don’t hold back. Give it to me. I want it all.”

  The redness in her cheeks and neck let him know that his words had an impact. Or maybe it was the way he let his lips brush over the shell of her ear.

  “Elton! I swear—”

  Whatever she was about to say was interrupted as Pax pulled into a driveway and shut off the music.

  “We’re here.” Pax practically jumped out of the truck, slamming the door before jogging over to Cilla’s side.

  “Where is here, exactly?” Adele asked, leaning forward to look out the windshield. It was an older farmhouse, not unlike the one Elton and Easton shared.

  “Is that an ...ostrich?”

  Cilla laughed as Pax flung open her door and lifted her bridal-style, out of the car. “You didn’t,” she said, grinning up at Pax.

  He sealed his mouth to hers, then gave the eye to Elton. “Stay.” He slammed the door shut with his hip and marched right up to the front porch.

  “I think those are emus,” Adele muttered.

  Elton’s eyes pinged between Cilla and Pax, who were standing on the front porch now, to the large, ugly birds stalking along the other side of the fence. He groaned.

  “Not more emu jerky!” That had been Cilla’s gift to them all at Christmas, and the only time Elton would ever put anything emu near his person.

  Adele clutched his arm. “Shh! Look!”

  Elton followed her gaze to the porch, where Pax was grinning like a fool. Cilla peppered kisses all over his face befor
e throwing her arms around his neck. Pax spun her around.

  Both were uncharacteristic displays. Pax tended to have two moods: grumpy and grumpier, while Cilla leaned on the sarcastic side of things. They might be head over heels for each other, but they still weren’t huge on public—or semi-public—displays of affection. Other than all the making out today.

  “I think,” Adele said slowly, “that Pax just bought Cilla their dream home.”

  “Dream home? With emus?”

  A soft sniffling drew his eyes to Adele, who was crying softly. Her hand dropped from where it had a death grip on his arm. She slumped back into her seat.

  “Hey. Hey, doll. Why the tears, huh?”

  Though she had just pushed him away, Elton unbuckled both their seatbelts and wrapped his arms around Adele. This time, she didn’t fight but nestled closer, resting her head in the crook of his neck. She shuddered, and he squeezed her tighter, pressing a kiss to her hair before he could think it through enough to hold back.

  He got the sense that she wasn’t ready to talk, so he just held her, watching as Pax settled onto the porch swing with Cilla in his lap. He reached an arm out toward the edge of the property where the emus were, and Cilla nodded, a huge smile on her face.

  Elton jolted when Adele’s fingertips touched his jaw. “Your face looks terrible.”

  “Thank you. I love it when you compliment me.”

  He grinned, and Adele rolled her eyes. “Like your ego needs any boosting.”

  “Who me? Ego?” Elton squeezed her even closer. Any minute, he knew she would pull away, so he needed to enjoy it while he could.

  “I’m sorry again about last night. Are you okay?”

  “I am. But if you want to be my personal nurse, I won’t say no.”

  She laughed, pressing her cheek against his chest and gripping his T-shirt in both hands. “You’re bad, Elton.”