Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? by Kate Pearce Read Free Book Online Page A

‘And what would madam like? We have chicken parmesan or beef stew and dumplings.’
    ‘Chicken sounds great.’ Lauren didn’t care what she ate as long as she didn’t have to cook it. ‘I’ll even volunteer to heat it up if you like.’
    Grayson pulled out two of the containers. ‘I’ll man the microwave. How about you set the table? There’s beer in the refrigerator if you like it.’
    After discovering an apple pie and a jug of cream as well as the beer, Lauren was well satisfied with her meal. She sat opposite Grayson at the scrubbed pine table and ate ravenously.
    Grayson put down his fork. ‘So tell me how you ended up running an antiques business?’
    ‘It’s not antiques, it’s retro, you know, fifties and sixties stuff. When I was a kid, I used to save up my allowance and buy old Barbies and their outfits.’
    She smiled as she remembered her closet crammed full of dolls. Her father had never understood why she preferred them to the expensive gifts he gave her. ‘I always loved the designs from those decades. As I got older, I spent a lot of my weekends searching for bargains at garage and estate sales.’
    She stabbed a piece of lettuce. ‘Eventually, my collection grew so large that people started asking me to help out with set design for local theatres and exhibitions. Two years ago, I realised I had an opportunity to develop my own business.’
    Grayson smiled. ‘What did you do before that?’
    ‘I was a lawyer in my father’s accounting firm.’
    She caught his look of surprise and grimaced in return. ‘I know. I don’t know how I stood it either. Don’t get me wrong, I know some fine lawyers but I’m definitely not one of them.’
    She smoothed her hand over the embroidered white top he’d given her. ‘Now I get to wear all my funky clothes to work. No more pant suits and boring black for me.’
    Grayson reached forwards and clinked his beer bottle against hers. ‘I’m all for people doing what they love.’
    Under the guise of drinking her beer, Lauren studied his calm expression. Was he the kind of man who would understand how much her business and her independence meant to her? She’d grown so used to her father belittling her achievements she probably sounded defensive.
    Nothing further disturbed the quietness between them except the ticking of the kitchen clock and the gentle hum of the refrigerator. Despite the lack of conversation, Lauren was comfortable with Grayson. She should have felt awkward with a man she barely knew but she didn’t.
    Grayson seemed to calm her overwrought senses just by sitting there. She’d been drawn to his sense of inner strength and completeness from the moment she’d met him.
    When she sat back, she encountered Grayson’s amused gaze. He pointed at the microwave. ‘You’ve got a good appetite. I’ll show you how to microwave some popcorn later if you behave yourself.’
    Lauren groaned. ‘Last time I tried that the bag caught fire and I had to buy my friend Ella a new microwave. I’m not risking it again.’
    Grayson’s eyebrows rose. ‘You weren’t kidding about the cooking were you?’ He glanced down at the table where a small helping of apple pie remained in the dish. ‘How about we share this?’
    As Lauren went to dip her spoon in the bowl, Grayson jerked it away to his side of the table. ‘If you want some, you have to come and sit on my knee.’
    Lauren pretended to sigh. ‘I’m not sure if I want it that much. Perhaps I’d better try making some popcorn.’ She gasped as Grayson came out of his seat, put his hands around her waist and lifted her clear across the table. She clutched at his shirt as he settled her on his knee.
    ‘After all the food we’ve just eaten, I’m surprised you didn’t rupture something.’
    Grayson held his right arm out in a traditional strongman pose and flexed his biceps. ‘Honey, I’ve lifted chickens heavier than you. I didn’t feel a thing.’ He leant across the table and grabbed her