How to Lasso a Cowboy

by Shirley Jump

  THE band was playing a medley of pop hits, the music amplified by the wide leaves of the palm trees, sending sounds skipping from one end of the park to the other. People began to trickle into the park, many of them couples Mildred had put together. They were walking hand in hand, or arm in arm. Sophie spied Lulu and Kevin heading for the buffet line and sent them a friendly wave. Lulu was acting like she couldn’t care less if Kevin was with her, but every once in a while she snuck a glance over her shoulder to see if he was still following her. When she turned back, her face held a soft, secret smile. Kevin just grinned, more than happy to play along.

  Sophie glanced down at the soft jersey black dress and heels she’d chosen for the dance—partly because Mildred and Grandma Watson rejected her first dozen outfits. It was one of those figure-hugging dresses that she had bought on a whim, then left to hang in her closet, waiting for the perfect occasion. Well, really, waiting for an occasion when she felt brave enough to wear it.

  The dress was a big step out of Sophie’s regular attire. It had a deep plunging V neckline, a narrow waist and a pencil skirt that took some getting used to, particularly when she had to walk in the four-inch heels that Grandma and Mildred had insisted were the only footwear option for such a dress. Thankfully, there were concrete paths winding all around the park, which made walking a lot easier.

  Lulu crossed to her and let out a low whistle. “Sister, that is a dress and a half. You look like a supermodel.”

  Sophie ran a hand down the dress, suddenly feeling uncomfortable and very, very noticeable. So much for her plan to blend into the background. “Thanks. I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s too much for tonight.”

  “That dress,” Lulu said, pointing a finger at Sophie’s attire, “is too much anytime. And that’s why it’s perfect for you.”

  “For me? Lulu, I’m no sex kitten.” She held up one high-heeled foot. “And I never wear shoes like these.”

  “Well, you should. It looks terrific on you.” Lulu crossed her arms over her chest. “So why did you wear it then?”

  “It’s been sitting in my closet forever and I thought it was time I got my money’s worth out of it.”

  Lulu laughed. “You are such a liar. You wanted to be noticed. Particularly by that cowboy.”

  Sophie shook her head. “Not by him. That’s for sure.”

  “Well, it’s going to get people talking, that’s for sure.”

  Sophie raised her chin. “Let ’em talk.” She thought about all the months she had worried about what people were thinking. Worried about how it would impact her business. Worried about…well, about nothing, really. Yeah, it might have been better to do it before she was halfway down the aisle, but truly, her decision not to marry Jim was all hers. Didn’t matter what anyone else thought. “I’m done worrying about what people think.”

  “I’m sure glad to hear that, girlfriend.” Then Lulu glanced over and saw Kevin, who sent her a little wave. “Speaking of getting noticed, I need to get back to my honey bunny.”

  “You and Kevin really seem to have hit it off.”

  Lulu’s smile was wide and full. “That boy put the sprinkles back on my ice cream. But don’t tell him I said that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because keeping him on his toes keeps him busy trying to woo me. And, girl, I deserve to be wooed.” Lulu winked, then headed off to Kevin’s side. By the time she got there, the wide smile had been curbed, and she was wearing an attitude of I-don’t-care, so transparent men on the moon could have seen through it.

  Sophie headed toward the podium set up in the gazebo. In a few minutes, she’d make her final speech, and this time, it had to count. Over the course of the week, the committee had raised several thousand dollars through contributions and Spring Fling activity fees. It was enough to get the renovations on the building at least started. With one more big push, maybe there’d be enough to see the project through to completion.

  And if there wasn’t, well, she’d find another way to spread the word and raise the money. The town needed this, and Sophie was done letting her fears get in the way of her dreams.

  She took a deep breath, then crossed to the podium. Earlier, she’d put her speech notes on the stand, and she pulled them in front of her now and reviewed the high points. She noticed a second microphone attached to the podium, this one bearing the bright green and white logo for WFFM.

  Tobias crutched his way over to her. The color and excitement in his face told her he was feeling better. “It was Harlan’s idea,” he said, pointing at the mike. “He called me up a little while ago, told me to get the remote crew down here and do a live broadcast. He thought it would be good to give your cause a little extra exposure.”

  “He did?”

  Tobias leaned on the podium, taking some of the weight off his leg. “I don’t know if you caught the whole show today, but he did his damndest to get people to talk about something other than you. It’s live radio, you know, so you can’t always control what comes out of people’s mouths.” He tapped the top of the podium. “Anyway, I’ll let you get to your speech. I gotta get over to the remote booth and make sure we’re all set to stream live.”

