Falling for the Hometown Girl

by Shelli Stevens

It was real, and the cabins looked wonderfully charming.

  “An entire cabin?” Claire shook her head and sighed. “I doubt I can afford—”

  “I’ll give you a deal. Two-hundred for all four nights.”

  Claire caught her breath. That was considerably less than she would’ve paid at The Graff. And, oh, Lord, she was tempted. Only there was still a problem.

  “How far out of town?” Biting her lip, she added, “My car broke down.”

  “Oh gosh. When it rains it pours, huh?”

  “Pretty much. I just don’t know though... I’ll need to find a way to the steak dinner Saturday night. I’m the singer for Bourbon and Boots.”

  Kaitlyn’s eyes lit up. “That’s great, I can’t wait to hear you guys. And, look, I’ll be going into town for the dinner—everyone does—so I can drive you. And I can drive you back to the ranch tonight. You also won’t need to worry about food, you can eat with me and the boys.”

  “Boys?”

  “My brother and the ranch hands.”

  Claire ate her first fry. Silent. Thinking.

  “Why are you doing this?” she finally asked.

  “Because I was across the street when you left The Graff.” Kaitlyn’s gaze slid away as she took another sip of beer. “I saw you crying and went inside the hotel to see if I could find out why.”

  Mortification sent heat up into Claire’s cheeks. She rarely cried but, damn it, today had been her undoing.

  “I want you to know I’ve been there. We all have at some point or another,” Kaitlyn said softly and glanced at Claire again. There was a flash of vulnerability, maybe a dark memory in her eyes, before it was gone. “I want to help.”

  It’d been so long since she’d accepted help from anyone. Swallowing against the lump in her throat, Claire nodded.

  “Thank you, Kaitlyn. If you’re sure, then I’d very much like to take you up on your offer.” She nodded at the other woman’s drink. “And I’m buying your beer.”

  “Call me Katie, and I won’t argue. Though I think I probably owe you for the fries.”

  “Nope, I’ve got everything. When are you heading back to the ranch?”

  “Soon as we finish our beers.”

  Claire nodded and, because she’d been on the road all morning, said, “I’m going to run to the restroom really quick then. Will you watch my stuff?”

  “Sure. Not that anyone would be stupid enough to steal it.” Katie grinned. “Can’t get away with anything around Marietta. Someone would be spotted wearing your clothing in under five minutes.”

  Claire slipped out of the booth, amused at the image of her stolen dress on a local. Yes, there was probably a reason for that smaller crime rate in small towns.

  She was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the man in front of her until she’d smacked right into him.

  Strong hands reached out to steady her. Panic raced through her veins at being touched and she took a quick step back.

  “Excuse me,” she mumbled out the quick apology and cast a quick look up at him.

  Her heart damn near stopped and her throat went tight. She jerked her gaze away, and before he could reply she hurried around him and into the restroom.

  Wyatt’s gaze followed the blonde as she bolted like a spooked steer.

  He’d only seen her for a moment before she’d rammed into him. Very pretty, and definitely not local. Probably in town for the rodeo, or maybe the girlfriend of one of the competitors.

  Shaking his head, he turned away and made his way to the table where his sister sat drinking a beer.

  “Heard you were slacking on the books and getting drunk,” he teased.

  “Darn right.” Katie grinned and leaned back in the booth, finishing off her Bud Light. “So I rented out one of the cabins for the weekend.”

  His brows drew together. “You did what now?”

  “Someone from the band tomorrow night made the mistake of not booking a hotel. She was desperate.”

  Wyatt glanced down and realized for the first time that there was an extra beer at the table. And luggage and a guitar.

  “We don’t rent the cabins after summer, Katie.”

  “Not usually, no.” She held his gaze, her determined expression unwavering. “She had no place to go, Wyatt. You know just as well as I do she’d never find anywhere else to stay.”

  He gave a brisk shrug. “She should’ve thought about that before showing up without a room.”

  “You’re too hard-hearted.”

  Maybe. “Better than being too tender-hearted.”

  “I think that’s debatable.” She squeezed his hand. “Anyway, I own a third of the ranch and I’m letting her stay.”

  He couldn’t argue with her there. “How much are you charging her?”

  “Normal rate.” But the way his sister quickly glanced down, he knew she was lying.

  Definitely too damn tender-hearted. Before he could press the subject, she asked, “What are you doing here anyway?”

  “Meeting Cal for a drink to talk about some stuff.”

  Cal, their brother, owned the other third of the ranch but had chosen not to work on it. He’d taken a job as foreman at another cattle ranch across the county.

  “Should I count on you to be home tonight for dinner?”

  “Meatloaf night? Hell, yeah, I’ll be home.”

