The Maverick's Bride-To-Order

She could see that his father’s lack of support troubled him. Lydia could only wonder what it was like to have a father who even bothered to pick up the phone and say hello or drop a birthday card in the mail. At least Zach’s father cared enough to voice an opinion on his son’s future.

“I imagine he wants you to take the customary route,” she suggested.

A frown pulled his dark brows together, and as Lydia’s gaze slid over his handsome face, she figured there were already countless females who’d been sighing over his photo and plotting to become his wife. Poor guy, he was in for a bumpy ride. Unless this business of searching for a wife was just a ruse to create a dating pool for himself.

No. Lydia didn’t want to think Zach was that calculating. As far as she could tell, there didn’t seem to be a conniving bone in his body. But, according to her mother, every man had his own selfish agenda.

“Right,” Zach said with an emphatic nod. “But I’m twenty-seven. I’ve been dating ever since high school and not one woman has ever felt like she was the perfect fit for me. Frankly, I’m tired of waiting.”

Lydia was a year older than him and still single, but she wasn’t pushing the panic button. Yet.

She was about to tell him that being in a hurry might not be wise, but before she could think how to word it in a sensitive way, a young, wiggly waitress with long black hair approached their booth.

Her entire attention on Zach, the woman placed two menus onto the table. Flashing a suggestive grin at him, she said, “Hi. How’s it going?”

He smiled back at the waitress and Lydia wondered what he was thinking about all that long, straight hair. Maybe he was getting the idea that the tight apron she was wearing meant she was great in the kitchen. Or the bed. Either thought made Lydia a little sick to her stomach.

“It’ll be going great as soon as we can get our lunch,” Lydia spoke up.

The waitress shot her an annoyed look before settling a dreamy-eyed stare on Zach. “Aren’t you the guy in the newspaper? The one taking applications for a wife?”

His face a little red, Zach shifted around on the seat. “I’m the guy,” he admitted. “But the application part—I wouldn’t exactly put it that way.”

“He’s taking résumés,” Lydia said, hoping her cheery smile didn’t look as phony as it felt. “And the one that has all the right answers wins the prize.”

“Oh,” the waitress mumbled uncertainly. “I’m not good at résumés.”

Zach shot an annoyed look at Lydia, then said to the waitress, “That’s not my intention. I’m just trying to find a girl that suits me.”

“Then I think it’s awesome,” she gushed. “Like the TV show where the bachelor picks his love from a group of ladies.”

Zach and Lydia exchanged amused glances.

“If you want to think of it that way,” Zach said a bit awkwardly.

Thankfully, the waitress suddenly remembered why she was at their table and pulled an order pad out of a pocket on her uniform. “So what would you two like to drink?”

They both ordered iced tea, and after the young woman hurried away, Lydia shook her head. “I’m sorry, Zach. I shouldn’t have said that about the résumés. I wasn’t really making light of your...effort. It’s just that she was so—”

She broke off and with a sly smile Zach finished for her. “Obvious?”

Lydia expelled a long breath while wishing she could kick herself. “Yes. That’s what I was trying to say. I hope you’re not angry with me.”

His chuckle filled her with relief.

“Forget it. I’m not offended. But I am curious. Is that really the way you see my endeavor? That I’m looking at the whole thing like a job interview?”

It was all Lydia could do to keep from squirming. “Well, to be honest, it rather looks that way. But from the little time we’ve spent together, I get the impression you won’t marry a woman unless you’re wildly in love with her. And that’s all that matters.”

His lips spread in a wry smile and Lydia found her gaze focusing on the dimple carving his cheek and the way his white teeth glinted against his tanned skin.

He started to make some sort of reply, when the waitress returned with their drinks. As Lydia watched her write down their orders, she wondered how the young woman could possibly know what she was scrawling across the pad. Not with her ogling gaze never leaving Zach’s face.

“We’ll have these orders right out, Mr. Dalton.” Playfully wrinkling her nose, she let out a nervous giggle. “And if there’s anything else you need, I’ll be happy to get it for you.”

As the waitress walked away, Lydia had to stop herself from groaning and laughing. As for Zach, he seemed unaffected by the flirtatious behavior of the waitress, which made her wonder if she’d underestimated this man. Maybe he wasn’t nearly as gullible to the wiles of women as she’d first believed.

He looked across the table at Lydia and smiled. “Now, where were we?” he asked. “I believe you were saying something about me needing to be wildly in love before I picked a wife. Tell me, Lydia, have you ever been wildly in love?”

She didn’t know why, but the question brought a stinging heat to her cheeks. “Uh, no. Not that I remember. When I was about twenty years old, I had a crush on a bull rider.”

His jaw dropped. “A bull rider? You don’t seem the sort to go for that kind of guy.”

Laughing, she shrugged. “Well, he had the swagger in his walk and wore his hair a bit too long to be conventional. And guys just naturally look sexy in a pair of spurs.”

“What happened?”

This time her short laugh was brittle. “Nothing. He never knew I existed.”

“Hmm. What about high school? All girls at that age think they’re in love, don’t they?”

She shook her head. “Not me. There wasn’t really any guy I could hang my starry gaze upon. You see, back then I was a little plump and my complexion was a mess. The only thing I didn’t have was braces. But that was only because my mom couldn’t afford them.” She gave him a wide enough smile to expose her teeth. “See, my right front tooth has a tiny lap over the left one. But it doesn’t bother me. None of us are perfect, right?”

“Not at all.” He leaned closer, his eyes focused on her mouth. “And I happen to think your teeth look natural and nice.”

She was an idiot for letting his words thrill her. He was simply giving her a friend’s opinion. But it wasn’t often a man like Zach Dalton ever bothered to give her a compliment and the feeling was empowering.

“Thank you.”

He took a long drink from his glass, while she peeled a straw and jammed it into her iced tea.

“Tell me if I’m being too personal, but are you hoping to get married? Have children?”

Even though they shouldn’t have, the questions stung. Still, she mustered a casual voice. “Oh, back in those days of the bull rider—when I was twenty and everything about life looked fresh and wonderful—I dreamed of having a family. I expect most women do. But it just never happened. Now that I’m older, I suppose I’ve quit thinking so much about it. Someday I might find that perfect guy. But until then I’m content to stay busy at the Gazette.”

His gaze scanned her face and Lydia wondered what it would be like to have him look at her with love shining in his eyes. Would any man ever look at her with such devotion? He’d be faking it if he did. That was what her mother would say.

He tossed her a teasing grin. “So you’re not thinking about advertising for a husband?”

She laughed. “I think I’ll wait and see how things work out for you before I go that route.”

He rested his broad shoulders against the back of the booth. “I’m sure you’ve heard about my cousin Travis getting on reality TV.”

“Oh sure. Everyone in town has been talking about The Great Roundup! I haven’t missed an episode. It’s so fun watching people I know on TV.”

“I’ve been watching the episodes at the Ace in the Hole,” he said. “I have to admit it seems a bit surreal seeing Travis on TV. But so far he’s hanging strong with the competition.”

“I’m excited to see how the contest unfolds. Things are getting a bit nasty with some of the contestants. I hope Travis and Brenna are on the lookout for saboteurs among the group. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them might go as far as to cut cinch straps on saddles or deliberately spook a contestant’s horse.”