How to Lasso a Cowboy by Shirley Jump

fabulous and it’s such a unique idea, we’re bound to get lots of out-of-towners and lookie-lous coming by to take a peek,” Mildred said, interrupting Sophie again. “Bringing their wallets with them, I might add. So, we were thinking that during something like the lunch picnic on Tuesday, we could…”
    Sophie had stopped listening. Her gaze had gone across the room to where her “intended,” Harlan Jones, waited. Three other women were hanging around his table, and he was grinning, lapping up all the attention. The man gave self-centered a whole new definition.
    Mildred’s words trickled through the fog in Sophie’s brain. “The couples can share some sandwiches on Tuesday, go to the carnival together on Thursday and then thatweekend, we’ll top it all off with the annual dance in the park,” Mildred went on. “It’ll be a week of romance. We’ll have to find a way to publicize it, of course. But that’s where you come in. You’re the queen of publicity.”
    â€œA…a week?” Sophie jerked her attention back to Mildred. Spend a week with Harlan Jones? Acting like they were a happy couple? “As in seven days?”
    â€œWell, you can’t expect to fall in love in the space of time it takes to sip one of those something-ccino things you drink, do you?” Mildred raised a gray brow. “Who knows. Maybe Edgerton Shores will become the wedding capital of Florida after this. Which you, my dear, will never know if you don’t spend some time with your match.” She gestured toward Harlan.
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œAgreed, as did all the participants, to at least give it one date. Well, I know you didn’t technically, but really, how will it look if the chair of the event refuses to participate? That would sure get tongues wagging, and I know you don’t want that.”
    Definitely not. Sophie didn’t want to be the center of all that negative attention again, which was why she couldn’t understand the logic behind Mildred’s match. Sophie, attention avoider, paired with the biggest mouth in radio? The reporter from the local paper glanced over at her, a question on his face. Mildred was right. If the head of the event didn’t participate, it would get tongues wagging.
    Sophie was all for publicity—if it was for the causes she believed in or for her fledgling business. Just not her dating life.
    Mildred waved at Sophie. “So shoo, shoo. And go see what that handsome cowboy has to offer this pretty young filly.” Then she headed back to Art, waving a cookie his way. “Art! Oh, Art! Look what I got for you!”
    Leaving Sophie with no choice but to accept what fate—or Mildred Meyers—had meted out to her. One annoying cowboy who was grinning at her as if he thought this whole thing was one hilarious joke.
    Â 
    Sophie Watson looked madder than a puppy who’d lost his bone. Harlan chuckled at the glare on her face. She was sitting across from him, her back to the rest of the room, probably so everyone would think it was all happiness and tea between them.
    â€œWhy are you here?” she said.
    He held up his teacup. “Just collecting on my rent payment. Don’t want you to fall behind and owe me a late fee.” He gave her a grin.
    â€œI meant here, at the matchmaking event. Why on earth did you fill out an application? Don’t you have enough people fawning over you already?”
    â€œThree reasons,” he said. “Because Miss Meyers wrangled me into it. Because I like to support the local economy. And—” he lifted his mug “—because I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to have some more of your tea.”
    â€œI could send you home with several tea bags and you could brew at home. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about being here every day.”
    â€œAh, but Miss Watson, it is so much more fun to sit here and