  Katie side-eyed him. “You watch your language, Wy.”

  His sister had always frowned on his and Cal’s swearing habits. She was so much like their mother, both in looks and personality, that sometimes it left Wyatt a little uneasy.

  “You and Shelby ready to compete this weekend?”

  “Compete. Win. Yeah, we’re ready.”

  Maybe he was a little smug, but it was warranted. When he chose to compete, whether tie-down roping or team roping, he usually won. And with Shelby O’Connor as his partner on team roping, he knew their chances were damn good.

  She nodded. “You guys will do great.”

  “Wish you would’ve signed up for the barrel racing.”

  “Me too, but you know I need these few months off to let my ankle heel.”

  “You’re smart to do that.”

  He’d been stubborn too many times and competed despite injuries, but the extra money was always nice. Not to mention the stroke on his ego.

  “Are you going to the parade in the morning?”

  “Think I’ll skip it this year. Got too much to do, plus I want to get in a little more practice.”

  The sound of someone approaching had him glancing over his shoulder. The blonde who’d slammed into him a few minutes ago was heading his way.

  Her gaze was cast downward as she walked past him, but she surprised him when she slid into the booth seat across from his sister.

  “Wyatt, this is Claire. She’s the one I’ve rented to the cabin to.”

  She was the renter? Well, wasn’t that interesting?

  “Claire, this is my brother, Wyatt.”

  Claire, who’d been digging into her purse for something, seemed to stiffen.

  “Hello. Thanks for helping me out.” She glanced up lightening quick, gave him a smile, and then ducked her head. The blonde curls shielded her face and she continued searching for something.

  “You’re welcome.”

  She still didn’t look up.

  So brusque, she bordered on rude. His brows rose and he pursed his lips. He ran his gaze over her again. Blonde hair that looked like she spent too long curling. A pink t-shirt with a palm tree on it hugged a full chest. And those cowboy boots, now those were the worst. Not even real leather and far more fashionable than practical. Probably bought at a fancy department store.

  Just another oblivious city girl showing up rodeo weekend without considering the fact that the rooms booked out months in advance.

  Spotting Cal entering the bar, he dragged his attention away from Claire and nodded at his brother. Cal nodded back and grabbed a booth near the door.

  “I�
��ll catch you both later at dinner, I reckon.” He stole a fry and winked at Katie.

  He turned to leave, glancing one last time at Claire. She lifted her head at that moment and their gazes connected.

  Dark eyes widened, before long lashes fluttered down to hide them again. But even in that small instant, he’d been hit with a strong sense of familiarity.

  “We’re going to head out now anyway.” Katie slid out of the booth and planted a kiss on her brother’s cheek. “See you tonight, Wy.”

  He nodded, making his way over to Cal as he tried to figure out where the hell he might’ve seen this Claire chick before. Katie had said she was with the band performing this weekend. Maybe she’d performed before in Marietta, or he’d seen her at another rodeo dance.

  Wyatt took a seat across from his younger brother and tried to forget about it for now.

  “How’s it been going, Cal?”

  Cal sighed. “Busy, but good.”

  “You should come back to the ranch. We miss having you.”

  “I miss you guys too.” Cal gave a slow nod. “But Hank needs me. The guys got a list of health issues a mile long.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’ve been hearing.”

  Katie and Claire walked by right then, and Katie knocked Cal’s cowboy hat off his head as she passed. He caught it before it hit the floor.

  “Don’t even come say hello to your sister. I see how it is.” But her words were light and teasing. “Catch you at the rodeo Saturday?”

  “You bet.”

  Once the ladies had left, Wyatt turned to his brother.

  “She look familiar to you, Cal? The blonde?”

  “Don’t believe so. She’s pretty as hell, but not familiar.”

  Wyatt scowled, not surprised, but fighting an unwarranted resentment, that his brother had also found Claire attractive.

  “I swear you chase more tail than a puppy,” Wyatt grumbled.

  “What?” Cal grinned. “No harm in looking. Anyway, thanks for meeting me at Grey’s. There’s a couple things I’ve been meaning to talk to you about...”

  Find out what happens next in Protect Me, Cowboy...

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  About the Author

  Shelli is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author who read her first romance novel when she snatched it off her mother’s bookshelf at the age of eleven. One taste and she was forever hooked. It wasn’t until many years later that she decided to pursue writing stories of her own. By then she acknowledged the voices in her head didn’t make her crazy, they made her a writer.

  Shelli is a true pluviophile (lover of rain) and currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters. She writes various genres of romance, but is most known for her contemporary series such as Holding Out for a Hero, The McLaughlins, and A is for Alpha. She’s a compulsive volunteer, and has been known to spontaneously burst into song.

  Visit her website at ShelliStevens.com

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