Page 21 of Hot Christmas Cowboy
“What do you think?”
“I think you’d be crazy not to be.That is one hot cowboy.”
“Yeah.I’m not crazy.”
Cici clapped her hands together.“This is going to be fun.”
Cici hadn’t known Letty forever.She knew Letty’s parents had died when she was in high school and that she’d lived with the Fletchers, but she didn’t know, and even Val only suspected, that losing her parents when she was so young had left a permanent void in her life.So much so that she was determined not to chance having anyone mean that much to her again.Certainly not a man.
“I think he wants more than I’m willing to give.”
“Meaning you just want to have fun?”
“Yes.But if he expects more it’s not going to happen.”
“You’re absolutely sure about that?”
“Yes.I have reasons.Good reasons.”
Luckily Cici didn’t probe any further.Drumming her fingers on the table, her friend said, “Tell him.Be up-front about what you want.That way it’s up to him to decide if that’s enough for him or not.”
“I already did that.He’s thinking about it.But I’m afraid he doesn’t believe I mean what I say.”
“Put a time limit on your fling.Unless you’re afraid you’ll fall for him.”
Was she?Was that why she was hesitating?“You don’t think I’m crazy not to want more?”
“You’re a grown woman.If you don’t want to commit that’s your business.You know yourself well enough to be sure of what you want, don’t you?”
She’d always thought so, but Riley Fletcher had never been in the picture before.
*
Riley was tiedup with work for the next couple of days but as soon as he thought he could manage some free time, he called Letty.“Did you get invited to the Gallaghers’ Christmas party Friday night?”He figured she had since he’d heard the invitations included half the town.
“Yes, why?”
“Do you want to go together?”
“That depends.Did you think about what I said?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re okay with it?”
“Not really.But if that’s the way you want it, I’ll deal.”In reality, he wasn’t at all ‘okay with it’ but he meant to do everything he could to change her mind.For one thing, he still couldn’t figure out what made her so adamant about not getting involved.Or serious.But as far as he knew she never had been, unless it was with the cowboy who’d broken her heart if gossip was right.Riley didn’t think so, but he honestly didn’t know.
Still, maybe she had a point.Maybe he was rushing things, at least in his mind.They didn’t know each other all that well.Honestly, they never had.He’d been grown when she came to live with the family and she’d been a teenager, still in high school.At that time, there’d been no way he and Letty would get together.Which he’d made clear.Then.
Now as a different matter.Maybe they weren’t compatible, although he thought they were.
He’d thought of her as Val’s friend until it had been borne in on him that there was a lot more to Letty than he’d allowed himself to see.Val’s wedding had opened his eyes to the fact that Letty was not only grown up, but also very attractive.He couldn’t figure out how it had taken him so long to realize it.
“What does that mean?You’ll deal with it?”
“It means don’t expect me not to try to change your mind.”
“I won’t change my mind so if that’s what you’re hoping you’ll be out of luck.”
