Page 29 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

“That’s a natural inquiry given you’ve been living on a cruise ship,” Hayes offered, amusement in his gaze. “At least that was what Dylan told us way back when.”

His twin strikes again. Asher couldn’t help himself and asked, “Why was I living on a cruise ship?”

“You followed Sloane Lowry, of course,” Kelley informed him, her words helpful. Her expression contained. “You met up in the city while Sloane was there chasing her Broadway dreams. Sloane is now headlining on a cruise ship and singing on stage nightly. Sloane is one of Gold Finch’s success stories. Everyone loves to talk about her.”

“And I followed Sloane because…?” Asher’s words were slow and careful.

Kelley’s cheeks turned that pretty pink again. “You were her muse, of course.”

“You even wrote songs for Sloane,” Hayes offered, then snapped his fingers. “Dylan was always singing it. Catchy little tune about kickin’ up the sun, laughin’ in the breeze and livin’ it up, you and me.”

Of course, his twin was singing. Dylan always claimed there was a song for everything—every mood, every situation, good or bad.Just listen and feel, Ashe. Let go. Asher had usually left his brother to his music sessions and gotten back to whatever he was working on, often in silence. Only recently that silence he so often preferred seemed to be closing in around him.

Asher dropped his hat back on his head and argued, “Do I really look like someone’s muse?”

Kelley skipped over Asher’s dry comment and asked the cook, “You don’t think they’ll ask Asher to perform one of his original songs at open mic, do you?”

Asher crossed his arms over his chest. “There isn’t an open mic in town.”

“Sure, there is,” Hayes announced, his laughter barely contained. “At Lucky Lane Tavern on Friday nights.”

Kelley’s gaze fairly danced.

“Well, it’s good I’ll be sorting paperwork in my dad’s office for the foreseeable future,” Asher said flatly. “And nowhere near an open mic.” Although being near his cowgirl held a certain appeal.

“Too bad,” Kelley murmured. “I bet you have a nice voice.”

He could hold his own in the shower at his apartment. And maybe with Kelley beside him on the karaoke stage at the tavern. That would be… Asher cut that errant thought off. Karaoke would not be his first choice for a night out with Kelley. Oh, he had other ideas for a night on the town. None that he would be sharing, of course. He blamed the spicy blackberry jam for getting him all turned around again. That and his cowgirl’s gold-flecked hazel eyes he kept getting lost in.

Kelley peered out the pass-through window and finally took pity on Asher. “Come on. Big E is out there with Lynette and Beatrice Arbor. They’re at the end of the counter. It looks like they saved you the last seat in the corner.”

Perfect. He joined Kelley at the swinging door, then paused before pushing it open. “Any other stories floating around about me that I should know about?”

“I can’t tell you,” Kelley said, her words playful. Her smile mischievous. “Where would the fun be in that?”

Fun. But that used to be his twin’s specialty. And yet, when he looked at Kelley…

“Come on, cowboy. Get those land legs moving.” She nudged him lightly and whispered, “Otherwise, we’re going to be late and then everyone will start up talking.”

“What’s wrong?” Asher’s grin stalled, totally caught by the sparkle in her gaze. “Are you afraid they might realize I’m your favorite sunrise dance partner?”

“You are not my…” She left the rest unspoken and poked him harder. “Now is not the time to discover your funny bone, Asher Blackwell.”

Perhaps not. It was an even worse time to discover that when it came to Kelley, he liked the idea of being much more than just her mystery dance partner.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Admiring a devil-may-caregrinwasnotthesameasgettinglostinone.

And Kelley was not confused about where they stood. She touched Asher’s arm before he moved through the swinging door and around the counter, drawing his gaze back to her. She said, “A word of caution?”

“What’s that?” he whispered.

I know how this ends. But I like to plan ahead. If I took your hand, how long would you hold on?Kelley drew her arm back and said, “Don’t make eye contact with anyone seated in the middle up front unless you want to get involved.”

Asher tilted his head and considered her. “Are you involved?” His words were mild, but curiosity flickered in his blue eyes.

“I’m on the committee.”As far as us, it’s best if we call it here. Skip right to the end.“I’m in charge of the floats and parade route.”