Montana Fever. Jackie Merritt
As Betty sped away, Lola put the buckle in a little box.
“It’s a birthday present for my husband. I’m sure he’ll love it,” Mrs. Callahan said. “You gift wrap, don’t you?”
“Yes, we do,” Lola replied. Duke was wandering, she saw with a quick glance in his direction. She rang up the sale on the cash register. Betty came out of the office carrying her purse.
“I have to leave, Lola.”
Lola nodded. “I know. Mrs. Pritchard explained. Don’t worry about anything here.”
Betty was on her way to the door. “See you tomorrow morning.”
“Only if everything’s all right,” Lola called. “And let me know how Brian is.”
“Will do.” Betty went through the door.
A few minutes later, while wrapping Mrs. Callahan’s purchase in pretty green-and-silver paper, Lola heard the bell over the door jangle again. Looking up, she saw Duke leaving. And he was still wearing the Stetson! Frowning, she tried to concentrate on what she was doing. But why would he leave with the hat before paying for it? Had he forgotten he was wearing it?
Lola was still thinking about it, worrying a little, after Mrs. Callahan had gone, when Duke returned with two large disposable cups. He walked up to the counter and handed her one.
“If the mountain won’t go to Mohammed, then another plan has to be devised,” he said, taking small packets of creamer, sugar and a small stirring stick from his shirt pocket. “I didn’t know how you liked it, so I brought a little of everything.”
“I like it with cream, thank you.” Lola set the cup on the counter, removed the lid and emptied a packet of the creamer into it. Raising the cup to her lips, she looked at Duke, who was looking back with an admiring gleam in his eyes. He would not be easily discouraged, she realized, wondering at the same time if she really wanted to discour- age him. Okay, so he came on strong. But wasn’t she more flattered than put off by his flagrant interest?
“Betty left in a hurry,” he said.
“The school principal called. One of her children took a fall, and the nurse thinks he may have broken his arm.”
“It happens with active youngsters. I got a few broken bones growing up.” He sipped from his cup. “Did you?”
“No, I never broke anything.”
“Except for a few hearts, I’ll bet.” He grinned.
“Except for a few hearts,” she confirmed with a straight face. It wasn’t true. She’d never broken any hearts that she knew of, but Duke had apparently placed her in the femme fatale category, and why burst his bubble? Flip that coin, she thought with a sudden wariness. If there was a heartbreaker in this store, it was him. A man with a smile like his and an outrageous flirt, to boot? Oh, yes, definitely a heart breaker.
The “best catch in the county,” as Betty had referred to him, was a description usually reserved for a man who had eluding commitment down to a fine art. He would play—oh, yes, he would play—but he would never stay.’As attractive as Duke was, as much as she enjoyed his audacity, she must watch her step.
And then, right before her eyes, he became a completely different person. Sipping his coffee, he asked in a voice conveying normal curiosity tinged with concern, “What happened to your parents?”
Lola blinked in surprise. How could he change personalities so quickly?
Though confusion was suddenly rampant in her system, she managed to speak evenly. “They died in a car accident.”
“And Charlie brought you home with him?”
“My father was Charlie’s only brother. They were very close.”
“Tragic. My mother died when I was five, so I barely remember her. Then Dad went about three years ago.”
“I’m sorry. After you told me your name, I remembered some vague references to the Sheridan men, father and son.”
“Then you know I live on a ranch.”
Lola nodded. “Yes, you’re a cattle rancher.”
His gaze seemed to bore into her. “And you’re a store owner. How do you like it?”
“I like it very much.”
“But before this, you weren’t in Rocky Ford for a long time. Where were you?”
“In college, then too many places to list. I traveled.”
“For years?” There was puzzlement in his expression.
“Yes, for years.” She had to laugh because he looked so befuddled. “I wasn’t on the go every day. I took jobs here and there. I worked in a Paris boutique for eight months, and in a little pastry shop in London for about a year.”
“A world traveler. I thought you were only talking about the U.S.”
“Oh, I saw the U.S., too. Then, about a year ago, I started getting lonesome for home.”
“What are you, independently wealthy?” He’d never thought of Charlie Fanon as wealthy, but Lola could have inherited from her parents.
Lola laughed again. “Not anymore. Actually, I was never what you’d call wealthy, but my parents’ estate provided enough for my education and some to spare. I grew up dreaming of seeing something of the world, so I did it.” She glanced around her store, feeling pride in her decor and good taste. “I had enough money left to open this store.”
“But why a men’s store? I would think a woman would rather sell pretty clothes to other women.” He noticed her amused little half smile. “Wrong assumption, huh?”
“Very wrong.” She looked him in the eye. “I like men much better than women, Mr. Sheridan.”
He chuckled softly. “I sure do admire your honesty, sweetheart.”
“Do you?”
“Absolutely.” His outlaw grin returned at full throttle. “Of course, there are a whole passel of other things I admire about you, as well.” She felt his gaze linger on her bosom for a few seconds, then slowly travel up to her face. “You are one beautiful lady,” he said huskily.
“Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Sheridan,” she said, an automatic response that denied the truth, noticing that her own voice had gotten a bit husky, too.
“It’s not flattery, Miss Fanon. I’m as honest as you are.”
“Is that a fact?”
They were staring into each other’s eyes. It took Lola a minute to shake the feeling that they were all alone in the world. Even the store had seemed to disappear for a time.
Abruptly, she tore her gaze from his and finished the last of her coffee. “Well, I really must get back to work,” she said briskly, dropping her cup into the small trash can next to the counter. “Let’s see. You wanted that hat, those shirts and the jeans.”
“And the boots,” Duke reminded her. “Lola, will you have dinner with me tonight?”
Her eyes jerked to his. “Tonight? Uh, no…not tonight.”
“Too fast, huh? How about tomorrow night?” When she didn’t answer, he added, “Let me warn you. I’m going to camp on your doorstep until you say yes.”
She tried to laugh. “Really, Mr. Sheridan…”
“Duke.”
“All right…Duke. But let me warn you that I don’t take kindly to pressure.”
“Then say yes right now and we’ll avoid all that. You name the time and place.”
“Thanks for the leeway,” she drawled with some sarcasm.