How to Lasso a Cowboy by Shirley Jump Read Free Book Online Page A

be the one.”
    â€œThen yes, I guess I did.”
    Lulu sat back and crossed her arms over her ample chest. “Well then, this should be interesting.”
    â€œWhat should?”
    â€œSeeing who you got matched with.”
    He shrugged, and his mind went back to working on the guest list again. He didn’t even know why he’d let Mildred talk him into that thing. She’d stood by his chair out in front of the coffee shop, blocking the sun and going on and on about how this was part of building a good community relationship. Before he knew it, he was handing her a few dollars and answering questions like what his favorite movie was and where he’d take his dream vacation. Then he’d promptly forgotten about the encounter.
    â€œI’m sure the computer they used has me paired up with some nice lady,” Harlan said. One date, nothing more. It surely wouldn’t lead anywhere. He’d sit here, share the agreed-upon drink with his match, then find a way to beg off from anything more. The chances of Miss Right dropping into his life right now were slimmer than none. Maybe he’d get a funny story or two out of the whole experience, something he could share on the show tomorrow.
    A whisper sounded in the back of his head, one that said he’d been alone a long time and he was overdue for someone to shake up his life. Harlan shrugged off the thought.
    Lulu laughed again. “They didn’t use no computer to make these matches, Mr. Jones, and as for someone nice—”
    â€œWe have one last match to announce,” Sophie said, holding up a large manila envelope. Lulu stopped talking and turned to face the stage. Harlan sipped at his tea, then fished a notepad out of his pocket and began going over his list of potential guests. He’d come here so he could concentrate—he loved his dogs, but there were times when their barking and squirrel-chasing plumb drove him nuts—and now there was this thing going on. It looked about over, though, and either way, he’d probably missed whoever had been his match. No matter. He’d only signed up because Mildred had been so insistent. If there was one thing Harlan didn’t have time for, it was dating.
    A hush fell over the room, broken when Sophie opened the envelope. The sound of paper tearing seemed to echo through the room, but Harlan didn’t look up. He had flipped out his cell phone and was scrolling through the list of names in his contact database when he heard a name called. His mind, already on the work ahead, didn’t process the words he heard. Would it be better to have a top-forty music star, or maybe a music producer, to give a behind-the-scenes perspective of the music industry?
    Lulu nudged his elbow, sending his pen skittering across his notebook. “That’s you, cowboy.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œHarlan Jones has been matched with…” Sophie reached in the envelope, then paused and leaned toward Mildred. “There’s nothing else in here,” she whispered.
    â€œOh my, did I forget one?” Mildred popped to her feet. “Goodness. I can’t believe I forgot to put Harlan’s match in the envelope.”
    Several women leaned toward the stage, one of them crying out, “Me, me!”
    â€œPay attention, Lone Ranger,” Lulu said, nudging him again. “This could be your future wife.”
    Harlan scoffed. “I doubt that.” He picked up his tea and sipped the hot brew. He’d be just as happy not to have a match, and it seemed that was the way it had turned out. Good thing.
    He went back to his list while Mildred climbed the stage and took the microphone. “Seems I forgot one teeny, tiny piece of paper. And that’s because I wanted it to be a surprise.” She turned to Sophie and smiled. “Can’t have you staying out of the fun, now can I?”
    â€œMe? But…I didn’t even fill out a