A Cowgirl's Secret - By Laura Marie Altom Page 0,47

person to help Daisy with her project. Dallas is all the time saying how handy you are when it comes to fixing things around the house.”

“Nice to know he thinks so highly of me,” Luke said, tugging on the brim of his cowboy hat.

“Josie, hon…” With a grunt, Georgina pushed to her feet. “Would you be a dear and drive me over to Lucky’s? I have a powerful craving for sweet tea.”

“That does sound good,” Josie said, already gathering her purse and keys. “Daisy, you going to be all right with your jug of ice water?”

Daisy shot her so-called loving family the dirtiest look she could muster. They thought they were playing Cupid, but in reality, they were only making her situation worse. She longed for a nice, comfortable friendship with Luke—that was all. She’d grown weary of bickering and just wanted peace.

Once Georgina and Josie left, Luke said with a slow, sexy grin, “You might look into hiring new help. Those two seem worthless.”

“Tell me about it.” Sitting on one of the collapsible camp chairs she’d brought, Daisy said, “If you stopped by to see Kolt, he’s not here.”

“Bummer.” Luke removed his hat, hanging it on the newel post. “I’d hoped we could have a tree fort planning meeting.”

“He would like that. I’m picking him up from Jonah’s tomorrow at noon. Want to come back around one?”

“Sounds doable.” Instead of returning his hat to his head, and then leaving, Luke stood around, fidgeting with this and that. He picked up a bottle of lemon oil, read the label. Took a few leaves that’d skittered from the porch through the open door, stashing them in a trash bin.

“Good.” Grabbing the broom, Daisy avoided eye contact with Luke by working dirt from the nearest corner. “He’ll enjoy spending time with you.”

Luke had grown uncomfortably aware of how much he enjoyed the company of Kolt’s mom. Had he one iota of smarts, he’d have long since been out the door.

Daisy glanced his way. In the process, hair escaped her ponytail, spilling into her eyes. In his mind, Luke stood next to her, sweeping it back, making her own escape an impossibility. He’d pin her into her corner, relishing the way he made her heart race as if she were a caged canary. She’d lick her lips. He’d sweep his hands from her cheeks, down her throat, her shoulders, her arms to land on her hips. Then he’d kiss her. Long and leisurely until she begged for more.

Had things between them not been so complicated, the afternoon might take on a whole new spin. As it was, he felt dirty for even thinking he wanted her. The two of them were over. What was his body’s problem with understanding that message?

“I’ll be sure and tell Kolt you stopped by.” Dripping it all over the battered wood floor, she took her filthy wash water to the kitchen.

Luke knew better, but he trailed along behind her, liking the view until reaching the room that had last been renovated in the seventies and featured avocado everything.

Pushing himself up onto a dusty counter, he noted, “You do know all of your modern stuff from San Francisco is going to look like crap in here.”

“Did I ask your opinion?” After pouring the dirty water in the sink, she filled her bucket with fresh water, this time opting for warm.

He shrugged. “Just saying…”

Daisy added a few capfuls of cleaner to her bucket. “Is there a specific reason you’re still here? Other than to harass me?”

“Is that the way you think of me? As an imposition?” Why, he couldn’t say, but the notion troubled him.

She sighed. “Honestly, I try not to think of you. You’ve made it clear how you feel about me and I’m making peace with that.”

“Good. Great.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he nodded. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

From the front of the house came the sound of clomping footfalls on the porch.

“Hello?” Georgina sang out. “If y’all are thirsty, we brought sweet tea!”

Luke took that as his cue to exit.

He seriously needed to go on a date. Needed to work out his frustrations with a woman with whom he stood a chance in hell of going the proverbial distance.

“HEY, LUKE!” KOLT CALLED at the zoo Sunday afternoon.

Luke had originally planned to invite Daisy, but changed his mind. When it came to spending time with his son, Luke couldn’t get enough, but lately, each time he and Daisy shared space they shared ugly words.

“Did you