Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller

wished he wasn’t.
    â€œNice to know you’re inclined to think of me that way.” His smile flashed again.
    â€œLike you didn’t already know that.”
    â€œI’m not sure I did.”
    â€œJust do me a favor and don’t play that card, okay? You’re totally aware of what’s going on between us. And by the way, I don’t do casual, either.”
    â€œSo—what, are we making a pact not to get involved?” He did that thing with his hat, tipping it and then adjusting it back down. “I’m not positive it works that way. That choice isn’t yours—it’s made for you.”
    â€œVoice of experience?” She looked at him curiously, hanging on to the car door, since they were bumping along on something that only resembled a road. “Have you ever been in love?”
    â€œNo details available. This isn’t a sorority gossip session.”
    Fine. Whatever Drake’s opinion of her, she actually did respect his privacy. So, no questions.
    No reason she couldn’t be honest. “I thought I was in love once, but the man I fell for slept with my roommate. She blamed him, and he blamed her. I blamed them both. End of story. I lost a friend and a fiancé in one fell swoop. I did thank her, though, for saving me from making a big mistake. I got the flat-screen TV when I moved out. That gave me some satisfaction. She could watch the empty space on the wall.”
    â€œOuch, but she did do you a favor. Faithful is not negotiable in my book.”
    â€œ The Cowboy Guide to a Successful Relationship ? I assume that’s the title.” She didn’t conceal her amusement. “Let me guess. Chapter One is ‘Never Discuss Previous Relationships.’ What’s Chapter Two?”
    â€œChapter Two is ‘Avoid Beautiful Graduate Students Because They’re a Passel of Trouble.’”
    â€œWhat trouble have I caused you?”
    He didn’t budge an inch, but his mouth twitched with laughter. “I sense it coming.”
    â€œDo you now?” She was laughing, too. “So you think I’m beautiful, or were you just trying to be polite, since I said you were sexy?”
    â€œYou’ll discover that I don’t say anything I don’t mean. Then again, I didn’t mention you by name, did I?” He spoke in that low deliberate drawl she found so charming. “But yes, I think beautiful applies.”
    Maybe changing the subject would be a good idea. He was right; she was going to gather all the information for her thesis this summer and then return to California. Involvement with Drake was the last thing she needed. Her whole life was in California, including every member of her family. “So tell me, why did you give a seven-hundred-dollar tip to a waitress who was so grumpy I hesitated to ask her for a glass of water?”
    â€œSomeone hit Frankie.”
    Luce wrinkled her brow. “Frankie is...who? Husband? Dog? Cat?”
    â€œCar. She doesn’t really have the money to fix it. We all pitched in. This is Mustang Creek. She lives frugally, takes care of her elderly mother, and everyone knows she loves Frankie.” He shrugged in a nonchalant way. “We all brought money for the poker game, so we pooled it together and gave it to her.”
    â€œThat’s generous of you.”
    â€œI’ve known her my whole life.”
    Softly, Luce said, “I’m guessing Chapter Three is titled ‘Loyalty,’ right?”
    â€œIf it isn’t,” he responded as they reached the paved road, “it should be.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    S OMETHING WAS UP .
    When he came in for lunch the next day, after that moonlit kiss he and Luce had shared, Drake saw Harry’s knowing smile, and before he could ask any questions, she presented him with one of his all-time favorites—a corned beef sandwich. He devoured it and would’ve counted himself a lucky man, but Mace came into