The Cowboy's Accidental Baby

Lydia slid into a booth and perused the laminated menu.

“Name’s Dolly. You passing through town or here visiting someone?” The redhead placed a glass of water on the table.

“Visiting. I’m Lydia Canter.” She offered her hand. “Amelia Rinehart is my great-aunt.”

“Well, I’ll be. Welcome to Stampede.”

“Thank you.”

“Bart’s in the kitchen today and he can’t cook a decent hamburger if his life depended on it. If I were you, I’d order a grilled cheese.”

“That sounds good, thanks.”

“Can I get you anything else to drink?”

“Water is fine.”

“Be back in a jiffy.”

Lydia opened her laptop, pulled up the dating site again and studied Jonathan’s image. She considered the men her college girlfriends had married and none of them were sex gods. They were good, decent, caring guys and Lydia needed to keep that in mind when she perused the profiles. She wanted to be attracted to the man she married, but more important, she wanted him to stick by her side through good times and bad.

“If I’d known you were into spandex, I’d have worn tights today.”

Lydia glanced over her shoulder, her head almost bumping into Gunner’s nose. How long had he been peeking over her shoulder?

He sat across from her in the booth. “Is that the type of guy who turns you on?”

“If you mean educated and mature, then yes.”

“You can do better.”

“Really?” She clicked on the second heart icon and spun the computer toward him. “What about this one?”

Gunner studied the photo, then shook his head. “Nope.”

“I thought for sure he’d pass inspection because he’s wearing jeans.”

“You need—”

“I’m not interested in your dating advice.”

“You should be. I have a lot of experience in picking out top-of-the-line models.”

“By top-of-the-line I’m sure you mean brainless.”

“The ladies I court don’t need brains. They have other assets that endear them to me.”

Lydia scoffed. “You’re afraid of intelligent, independent women, aren’t you?”

“I’d love to date a beauty with brains, but those women are too demanding.”

“And you’re Mr. Laid-Back?”

“Life’s too short to be serious all the time.” He pointed at her. “Take you for example. You have workaholic written all over you.”

“I own a business. I have to work hard to stay afloat.”

“I thought your parents were wealthy. Aren’t they lawyers or judges or something?”

“Lawyers, and just because they make a comfortable living, doesn’t mean they want to support their grown daughter forever.”

“Since you’re busy with your—” he nodded to the laptop “—dating business right now—” he flashed a grin “—let’s hold off on the renovations. There’s a rodeo I’d like to enter this weekend.”

“There’s plenty to do around the property to prepare for the remodel.”

“Like what?”

“Empty the Dumpster in the back and arrange to donate the furniture in the rooms to a charity.”

“That’s a couple of phone calls. Consider that done today.” He waved his hand. “What else?”

His boyish smile messed with her train of thought and she couldn’t recall what else was on her to-do list, so she changed the subject. “I doubt you’re interested, but we’ve got a theme for the motel.”

“A theme?”

“Each room will represent a Western movie.”

“That sounds stupid.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

“You were?”

She smiled. “If you think it’s ridiculous, then I know it’s a great idea.”

* * *

“WELL?” LYDIA WRUNG her hands as she waited for her aunt’s opinion Saturday morning. After she’d run into Gunner at the café in town on Wednesday, she’d spent the rest of the week tweaking her designs.

“Movie-themed rooms.” Amelia adjusted her glasses and peered at the laptop screen on the kitchen table. “I like that you chose old Westerns.”

Lydia had selected six movies from different decades and each with a different leading male actor. “Do you think Gunner’s grandfather will approve?”

“Emmett’s a big John Wayne fan. He’ll love the Stagecoach room.”

Lydia stopped pacing. “Good.”

“How will people know what movie the room represents?” Amelia asked.