Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series) by Donna Michaels Page B

black, strappy heels could do for
a girl’s ego.
    With no time to waste on her hair,
she’d twisted and clasped it at the top of her head, while her bangs and a few
pieces fell loose about her face. Going for simple sophistication, she probably
only got the simple part right. Oh well. Didn’t matter. Insert motto here .
Her smile widened.
    What’s done was done .
    The more Kerri said it in her head,
the more she liked the motto. Between that and what her sister always told her— don’t
sweat the little stuff —her outlook on life had improved the past week. And Jordan was right. Time to stop sweating .
    So she was homeless and unemployed.
So what. She was also loved by her family and friends. That’s what counted.
    “Oh, hun, you look lovely,” her mom
said, pulling her in for a quick hug.
    “Thanks.” She stepped back, eyeing
her mother’s pretty navy and silver dress. “So do you.”
    Her dad kissed her cheek. “Well, I
don’t look lovely, but I am loving your appetizers,” he said, before popping
another bacon wrap in his mouth.
    The McCalls readily agreed, lifting
their plates.
    She smiled. “Good. I’m glad. But
save room for the entrees, too.” Her gaze shifted back to her dad. “Emma’s made
the salmon you love.”
    “Not to worry.” He winked, slapping
his gut. “I’ve got room. But first, we’re going to mingle.”
    People were already lining up at
the buffet table, so she began to make her way there when a familiar voice
called out from behind.               
    “Kerri, you look stunning as
always.”
    She’d wondered when she was going
to bump into their handsome neighbor.
    “Hello, Kevi — ”
She turned to greet him and burst out laughing. Cole’s best friend wore a
headband that dangled a piece of mistletoe above his dark head.
    The blue-eyed, black haired cowboy
smiled down at her. “What?” he asked innocently.
    What indeed. Kerri grinned. “Leave
it to you, Kevin Dalton, to come up with a way not to miss out on the free
kissing.”
    “That’s because it’s the only way
he’s going to get any,” Connor teased, approaching from the side.
    With her pulse suddenly leaping in
her chest, she turned to watch the gorgeous cowboy lumber closer.
    “You’re just upset you didn’t think
of it first,” she said before she could curb her tongue.
    He laughed, dimple glaring, brown
eyes twinkling. “True.”
    Breath hitched in her throat, and
she wondered for the umpteenth time why she had such a reaction to the teasing
hunk.
    And was there a way to make it
stop.
    “Actually, he doesn’t need it,”
Kevin informed. “Girls have been cornering him under the mistletoe his parents
hung over there.” He pointed to a sprig hanging near the window seat in the far
corner of the room.
    She looked at the corner, then back
to Connor.
    He shrugged. “What can I say? When
you got it, you got it.” A self-satisfied smile tugged his lips as he rubbed
his knuckles in a back and forth motion across his chest.
    Smug bugger.
    “Well, be that as it may, I am the
one standing here under the mistletoe so, unless you’re going to kiss me
Connor, I think it’s time for Kerri to do her duty.” Kevin smiled and added a
wink.
    Normally, she’d make an excuse and
run for the exit. But not tonight. Not now. Not with the smug cowboy looking
on. No way would she give Connor a reason to call her chicken.
    Kerri was only too happy to oblige.
“Don’t mind if I do, Kevin.” She grinned as she pushed Connor out of the way
and stood in front of the blue-eyed dreamboat.
    About to put her arms around his
neck, she only got as far as his broad shoulders when Kevin reached down and
lifted her right up off the floor.
    “Oh,” she gasped, and that’s when
he kissed her, a pleasant kiss, lingering a few moments before placing her
gently back down.  
    “Mmm…Strawberries,” Kevin murmured
as he licked his lips and grinned. “You tasted like strawberries. Remind me to
corner you again