Cowboy After Dark. Vicki Lewis Thompson
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her off. But she and Liam would be thrown together on a regular basis without having to plan anything. If, during that time, their relationship took a sexy turn, so what? Other people had flings, so why couldn’t she?
Phil dumped the last bag of chips in a bowl. “How’s the new job going?”
“It’s good. I like the management, and setting up fun outings for the hotel guests has turned out to be satisfying.”
“I’m glad.” Phil tossed the empty bag in the trash. “What about your writing? Have you had time for that?”
Hope felt a slight twinge in the region of her heart, and then it was gone. “Not really. I could make the time, I guess, but I can’t get excited about it the way I used to.”
“Really? That’s my most vivid memory of you, always writing something in those journals you carried around. When your short story was published in the school paper, I saved it. I probably still have it somewhere.”
“Thank you for that.” Hope smiled at the memory of the person she used to be. So naive. “But at some point I realized I wasn’t going to write the Great American Novel, so I gave it up.”
“Huh.” Phil ran her hands through her red hair, which was shorter than it had been in high school. “I kind of get that, I guess. I used to think I’d be an Olympic figure skater, but eventually I realized it wasn’t gonna happen. We grow up and view the world as it actually is, right?”
“Right.”
“And now you’re having a good time planning trips for your hotel guests.”
“And you’re in business with your soon-to-be husband, renovating homes that need some TLC. That must be satisfying, too.”
“I love it. You look at a home that’s not functioning the way it should and you figure out how to fix the dynamic through a bathroom remodel or a kitchen makeover. It changes people’s lives.”
“I’m sure it does.” Hope thought of her extremely basic apartment in Cody and yearned for a place she could really make her own. She was saving, but not fast enough to suit her.
Phil sighed. “We need to get back to the party, but I almost hate to. It’s been so good catching up after all this time.”
“It has.” Hope gave her a hug. “Cody isn’t that far away. We need to keep in better touch.” She glanced down at the almost invisible bulge that indicated Phil was pregnant with her first child. “Do you know yet if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“We don’t want to know before he or she is born. But I’m hoping for a girl. Damon’s foster family is chockablock with testosterone. Rosie’s been holding the fort with some help from Lexi and me, but honestly, we need reinforcements. I understand why Rosie and Herb decided to take only boys after they brought Cade home. Life was less complicated that way. But the ladies need more representation around here.”
“Then I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a girl.”
“Good deal. Now let’s go kick butt at some cards.”
“I’m pumped. Let’s do it.” She walked into the living room and discovered every woman with her nose pressed against the windows.
“Hey!” Phil’s shout made them turn around, and they all looked guilty as hell. “I thought we’d agreed not to watch.”
“We did, dear.” Edie gestured toward the window. “But we’re only human, and every one of those lovely men has taken off his shirt.”
“Which you wouldn’t have known if at least one of you hadn’t peeked.” Phil crossed her arms and tried to look stern, but Hope could tell she was working hard not to laugh.
“I confess,” Lexi said, grinning. “It was Edie.”
Phil sighed. “Come on, Edie. I’m sure you’ve seen shirtless cowboys before.”
“Not with muscles like theirs,” her stepmother said, “and not so many all at once.”
“Even Herb took off his shirt.” Rosie sounded proud of that. “If I do say so myself, he’s a fine figure of a man for his age. The sculpture’s almost in place. Do you want to—”
“No!” Phil clapped a hand over her eyes. “I’m not looking. Grady wanted this to be a surprise, and although I may be the only one in this room who will be surprised, I’m taking the high road.”
“Me, too.” As a gesture of solidarity, Hope refused to look out the window, even though the prospect of seeing Liam shirtless was a powerful draw.
Rosie walked over and wrapped her arm around Phil. “I admire your ethical stand. I’m also happy to report that the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood has settled your gift in its spot, and it looks magnificent.”
“Do you want a teensy-weensy hint as to what it is?” Edie looked ready to burst with eagerness.
“I do not.” Phil plopped into the nearest chair. “Don’t any of you dare tell me what it looks like, or give me hints, or whisper so I can hear you. Grady Magee, who is a god among sculptors, has made me—well, Damon and me—a fabulous work of art. I will not see it before its time!”
A decisive rap on the door grabbed everyone’s attention, but no one moved.
At last Hope got up. “I’ll get it.” When she opened the door, Liam stood on the other side, holding a bandana.
He wore a wide smile. “It’s up.”
Everyone in the room cheered, including Hope, although she was a bit distracted by the man standing in the open doorway. He’d put on his shirt, but it hung open to reveal a chest glistening with sweat. He must have taken the steps two at a time, because he was breathing fast. Hope stared in fascination at the droplets quivering on his dark chest hair.
Then she glanced up and discovered he was looking right at her with an expression that clearly said caught you looking. Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she bravely met his gaze. Talking with Phil had clarified the situation for her, and if he wanted to pursue this attraction for the weekend, she was game.
“So, can we go out now or what?” Rosie asked.
Liam walked into the room. “My instructions are to blindfold Phil and lead her to the sculpture. You can—”
“Why isn’t Grady doing the leading?” Rosie asked. “Or Damon?”
“Because both of them want to see her face when she takes off the blindfold, so I volunteered.”
Rosie nodded. “Makes sense. Proceed.”
“Thanks. You can all follow behind, but you’re not supposed to say anything. You might give it away.”
“Who, us?” Edie laughed. “Never.”
“We’ll be quiet,” Lexi promised.
“That means you can’t make any noises, like gasping and stuff.” Liam positioned the blue bandana over Phil’s eyes and tied it behind her head. “Is that too tight, Phil?”
“No.”
“Can you see?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“She doesn’t want to see,” Hope said. “She’s been really good about not looking.”
He glanced at her. “Did you look?”
“Nope.”
“She didn’t,” Lexi said. “But you might want to skip that question for the rest of us.”
“Yeah, I saw those faces glued to the window. I think we’re ready, Phil. I’ll hold your right hand until we’re out the door. Hope, once we’re out, why don’t you take her left? That way she’ll have support on both sides