  After Tobias left, Sophie considered what he’d said. Had she jumped to conclusions with Harlan? Assumed the worst about him because it was easier than hearing she was wrong? And less scary than letting him into her heart?

  She’d always thought of herself as a risk-taker—she’d gone into business for herself, after all—but maybe she hadn’t been taking the most important kinds of risks. The kind where she allowed another person to get close to her.

  When it came to Harlan, though, the risk seemed too big. She’d trusted him, and ended up hurt.

  Tobias gave her the go-signal. Sophie cleared her throat, then started to speak. “I’d like to welcome everyone to the annual Spring Fling dance. Tonight, we have the added excitement of it being the last official date for our Love Lottery couples. I hope you all had a wonderful and romantic week.” A cheer went up among the crowd. “We held the Love Lottery, not just to give happy endings to eligible singles, but to help make another dream come true. This community is important to me, as I’m sure it is to all of you. You all have been there for me, for my business, and for my grandmother, over the last few years, and I wanted to say thank you. If it hadn’t been for that support, I don’t think I would have been brave enough to take the risks that I have.”

  As she said the words, she realized they were true. Yes, there were a few mean-spirited people and reporters who had branded her with that nickname after she ran out on her wedding, but by and large it was the people of Edgerton Shores—her friends, her family—who had hugged her and supported her. Who had stopped in at Cuppa Java Café, some every day, to show their support for her business, one cup of coffee at a time.

  “I’m asking you now to support each other. This town needs a community wellness center, a place where people young and old can go to take exercise classes, play games, and most of all, build that support network that all of us need. For a long time, having a community wellness center in Edgerton Shores was just a dream, but now, thanks to the community’s help, we’re that much closer to making it a reality. That’s what makes Edgerton Shores a town that people love to call home. A place I love to call home.”

  The crowd cheered. Sophie’s gaze roamed across the familiar faces. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw one she hadn’t expected.

  Harlan.

  He stood at the edge of the crowd, watching her. She couldn’t read his expression from this far away, but could feel the intensity of his gaze, all the way to her toes. She had to force herself to look away, to concentrate on her speech. He had come to the dance, but that didn’t mean he’d come for her.

  “Thank you all,” she said, “for supporting the community wellness center, and for being a part of Edgerton Shores’ Spring Fling celebration. And for those of you participating in the Love Lottery, I wish you a happy ending.” />
  Then she got off the stage, because her throat had clogged and her eyes had started burning. Happy endings all around…except for Sophie herself.

  The band started playing again, this time a slow song, encouraging the couples to come onto the gazebo and take a spin. Volunteers carried the podium away, just as several couples stepped into their partners’ arms, under the twinkling lights strung around the circular world of the gazebo.

  Sophie headed for the drinks table, and grabbed herself a glass of punch, downing the fruity drink fast. Her nerves hadn’t totally disappeared during that speech, but they had abated. From now on, she was determined not to let her nervousness stop her when it came to raising the funds for the center.

  Ernie came up to her, wearing a bright red Love Doctor emblazoned suit with a white shirt and white shoes. “Hell of a speech there,” he said.

  “Thanks.”

  “In fact, you inspired me. What says love more than supporting a community?” He reached in his breast pocket and with a flourish, pulled out a check.

  “Oh, my. Thank you!” Sophie stared at the generous numbers. “This will be a huge help. You have no idea.”

  He shrugged. “I make enough money telling people how to be happy with each other. It’s only right I give some of that back.”

  “Edgerton Shores truly appreciates your generosity.” She reached out and drew Ernie into a quick hug.

  He laughed. “Does this mean I’m forgiven for making you kiss Harlan?”

  She glanced at the check again, still not believing the numbers before her. “Yes, completely.”

  “Good. Because I think you and he especially deserve that happy ending you were talking about.” Ernie jerked his head to the right. Harlan was striding toward them, a tall drink of whiskey as Lulu called him, in dark jeans, a white button-down shirt and that white cowboy hat. “I guess you don’t have to wait too long to hear what kind of ending you’re getting.”

  Damn. Even now, just the sight of Harlan made her melt. She wanted to leave, to avoid what was coming, but decided the new Sophie, the one who didn’t care what people said about her, would stand her ground. Ernie said goodbye to her, then walked away.

  “You’ve got a way with words, darlin’,” Harlan said. “Maybe you should consider a career in radio.”

  She laughed. “I don’t think so. I’ve got enough on my plate.”

