One Stubborn Cowboy by Barbara McMahon Read Free Book Online Page B

bleak look in his eyes.
    "Hell, you might as well know. Everyone else here does. I was engaged to be married when I was injured. She broke it off and married someone else. Sally found out she's coming here tonight. Alone. I'd like very much not to see her." He gave a short, bitter laugh. "Hell, I'd do anything to avoid it. Except cause Clint and Sally to have to leave early just because I'm a coward."
    Kelly blinked at that. Kit Lockford was definitely not a coward.
    "If she married someone else, why is she coming here alone? Where's her husband?" Kelly asked.
    "I don't know. Sally said she'd heard they'd split. That Althea was free again. Dammit, I shouldn't have come tonight!" Kit slammed one fist against his thigh, his eyes again scanning the room, his look almost hunted.
    Kelly could feel his anguish swamp her enjoyment of the dance.
    "Why don't you want to see her? If you two were planning to marry you must have been close. Why not see her again?"
    "Because it's one thing to have your life dumped into your lap, and something else again to still be alone years later, as if I'm still awaiting the lady to condescend to notice me again. That's why, dammit!"
    Pride. She blinked. It hurt his pride. God knew he didn't have much else, but he had abundant pride and the situation would take that from him. Of course, if he ran out everyone would know and that would be just as humiliating. Her heart lurched.
    "I don't think she'd think that," Kelly said.
    "I think that's exactly what she'll think. You don't know her. I do," Kit snapped. "Dammit, the last thing I want is pity and charity from Althea Kendricks. Life is hell enough without that."
    "Are you kidding? She's probably thanking her lucky stars she didn't marry you. Of all the bad-tempered, arrogant, stubborn men I've ever met, you take the cake."
    "I'm not bad tempered." He glared at her, momentarily distracted.
    "Could have fooled me." Suddenly she smiled in triumph, her eyes dancing. "You don't deny arrogant and stubborn, I see."
    "Sure I do. That goes without saying. I will admit to a certain amount of self-assurance."
    She laughed, leaning closer so he could hear her over the band when she said softly, "You act like the world should sit up and roll over for you. If that's not blatant arrogance, I don't know what is."
    "I am not arrogant!" Kit brought his face near hers, so near she could feel his breath brush against her cheeks, smell the beer and spicy cologne he used. She was caught by the look on his face, the tight control he exercised. Shakily she licked her lips, mesmerized by the look from Kit's eyes.
    His eyes followed the movement of her tongue, a muscle moving in his cheek. He leaned closer and held her gaze.
    "Help me, Kelly," he said so quietly she almost didn't hear him.
    "Do what?"
    "Don't let me be alone when Althea comes."
    "What do you want me to do, sit with you?"
    "Hell, I don't know." Kit rubbed a hand across his face, leaning back in his chair. "Dumb idea, forget it."
    Kelly's face cleared. "I'm to be your girlfriend?" she asked, astonished.
    He looked at her warily, not knowing what to expect.
    "Just pretend, right?" she asked. Laughing softly at the notion, she noticed his frown and laughed harder, putting her hand on top of his as it rested on his thigh.
    "You're so lover like, darling," she said when she caught her breath, her eyes dancing in amusement. The entire suggestion was funny from one who was so independent and hard and remote. Imagine him asking her for a favor. This favor. It was mind-boggling.
    But a look at his closed face, set against the coming pain, touched her heart and she sobered immediately.
    "I'll help out, if only to have you be nice to me for a little while." Kelly smiled a slow smile at him, watching the tension ease a little from his eyes.
    "How nice?" he asked as wariness slowly crept into his own gaze.
    Kelly caught her breath. How could anyone have thrown him over just because he didn't walk without help?
    "I'll let you