Page 5 of Home to the Cowboy

As he returned to his side of the car, she was nowhere to be seen. Hopefully she was inside the truck.

By the time he got back behind the wheel, he was soaked to the skin. Trying to rub the worst of the water from his face with his hand, he turned to the woman. “I’m Dylan.”

Daisy had somehow found her way on the woman’s lap and was looking up at her adoringly.

“Thank you for the lift,” she said, her eyes on Daisy.

So, she’s not sharing her name.

She kept stroking Daisy behind her ears. “Oh, you’re a cutie, aren’t you?” she laughed.

The sound went straight to Dylan’s loins. What the actual hell?

“Sorry about Daisy,” he said as he put out his hand to pick up the dog.

“Oh, no, please leave her. She’s adorable.” Her eyes still on the dog, June closed her hand around his, stopping him from taking Daisy.

He froze. She froze. For a millisecond, gorgeous blue eyes met his. Some sort of electricity crackled, Daisy barked.

Cuddling Daisy close to her, the woman moved as far to the other side of the seat as she possibly could.

*

Swallowing, June tried to focus on the dog. Why had she gotten into this man’s truck? She didn’t know him. He could be taking her anywhere. And why had she touched him, for heaven’s sake? She’d never been a very tactile person. Growing up with strangers had taught her to always keep her distance.

In that moment, though it had seemed so natural. The bolt of electricity and Daisy’s bark had, fortunately, yanked her out of the strange stupor she’d been in for a few seconds.

Stealing a glance in his direction, she had to swallow. Raindrops were still dripping from his hat, from his face, rolling over his face down his neck to the V of his wet denim shirt that was clinging to him like a second skin. Muscled arms, broad shoulders, dark hair, blue eyes with a strangely familiar smile.

“You’re from Washington state,” he said. “Seattle?”

She nodded, reluctant to share any details with the stranger.

“And you’ve driven all the way here in your vintage Camero?”

“Something like that.”

He turned to look at her, but she turned her head away quickly, noticing houses. Thank goodness they’d, fortunately, arrived in Marietta.

“Where can I drop you off?” he asked.

“A friend has kindly offered me the use of her house in town while I’m here. The key will be in the pot next to the door, she said. Apparently, doing that is not a problem in Marietta.” Opening her phone, she read him the address.

Nodding, he took the first road to their left and minutes later, parked on the driveway in front of a house. “This is it. So, you’re staying in Ellie’s house?”

“How do you …? Oh, yes, I’ve forgotten,” she grimaced as she opened her door. “Small town.”

He didn’t answer her but held out his hands to take the dog. For a moment she hugged the small body close to her before she gave it back. She’d of course never had a pet. In the city, it wasn’t practical, so she’d stopped thinking about having a pet a long time ago. Daisy, though, had stolen her heart with just one lick.

Dylan put the dog in the back. “Daisy, stay. I’ll be right back.”

Outside, the rain had changed back to a light drizzle, thank goodness.

As she reached the back of the truck to get her bag, Dylan had already taken it out and had his phone in his hand.

“About your car—” he said.

“Don’t worry about it,” she interrupted him. “I’ll get someone—”