  “I was thinking maybe WFFM could do a remote show from your coffee shop every once in a while,” Harlan said. “A kind of what’s happening in the community thing. It’d let you promote that center of yours, and any other important things.”

  She thought about his offer. It touched her that he had listened to what was important to her, and was offering his help and support. And definitely something she could do. “Sounds like a good idea. Thank you.”

  He pulled off his hat and spun it between his fingers. “What you said back there, about dreams becoming reality, it made me think.”

  “About what?”

  “About how you were right, Sophie.”

  An unbidden smile filled her face. “That’s twice in one week you’ve said that, Mr. Jones.”

  “I’m really going to have to do something about you calling me by my last name.”

  How she wanted to fall back into the tease in his eyes, the grin on his face, the low, sexy notes in his voice. But the part of her that had been burned before danced away from the possibility. “I…I can’t.”

  She spun toward the gazebo where dozens of couples were circling the floor in each other’s arms. Harlan came up behind her. That man was determined and stubborn. She turned around. “Harlan, please don’t—”

  He put a finger over her lips, cutting her off. Sophie caught the scent of his cologne, fresh, clean and crisp, and the slightly salty taste of his skin before his hand dropped away. “It’s not too late, Sophie. It’s never too late to say you love someone.”

  “You…what?”

  “You were right when you said I was afraid. All my life, I’ve been afraid of repeating my father’s mistakes. I spent my life trying to earn the money he never did, and that made me as shy as a colt at a gunfight.”

  “That’s why you’ve been reluctant to quit your job and go into furniture making full-time.”

  He nodded. “I didn’t realize that by not going after what I really wanted, I didn’t just hurt myself. I hurt the woman I love.”

  He’d said it twice. She still couldn’t believe it. “You…you love me?”

  “I do indeed, darlin’.” He smiled, then took her hand, and led her up into the gazebo. He cradled one of her hands in his, placed the other against her back. “And if I’m going to say I love you, Sophie Watson, I’m damned well going to do it with you in my arms.”

  The band kept playing a sweet, slow song, and Harlan had begun to move in easy steps to the right, bringing her up against the heat of his body. The hard strength of him made her pulse skitter, her heart leap. “But…but we barely know each other.”

  “We’ve spent more hours together than most people do in a year. And besides, I don’t need months and months to figure out what I want.” His gaze met hers. “I want you.”

  His blue eyes held an intensity that told her every word was true. That this wasn’t some kind of infatuation that would blow over with the first strong wind. That the man she had gotten to know in those quiet moments they’d had together was the real Harlan Jones.

  She listened to her own heart, and heard a depth in there she’d never felt before. “I love you, too.” Then she smiled, and added, “Harlan.”

  His answering grin nearly took her breath away. He leaned in and kissed her, a soft, sweet kiss that held promises of hundreds of wonderful tomorrows. “I’m glad to hear that, darlin’,” he murmured against her mouth. “Damned glad.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and stared up into his eyes. She could look into that ocean for the rest of her life, and never tire of the view. “Me, too.”

  Harlan danced her around the gazebo and Sophie leaned against his chest, hearing the steady, dependable beat of his heart. “I do believe we have one more issue to settle.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A little matter of payment. I want two hundred dollars.”

  She leaned back and stared at him. “Two hundred dollars? For what?”

  “My chairs. I’m going into the furniture business, and that means I gotta charge you for my work.” His arms tightened around her and he pulled her into his chest so fast, she let out a little squeak. His gaze danced with laughter. “But considering you’re my very first customer, I’ll let you work off what you owe me with kisses.”

  “I can afford that.” She rose on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “There’s my down payment.”

  “Mighty fine start,” Harlan said. “I forgot to tell you, there’s interest, too.”

  Sophie laughed. “Let me guess, biscotti?”

  “You know it.” He grinned, kissed her again, then swung her in a slow, easy circle as the band kept playing and the lights kept twinkling and the world around them fell in love.

  Sophie leaned her head on the solid strength of Harlan Jones’s chest. “Maybe I should start playing the lottery.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Because the first time I was lucky enough to win me a cowboy.” She lifted her gaze to his, giving Harlan a flirty, teasing smile. “Who knows what I might get the next time?”

  He brushed his mouth against hers and everything in Sophie’s body stilled. “What more do you need, darlin’?”

  “Nothing,” Sophie murmured against his lips. “Nothing at all.”

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-8933-2

  HOW TO LASSO A COWBOY

  First North American Publication 2011

  Copyright © 2011 by Shirley Kawa-Jump, LLC

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