The Rancher and the Event Planner - By Cheryl Gorman Page 0,13
into the crowd along with her mother. After a few minutes, Rafe was drawn into conversation with some friends and she decided to head for the table Maddie had arranged for them, but half way there a cowboy stepped in her path and asked her to dance.
After twirling around the dance floor with the cowboy through a couple of songs, JC caught sight of Rafe sitting at their table sipping a beer. The cowboy tipped his hat after the second dance and even pulled out the chair for her at the table. He gave Rafe a quick nod then headed for the bar.
Rafe took another sip of beer and said, “Better watch out for him. He’s a real hound dog when it comes to women.”
JC shrugged. “It was only a dance. Besides, I’m here to work off my community service, not date.”
“Hey, everybody! Welcome to the Roundup’s Love em’ or Leave em’ Night,” Payton exclaimed into the microphone from the center of the stage behind the dance floor.
The crowd clapped and whistled and JC joined in.
“For those new to the Roundup, I met my no good husband here some thirty odd years ago as a single woman passing through on my way to Austin. I took one look at his handsome face and fell like a sack of rocks. Next thing I knew I was hitched with a baby on the way who turned out to be my wonderful daughter, Maddie.” She lifted a hand and said, “Take a bow, sweetheart.”
Maddie nodded as she held a tray of fresh drinks in one hand.
“Right before she was born, my husband put pedal to the metal and hasn’t been seen since. I scrounged what money I had, bought the Roundup and the rest as they say is history. Love em’ or Leave em’ Night is about celebrating all the men and women who have had their heart stomped flat as a cow pie and left in the dirt. It’s also about celebrating the men and women who have had the courage to try again, take hold of their soul mate’s hand and never look back. Tonight, I invite those single folks here whose hearts are aching with loneliness, to take a least one turn around this dance floor, and let the magic take hold. After everybody dances, we’re going to ask this question. Should their dance partner love em’ or leave em’? All the participants get a free drink, and a heaping plate of the Roundup’s Fry Your Taste Buds nachos. But according to tradition, I get to pick the first couple.” Her gaze zeroed in on JC and Rafe.
“Rafe, you and JC start us off tonight.” She stepped away as applause rose from the crowded bar.
Standing, Rafe held out his hand and JC grasped his fingers. Tingling danced over her palm, continued down her arm and into her stomach. Instead of a rocking dance-your-heart-out tune, a slow, easy song dripping with love and longing filled the air. JC found herself enfolded in Rafe’s strong arms with his body heat surrounding her in a safe cocoon and his soulful blue eyes staring into hers. Being in his arms was a dream, a fantasy she’d imagined time and time again while growing up and thought she would never experience. She knew this was no more real than fairy dust, an illusion that would fade into nothing as soon as the dance ended, but she couldn’t resist reveling in the moment while it lasted.
“Stop worrying. I don’t bite,” Rafe murmured. One corner of his mouth lifted. “At least not on the first dance.”
Chapter Four
Why did he say that?
But he sure would like a nibble or two. Jennifer’s delicate scent of wildflowers reached out, tickled his skin and muddled his brain. The music flowed lazily around them and he pulled her in closer, he couldn’t help himself. Her lips curved in a slight smile, her golden gaze glanced at his then away and back again. “So, do you bite all the women you dance with?”
“Only the cute ones.”
She laughed. The sound made his heart shake. Couples crowded them and Jennifer moved in closer, one breast brushed against his hand, her stomach lightly touched his and arrows of sensual heat shot straight to his groin. She looked up at him and she was so close her breath blew over his lips making him want to take a long, slow taste. “Am I one of the cute ones?”
He swallowed. Hard. Oh, sweet Jesus. He shifted to try