Wrangled by the Watchful Cowboy

Her mouth had watered. He’d gone to a great deal of trouble to ensure she would get one of the two end pieces off the prime rib. Had anyone ever gone to such lengths to please her before? Certainly not Parker. It would’ve been rude to turn Cord down when he’d made such a sweet gesture, right? She’d just have to make sure they sat on opposite sides of the table so there was no inadvertent contact between them.

She stared into the mirror and shook her finger at her eager-eyed reflection. “Tonight must be completely platonic. No flirting. And definitely no kissing. If the thought even crosses your mind, think about something else, like… going to the dentist!” A great big needle and the whir of the drill ought to chase away any thoughts of locking lips with Cord.

With that settled in her mind, she hurried to finish getting ready. At least she’d managed to talk Holden into leading the evening trail ride so she had time to shower and shave her legs. She donned the green sundress, lamenting that her arms had turned dark, despite religious use of sunblock. “White shoulders, tanned arms, and an orange toe. At least I’ll be colorful.”

Her grandparents’ voices drifted from the family room up the stairwell as she tiptoed down, in hopes of escaping unnoticed. Two steps from the bottom, the board under her foot emitted a loud creak.

Heat flashed up Jessica’s neck the moment her grandmother’s head turned, her sharp gaze zeroing in.

“You’re all dressed up tonight,” Nanna said. “Where are you headed?”

“Just out with friends, Nanna.” Jess moved off the stairs and continued toward the kitchen.

“Would that friend happen to be Cord Dennison? I heard the two of you are dating, now.”

With a groan, Jess returned to the family room. She perched in a chair opposite the couch, her hopes of a quick conversation dashed when Bucky clicked off the television, to give Jess his undivided attention, along with Nanna.

“Cord and I aren’t dating. We’re only friends.”

“Hmmm.” Nanna wore an expression like she was talking to a snake-oil salesman. “That’s not what Mason McCaffrey told us.”

“What is he, a middle-schooler? Tattling to my grandparents just because he’s jealous?”

“Actually, he assumed you’d already told us.” Bucky leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “He and one of the summer staffers came by to let us know they were dating and to sign a policy awareness form.”

“Oh.” Her bluster gone, Jess scrunched her polish-adorned toes, still resenting the intrusion. “I kind of forgot about the employee dating policy thing. Besides, we really are keeping it in the friend zone.”

“Even so, if the two of you are spending time alone together, you need to sign the form,” said Bucky. “I just happen to have one right here.”

Bucky handed her a piece of paper, and she read the title. Sexual Harassment Awareness Form. She was quite certain thinking about this form while she was with Cord would cool her off about as well as thinking about the dentist.

“But you don’t have to tell us anything else about your life,” Nanna said, stiffly. “Though it might be nice to know if you’ll be coming in really late, since I’m a light sleeper.”

Bucky coughed, smiling behind his hand.

“What?” Nanna snapped. “I am a light sleeper.”

“You could sleep through a twenty-one-gun salute,” said Bucky, with a chuckle.

Jess knew her grandmother’s feelings were hurt. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything about Cord, Nanna, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up for nothing. We’re going out as friends, and that’s all.”

Nanna’s stony expression softened. “You just need to listen to your heart, Jess.”

“That’s what got me engaged to Parker. This time, I’m listening to my head, and my head is telling me, absolutely no dating.”

Cord slid around the turn in a spray of dust and gravel and came to a stop in front of the Buchanan’s white clapboard house. He hadn’t intended to be late, but he’d been halfway back to Sage Valley Ranch when he realized he’d forgotten his deodorant. Returning to apply the protection had cost an extra fifteen minutes, but he wouldn’t have dared the date without it.

He leapt from the truck, ignoring the searing pain in his left knee, and hurried up the stone path, hoping his deodorant was up to the task. He was almost as nervous about talking to Jessica’s grandparents as he was about the date. Not that Jessica called it a date, but that was his intent.

Tonight, he would show her his sophisticated side. Despite growing up in a small country community, Jessica liked big cities, now. If Jess liked big city life, he would show it to her, right there in Sage Valley.

He, of all people, could understand the appeal of the city. Hadn’t he been living out his dream in New York City for the past nine years? And the door wasn’t closed, yet. Finn was still determined to keep him at Phantom Enterprises.

But every day he heard his father’s haunting question. “Son, I just want to know one thing, and I can die in peace. Are you happy?

”

When his dad first asked the question, Cord had been shaken to the core. Not because his dad asked it, but because it was the first time he’d ever seen his dad cry. Cord had assured him he was happy. He had everything he’d ever wanted. A successful career. The respect of his peers. A bright future in an exciting city. Lots of friends. A great life.