A Family With the Cowboy (The Westons of Montana #1)

Chapter Eight

T uesday night in Ellie’s Yarn Cove was a loud and lively affair. Annie, her sister, Vivian, their sister-in-law, Riley, and the O’Sullivans’ aunt, Janice, were all there. And Maria, Laura’s colleague from school, also showed up.

When Laura had picked up Arlene, a smiling Willow also got into her car. Turned out, Annie had wandered into the yarn shop the previous day, heard about the book club, and brought the women in her family along.

Apart from a soft, “I’ve heard about Saturday night,” Ellie hadn’t mentioned Laura’s date with Becket again.

In between gossiping and talking about yarn, they talked about possible books they’d want to discuss. Jane Austen’s books were mentioned and Ellie, who seemed to know everything about all things Austen, gave them some interesting background detail. Pride and Prejudice would be the first book they’d discuss. Middlemarch would be a project for later in the year.

“Oh, I love this!” Ellie said as they all got up at the end of the evening. “I’ve so enjoyed tonight.”

“I can talk books all day long. Since I’ve discovered audiobooks, I can bake and listen to stories at the same time,” Annie added with a grin.

“Thanks for all the interesting background information, Ellie,” Vivian said, and they packed up their knitting and moved toward the door. “I, for one, am happy I wasn’t born during the late 1700s. I can’t imagine not having the freedom to choose whom I want to marry or what I want to do with my life.”

“Getting married was just about the only option for women back then,” Janice added. “Not because you loved someone, but because your father or brother decided it for you. I’m very glad that has changed.”

Ellie grinned, opening the door. “I’m happy that I have the choice to not get married. After my last relationship…” She visibly shuddered. “Let’s just say I prefer being on my own.”

“See, Mom?” Willow laughed. “I’m not the only one who isn’t interested in love and marriage.”

“Until the right person comes along.” Annie laughed. “I’m telling you, there is something about this town…”

“I’ve warned Laura,” Vivian said.

“Don’t make the same mistake I did,” Janice said. “Don’t let love pass you by. Life is so very short. Will we see all of you at the Winter ball?”

“Yes, we’re all going,” Arlene said. “Cooper is taking Laura.”

Ellie frowned. “Cooper? But didn’t you go on a date with…Becket, was it?”

“And she kissed Hayden.” Willow grinned.

Maria smiled. “I’ve been trying to get more details out of her at school about the kissing everyone is talking about, but she just clams up.”

Janice’s eyes were twinkling as she looked at Laura. “Oh, I’m so glad to hear that. I love hearing about romance and kissing.”

“No romance. We are all just friends,” Laura said quickly. “Are you going to the dance, Ellie?” Time to change the topic.

Groaning, Ellie shook her head. “Oh, please, no! I can’t think of a worse way to spend an evening. I have a new book and new yarn—so I have everything that makes me happy.”

Janice gave Ellie a hug. “I can predict that, sooner or later, you’re going to lose your heart to someone in Marietta. I do believe in the magic of Copper Mountain.”

Riley groaned. “Seriously, Aunt Janice, I thought you were done with matchmaking.”

“I’m just saying,” Janice said innocently.

Vivian took her arm. “Yeah, right. Let’s get you home before you start meddling in other people’s lives.”

Laughing, they all left.

Driving back to drop off Willow and her mother, Laura was quiet, thinking of Janice’s words: Don’t let love pass you by.

“…feel about marriage, Laura?” Willow’s voice finally penetrated her thoughts as she stopped in front of Arlene’s house.

Laura shook her head. “I’m not relationship material, I’ve been told. And I think so too. I was raised by my dad. Mom passed away when I was eight. So I’m used to doing things on my own. The freedom to choose my own path, to be independent, is important to me, and I don’t know if I’m willing to give that up. I’m really happy on my own, happy to be single. Men can be so exhausting, don’t you think?”

“See, Mom?” Willow grinned. “More women feel that way. Fortunately, we don’t have to get married in this day and age.”

Arlene groaned. “Don’t give Willow more ideas, Laura. You don’t have to lose your independence when you marry, you know? When you meet the right guy, he will love the fact that you can stand on your own two feet.”

“I have just moved to a new town, got a new job, and I’m buying a house—I think I have enough to keep me busy,” Laura said.

Arlene and Willow got out of the car.

“Keep an open mind, that’s all I’m saying,” Arlene called out.

“Sorry about Mom. She’s a romantic. Thanks for the lift,” Willow said. “I’ll pick the two of you up on Saturday morning.”

“I don’t know about the dance—” Laura tried, but Willow interrupted her.

“It’s going to be fun,” Willow smiled. “It always is.”

*

Friday after school, Hayden knocked on Laura’s classroom door, his hat in his hand. He’d asked a friend to keep an eye on Luke while he talked to the teacher. He’d rather not go to her house to do it. This way, his mother wouldn’t see him.

The door opened. His breath left his body in one swoosh. She looked incredible.

“Hayden?” she asked. “Is Luke okay?”

“Luke’s fine. May I come in?”

