Page 24 of Wyoming Heart

She let out the breath she’d taken. “Well!”

“Come on. Say yes. I’m tired of my own company.”

She searched his eyes. “You could get anybody, any woman, you wanted...”

“I don’t have a lot of friends,” he said, emphasizing the last word to put her at ease. It did, too. He saw her relax, saw the worried look on her face eclipse into a smile.

“Well, okay, then,” she said finally.

His heart jumped. He laughed. “Okay.” It was something that she’d even agree to be friends with him. He could hope for more, later.

“So I’ll pick you up about five. That okay?”

She smiled. “Okay. What do I wear?”

“Jeans and a shirt. And a jacket. It gets chilly at night.”

Her eyebrows arched. “It isn’t dressy...?”

“Not really, and I hate suits,” he murmured, although he was wearing one. A nice one, she observed.

“I wanted to impress you with my trendy wardrobe,” he said outrageously, and smiled when she started laughing.

“I’m impressed,” she said when she was able to contain the humor.

“Good. I’ll keep that in mind for future outings,” he said. He frowned slightly. “Don’t you have a signing coming up in Manhattan?” he wondered.

She grimaced. “Yes, I do. It’s such a long way to New York,” she began.

“I’ll fly you up there, anytime you want to go,” he said at once. “Sure beats trying to go on a commercial flight, packed in like sardines, eating peanuts instead of a nice meal.”

“I’m convinced. If it wouldn’t inconvenience you,” she added quickly.

He waved a hand. “I have business interests in New York,” he said easily. “I need to make a trip up to talk to one of my investment counselors. I can combine business with pleasure. What sort of entertainment do you like? Theater, opera, symphony concerts, ballet...?”

Her eyes lit up. “Ballet?”

He chuckled. “I’ll see what’s playing while we’re in town. Just give me a week’s notice.”

“I’ll certainly do that, and thank you very much for the offer of a ride.” She made a face. “I hate flying.”

“You’ll love it in the jet,” he promised. “I’ll see you next Friday.”

She smiled warmly. “Yes.”

She climbed into her little car, waved and drove off.

“IHEARYOU’REgoing off to eat with that McGuire feller,” Bill teased as they watched one of Mina’s part-timers work a filly in the corral.

She gaped at him. “I just talked to him yesterday, and I didn’t tell anybody.”

“It’s Catelow,” he told her. “Small town, big ears. And your hostess can’t keep her mouth shut, either,” he added with a chuckle. “Made her feel good, playing matchmaker, I hear.”

“It’s not like that,” she said softly. “Jake’s a terrific person, but I don’t feel that way about him.”

“Shame,” he said with a sigh. “He’s got all the money in the world.”

“Money is how we keep score when we’re doing a job we love,” she said lazily. “I don’t care what I’ve got, as long as I can pay the bills. We’re doing great here,” she added with pride. “Cousin Rogan won’t have to supplement us in a few months.”