Cowboy After Dark

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 if she trips on something. The ground’s uneven.”

“Glad to.” Maybe he’d suggested it as a reward because she’d been the only person besides Phil who hadn’t peeked at the sculpture. Or maybe he liked the idea of sharing this moment with her. Whatever his reason, she was honored that he’d asked.

“I have a suggestion, Liam,” Rosie said.

“What do you have in mind, Rosie?”

“Why not let us go first? Then you don’t have to worry that we’ll give anything away, and we get to see her reaction, too.”

“Okay, that’s better. Go on ahead.” After everyone else had left the cabin, he looked over at Hope. “Let’s give them a little lead time. Grady’s excited about this moment. He’s been envisioning it ever since he got the wedding invitation.”

“I never in a million years expected something like this.” Phil took a deep breath. “Sure, I thought he might decide to give us something small for the coffee table, but never a large piece worth... I don’t even want to think what it might be worth.”

“But Grady doesn’t think in those terms,” Liam said. “He’s astounded at the kind of money people are willing to pay for his work. He’d sell it for less, but the galleries don’t want him to undervalue it and cut into their profits.”

“Considering he made it for you and Damon as a gesture of gratitude,” Hope said, “I’d say it’s priceless.”

Phil nodded. “Definitely.”

“I agree,” Liam said. “Ready for your special moment?”

“So ready.”

“Then here we go.”

Hope slipped out the door after them and took Phil’s other hand. Once she was on the porch, she could see the sculpture. She swallowed the gasp that Liam had forbidden.

Damon had chosen the perfect site, a level area that wasn’t blocked by trees. He and Phil would be able to see it easily from the porch swing. She knew the materials were recycled metal, but looking at the piece, no one would ever know it.

Set on a wide base, polished metal thunderclouds rose skyward. Above them soared a pair of eagles, their wingtips separated by mere inches. The image brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them quickly away, because blurred vision wouldn’t help her guide Phil down the steps and over to the sculpture.

Liam didn’t speak as they walked carefully toward the people grouped in a semicircle on either side of it. Grady stood on one side and Damon on the other. Hope couldn’t decide which one of them looked more joyous, the creator of the piece or the man deeply in love with the woman about to see it.

“That’s good,” Grady called out. “She can take off the blindfold now.”

Phil whipped off the bandana, gaped at the sculpture and burst into tears. “It’s beautiful!” she gulped. “Oh, my God, so beautiful!” Cameras and phones clicked as everyone recorded a moment they’d all remember for years.

Phil mopped her eyes with the bandana. Then Damon came over to give her a big hug and a passionate kiss, which brought catcalls from the rest of the guys. Eventually Damon slipped his arm around her waist, and they walked over to thank Grady for what would probably be their most spectacular wedding gift.

“I’d say it’s a hit.”

Liam’s voice startled Hope. She’d been so engrossed in the scene that she hadn’t realized he was still standing beside her. “It’s definitely a hit. Was that dramatic enough for Grady, do you think?”

“I’m sure. I doubt he’s ever reduced someone to happy tears.”

“Phil and Damon are the perfect people to give something like this to. They appreciate what goes into it more than most since they’re both carpenters.”

“I’m sure that’s true. They seem really happy together.”

“They do.” She viewed their devotion the way she’d admire a rare jewel. It was a precious gift enjoyed by a lucky few but out of reach for the majority.

“I’m glad you’re here for the wedding, Hope.”

She glanced up at him. “So am I.” Oh, yeah, he was sending all kinds of signals with those electric blue eyes. Love might be an impossible dream, but if she set her sights on lust, she wouldn’t have far to look.

4 (#ulink_4d90ab67-4920-54dd-974c-f8a9169377a2)

LIAM HAD NO idea why, but Hope had gone from wary to welcoming. Hell, it didn’t really matter why. He had a shot, and that was the important thing.