“Yes, of course.” She stood to the side to let him in. “Was there something about Luke you wanted to discuss?”

He shook his head. “He’s changed so much since you became his teacher. Thank you for that. His mom’s passing—it was hard on both of us.”

“Of course it was. It will always be. I lost my mom when I was eight and I still miss her every day. Time makes it easier, though.”

He nodded. “I also wanted to apologize for last Saturday night.”

“Apologize for what?” she asked.

Damn, this was harder than he’d thought. But he had to get this out. “For grabbing you and…and kissing you.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “From what I remember, you didn’t grab me. You told me you were responding to my touching you again. You gave me plenty of time to push you away, but I didn’t. We kissed, Hayden. It’s no big deal.” She turned away. “I’ll probably kiss a number of guys in and around Marietta before long.”

Whether it had been his intention all along, or whether it was the roaring in his head, or the way she’d lifted her chin, he would never know, but the next moment, he’d thrown his hat down and was pulling her closer. “So kissing me is no big deal? Let’s test that theory,” he challenged as he combed a strand of hair from her face. “It’s all I’ve been thinking about since last Saturday, all I’ve been dreaming about. And then I had to sit next to you on Sunday, feel you next to me, just to hear you agreeing to go to the dance with my brother? And you want to tell me kissing me is no big deal? Maybe you’re right, maybe I’ve imagined what happened between us. Let make sure, shall we?”

The last words, he murmured against her lips. He waited another second, giving her time to say no or push him away, before he kissed her. Her mouth was soft and sweet and welcoming—just the way he remembered.

Only when she melted against him did he lift his head. “You feel what you do to me? And I can feel your reaction to me,” he said, deliberately brushing the back of his hand against her straining nipples. Her breath hitched and her eyes darkened. “If anyone else you kiss makes you feel like this, I’ll agree us kissing isn’t a big deal,” he said before he turned on his heel and strode out of the classroom.

Rubbing his face he walked as quickly as he could. What the hell? The idea had been to apologize to her, not kiss her again. Inhaling deeply, he leaned against his truck. He could still taste her on his mouth.

“Dad?” Luke asked as he ran closer. “You okay?”

“Of course, let’s go.” They got into the truck.

“Have you seen Miss Anderson?” Luke asked. And after a beat, “She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

Hayden quickly glanced at his son. There was a knowing glint in his little boy’s eyes he’d never seen before. “Yeah, son. She’s pretty.” He smiled. Too damn pretty for his peace of mind.

He had to put Laura Anderson out of his mind and stay away from her. That was the only way he was going to get the pretty teacher out of his mind and dreams.

*

Willow picked Laura up just after eight on Saturday morning, so by the time the shops opened in Bozeman, they were entering a mall.

Laura trailed behind Willow and Arlene. Coffee. She needed coffee. She hadn’t slept a wink last night. Every time she’d drifted off, there was Hayden, his hot mouth on hers, his lower body throbbing against hers. Oh, my goodness, that was so not something to be thinking about when she was with his mom and sister.

“Let’s try this store,” Arlene was saying as she motioned toward a boutique. “I usually get what I’m looking for here. Do you have something specific in mind, Laura?”

“I was thinking a little black dress.” Laura smiled, admiring the beautiful clothes in the shop. “Something I can wear again.”

“Surely we can do better than that!” Arlene exclaimed. “Oh, Willow, look at this gorgeous skirt!” she exclaimed as she took a skirt from the rail.

As Laura turned to walk to one of the other racks, she saw a dress hanging against a cupboard. In the palest of blues, the bodice of the classic A-line dress was cut in such a way that it would leave her shoulders bare. It was beautiful.

Before she even touched the dress, she knew this was the one she was going to buy. Because she could already see Hayden’s eyes darkening, could feel his warm lips on her shoulder…

“It’s a beautiful dress,” Arlene said behind her. “Are you going to try it on?”

“Ooh, and look at these heels,” Willow exclaimed as she rushed closer, a pair of silver heels in her hand.

“I don’t know…”

“Just try it on. We’ve found something to try on as well. This is so nice!” Arlene was all smiles as they walked toward the changing rooms. “We haven’t done this in a while.”

In the small changing room, Laura slipped out of her own clothes and tried on the dress. It was a perfect fit. So were the heels.

Logic started asking all sorts of questions: was this really the best idea? She was his son’s teacher, he was a widower, and surely the whole thing had heartache written all over it? She didn’t even know the man. But he’d kissed her again, her heart reminded her. And he’d told her he’d been dreaming about her. And those amber eyes had a way of looking right into her soul…

Her heart won. Of course. She quickly got out of the dress and put on her own clothes again. She was going to regret this at some point, but right now, she was following Janice’s advice—give love a chance.

Her breath hitched. Love? Nobody was talking about love. Hayden was an attractive man, a cowboy to boot, and he knew how to kiss. That was all. Besides, she was going to the ball with his brother. And maybe Hayden had changed his mind and was bringing another date besides his son to the ball.

She liked pretty clothes, and she hadn’t bought something new for herself in a long while. This dress was for her, not for anyone else.

Yeah, right. Logic had the last say.