Cindy Kirk – A Sweetheart for Jude Fortune (страница 5)

“He’s got you in his crosshairs.” Delaney spoke in a theatrical whisper.

“Run,” Stacey urged, her eyes dancing, “while you still have a chance.”

Colton shook his head. “Women.”

“Hey!” Stacey gave her fiancé a playful punch. “You’ve got two women in your life now, remember. Me and Piper?”

He brushed his lips across her cheek. “And I’m extremely glad of it.”

Jude returned with a beer in one hand for himself and a ginger ale in the other for Gabi.

“Thank you.” Gabi took the glass, her hand brushing his. Electricity traveled up her arm at the contact. But if he’d experienced a similar jolt, it didn’t show.

Once again, Gabi suffered through introductions and expressions of sympathy for her father.

“I wouldn’t have left him in the rehab center alone,” Gabi explained, “but he’s watching the ball game with another patient.”

“I bet it makes him feel good to know you’re out enjoying yourself.” Colton looped an arm around his fiancée’s shoulder when she moved to his side.

“I hope so,” Gabi said, then made a fuss over Piper, rather than focusing on Jude, which is what she wanted to do. Though she was definitely in the mood for a little fun flirting, there was no need to be obvious.

She’d barely lifted Piper from Colton’s arms when several more handsome cowboys stopped over. None of them made her pulse skip a beat like number three of seven but Galen, Liam, Toby and Christopher Fortune Jones were all fine specimens.

When Piper began to fuss, Gabi handed the baby to Stacey. Without missing a beat, Jude took Gabi’s arm and announced he was giving her a grand tour of the buffet.

Before she knew what was happening, she was halfway across the room with the charming cowboy.

“A grand tour of the buffet?” Gabi slanted a playful glance in his direction. “Seriously?”

“Improv isn’t my strength.” Jude looked faintly embarrassed. “But sometimes there’s only so much family a man can take. I’d like us to get better acquainted. We can’t do that with everyone listening to our every word.”

“Or your sister making gagging noises?”

He laughed. “That can be a deterrent.”

“It’s strange.”

“What is?”

“Running into you this morning.” She kept her tone light. “Now here.”

“Fate,” he said.

“Perhaps.” She traced a finger around the rim of her glass and watched his eyes darken.

Without a word, he took her elbow, maneuvered her around several older couples sharing appetizers and conversation.

By the time he spoke again, the darkness in his eyes had lifted. “How is your father?”

“Much better,” she told him. “Thank you for asking.”

“It was a sacrifice for you to come all the way to Texas to be with him.”

It was a statement, not a question.

“Nothing could have kept me away.”

“As it should be” was all he said.

The conversation shifted to her life in Miami. Gabi kept it brief when telling him about her job at the bank. Though she enjoyed her work, she’d learned real estate lending wasn’t all that interesting to those outside of the industry. She sipped her ginger ale. “What is it you do, Jude?”

“I have a ranch not far from here.” Jude took a pull from his beer. “I do whatever needs to be done.”

Though he shrugged, the pride in his voice told her he was one of the lucky ones who’d found his passion.

She’d opened her mouth to ask about his duties when one of his brothers—Christopher?—walked by and deliberately pushed Jude against her.

Jude’s arm shot out, slipping around her, steadying them both.

For a second Gabi thought she heard Christopher laugh, but then the outside world disappeared as she gazed into Jude’s eyes.

“Sorry ’bout that,” he said, his gaze never leaving hers.

She swallowed and found her voice. “I’m not.”

He grinned. “Hell, I’m not, either.”

Yet she noticed he took a step back.

Gabi tried to collect her rioting thoughts. Say something, she told herself, get the conversation back on safe ground. She found herself blurting out the first thing that came to mind. “You grew up in Horseback Hollow?”

“I did.” A twinkle filled his eyes, as if he could read her mind and found her unsteadiness amusing.

“Do you plan to stay?” Her tone held a hint of coolness. Gabriella Mendoza drooled over no man, at least not so he could notice.

“I like it here.” He took a barely perceptible step forward. “Lubbock is close and with the recent growth in Vicker’s Corners, there’s enough to do.”

“I guess I’ll have to take your word. I haven’t had the chance to do much exploring.”

“I’d be happy to show you around.”

She gave a little laugh, took another sip of her drink. “I wasn’t hinting for a tour guide.”

“I know.” His eyes met hers and then slid downward to linger on her mouth. “But since I’m already taking you on a tour of the buffet, why stop there? Let’s take it a step further.”

Gabi arched a brow, touched the tip of her tongue to her lips and watched his eyes change. “A step further?”

“Have dinner with me tomorrow night.” Although his eyes burned, his smile was easy. “I’ll introduce you to Horseback Hollow’s culinary delights.”

“I appreciate the offer.” Gabi hesitated, sorely tempted. While it would be fun to spend time with Jude, the reason she was in Texas was to be with her father.

For a second the cowboy looked nonplussed. She guessed he wasn’t used to being turned down. Not that she’d said no. She just hadn’t said yes.

“You have to eat.” His tone turned persuasive. “Surely you can spare an hour to become better acquainted with our town?”

With me.

Though he didn’t say the words, Gabi knew what he was asking. She had to admit the short time she’d spent with Jude had only whet her appetite for more.

It wasn’t as if she had to spend every waking second at her father’s bedside, Gabi reminded herself. Taking a bit of time to get better acquainted with the town where her father lived might be a good idea.

But when she smiled and gave Jude Fortune Jones her answer, it wasn’t getting acquainted with the town on her mind, it was getting better acquainted with her Texas cowboy.

Chapter Three

“I’m going to marry her,” Jude told Liam, pointing across the room with his bottle of Dos Equis. “She’s The One.”

His older brother glanced out over the crowd, settling on...Delaney. “Uh, you’re marrying our sister?”

“Not her.” Jude spoke through gritted teeth. “The one next to her.”

“The pretty Latina.” Interest filled Liam’s eyes. “She’s a looker, all right. I wouldn’t mind getting her between the sheets—”

Jude punched his brother in the shoulder. Hard. “Watch it. That’s my future wife you’re talking about.”

Liam snorted. “Heard that one before.”

“Heard what?” Sawyer sauntered up and handed Liam a beer.