the last few years. Don’t even own a Stetson.”
“But you’re so popular you might as well be a native,” Leeann countered. “You’re part of the volunteer fire department and I know there must be a couple of single guys there you could persuade to join the cause. Oh, and you could get the Murphy brothers to sign up, too! Devlin’s still in London with Tanya, but Liam and Nolan are single.”
Knowing he was fighting a losing battle against Leeann’s enthusiasm, Dean looked at his best friend for backup, but Bobby’s grin told him he was on his own. There had to be a way to get out of this mess, but damned if he could think of one.
Leeann and Bobby had wanted something that would allow the town to support the camp, even though an event this size probably wouldn’t bring in the kind of funds Priscilla was used to. Unless, of course, things got out of hand and she turned it into one of her highfalutin parties or, worse, decided she’d had enough of country life and returned to sunny Southern California, leaving Leeann on her own to pull this off.
He felt the weight of three pairs of eyes staring at him—scratch that, two pairs. Miss Lennox now seemed more interested in the contents of her almost-empty glass and playing kissy-face with that rat of hers after moving on from Daisy.
Dean reached behind the bar for another beer. He grabbed two when Bobby signaled he was ready for one, too, and popped both tops before leaving the safety of the bar. He handed one of the bottles to his friend and then walked over to Priscilla.
She finally looked up at him.
He kept his gaze locked with hers and off her mutt, who was up on all four paws, but, thankfully, silent. Leaning down, he gently tapped his beer against her glass. “Looks like you and I will be working together. Salute.”
Leeann jumped to her feet with a happy shout, dragging Bobby with her and wrapping him in a hug. Both dogs joined in with a series of quick barks and Bobby announced it was time to fire up the grill for dinner. The only person who hadn’t said anything was Priscilla, who stayed seated, staring up at him with wide eyes.
Had she really thought he wouldn’t do it?
Priscilla got to her feet then, and while Dean knew the proper thing was to step back and give her some room, he didn’t move an inch. Her perfume, a fresh, summery scent he remembered from yesterday, filled his head, and those sexy high heels of hers put her right at eye level. If either of them took a deep breath...
“Thank you. I’m sure you will be—” his gaze stayed on her face as he waited for her to finish “—very helpful.”
He dropped his head a fraction of an inch until their noses almost touched. “You can count on it, princess.”
Her eyes sparkled with that now-familiar fire. This time he took a step back, ready for another volley, but before she could reply, Leeann left her husband’s arms and joined them. “You know, we should take you out to Camp Diamond for a tour. That way you’ll understand what it’s all about. We could go tomorrow around noon? After Sunday services.”
“Thank you.” Pricilla sidestepped toward Leeann and away from Dean. “I’d love to see the camp in person.”
“You might want to change your shoes first,” he added.
She looked back. “Excuse me?”
He gestured toward her feet with his beer. “Spiked heels versus dirt and grass? My money’s on Mother Earth.”
And there went the familiar uptilt of her chin. “I’ve run three city blocks in these heels without breaking a sweat, but I’ll keep your advice in mind.”
He had a comeback to that, but decided to keep it to himself when Leeann again shot him a dirty look.
“Priscilla, would you mind helping me in the kitchen for a few minutes? I need to make a salad and pull some things together. Bobby, the meat is in the fridge behind the bar. Dean, why don’t you see if you can get a fire going...without causing any damage?”
The two women headed across the
“But you’re so popular you might as well be a native,” Leeann countered. “You’re part of the volunteer fire department and I know there must be a couple of single guys there you could persuade to join the cause. Oh, and you could get the Murphy brothers to sign up, too! Devlin’s still in London with Tanya, but Liam and Nolan are single.”
Knowing he was fighting a losing battle against Leeann’s enthusiasm, Dean looked at his best friend for backup, but Bobby’s grin told him he was on his own. There had to be a way to get out of this mess, but damned if he could think of one.
Leeann and Bobby had wanted something that would allow the town to support the camp, even though an event this size probably wouldn’t bring in the kind of funds Priscilla was used to. Unless, of course, things got out of hand and she turned it into one of her highfalutin parties or, worse, decided she’d had enough of country life and returned to sunny Southern California, leaving Leeann on her own to pull this off.
He felt the weight of three pairs of eyes staring at him—scratch that, two pairs. Miss Lennox now seemed more interested in the contents of her almost-empty glass and playing kissy-face with that rat of hers after moving on from Daisy.
Dean reached behind the bar for another beer. He grabbed two when Bobby signaled he was ready for one, too, and popped both tops before leaving the safety of the bar. He handed one of the bottles to his friend and then walked over to Priscilla.
She finally looked up at him.
He kept his gaze locked with hers and off her mutt, who was up on all four paws, but, thankfully, silent. Leaning down, he gently tapped his beer against her glass. “Looks like you and I will be working together. Salute.”
Leeann jumped to her feet with a happy shout, dragging Bobby with her and wrapping him in a hug. Both dogs joined in with a series of quick barks and Bobby announced it was time to fire up the grill for dinner. The only person who hadn’t said anything was Priscilla, who stayed seated, staring up at him with wide eyes.
Had she really thought he wouldn’t do it?
Priscilla got to her feet then, and while Dean knew the proper thing was to step back and give her some room, he didn’t move an inch. Her perfume, a fresh, summery scent he remembered from yesterday, filled his head, and those sexy high heels of hers put her right at eye level. If either of them took a deep breath...
“Thank you. I’m sure you will be—” his gaze stayed on her face as he waited for her to finish “—very helpful.”
He dropped his head a fraction of an inch until their noses almost touched. “You can count on it, princess.”
Her eyes sparkled with that now-familiar fire. This time he took a step back, ready for another volley, but before she could reply, Leeann left her husband’s arms and joined them. “You know, we should take you out to Camp Diamond for a tour. That way you’ll understand what it’s all about. We could go tomorrow around noon? After Sunday services.”
“Thank you.” Pricilla sidestepped toward Leeann and away from Dean. “I’d love to see the camp in person.”
“You might want to change your shoes first,” he added.
She looked back. “Excuse me?”
He gestured toward her feet with his beer. “Spiked heels versus dirt and grass? My money’s on Mother Earth.”
And there went the familiar uptilt of her chin. “I’ve run three city blocks in these heels without breaking a sweat, but I’ll keep your advice in mind.”
He had a comeback to that, but decided to keep it to himself when Leeann again shot him a dirty look.
“Priscilla, would you mind helping me in the kitchen for a few minutes? I need to make a salad and pull some things together. Bobby, the meat is in the fridge behind the bar. Dean, why don’t you see if you can get a fire going...without causing any damage?”
The two women headed across the
Similar Books
