He remained maddeningly aloof. âNothing.â
Trying not to wonder if the rest of him was as big and capable as his hands, she gave him a look. Waited.
He shrugged again. âIâm doing this pro bono.â
Charity? He was doing this as a charity case? Anger warred with pride. It was true, her salary as mayor wasnât much, but she didnât need much since she had accrued some savings before running for public office. âI donât need your professional largesse, Gannon.â
A contemplative silence fell. He gave her a slow, reckless smile that quickly set her heart to pounding. âYou really want to pay me back for my help?â
Talk about a loaded question! She regarded him matter-of-factly, letting him know with a glance she did not want to owe him any other favors, either. âAbsolutely,â she snapped. âThe sooner the better.â
He edged closer, inundating her with the sandalwood-and-spice scent of his cologne, and the brisk, masculine fragrance unique to him. âThen how about dinnerâtonight?â
Lily blinked. âAre you for real?â
Another slow, seductive smile. âVery.â
CATHY GILLEN THACKER is married and a mother of three. She and her husband spent eighteen years in Texas and now reside in North Carolina. Her mysteries, romantic comedies and heartwarming family stories have made numerous appearances on bestseller lists, but her best reward, she says, is knowing one of her books made someoneâs day a little brighter. A popular Mills & Boon>® author for many years, she loves telling passionate stories with happy endings, and thinks nothing beats a good romance and a hot cup of tea! You can visit Cathyâs website, cathygillenthacker.com, for more information on her upcoming and previously published books, recipes and a list of her favorite things.
Chapter One
âRumor has it, you and Lily McCabe have been on the outs with each other for the past eight years.â
More like six, Gannon Montgomery corrected silently. Although it seemed longer since the two of them had shared a laugh. Or even a smile.
The relaxation heâd felt during the rare morning ride fading fast, he led his horse into the barn. âWhatâs your point?â Gannon demanded.
Rex Carter stepped back. âThe last thing Laramie, Texas, needs is a young female mayor.â
Gannon could see how the once-popular good old boy opposite him could think that. He pulled off the saddle and removed the bridle, bit and reins. Hung them on the wall outside the stall. âLilyâs not that young. Just a few years shy of me.â
And, if memory served, incredibly sexy and smart, to boot.
Rex narrowed his gaze. âSheâs twenty-nine.â
Gannon rubbed down the gelding, gave the horse plenty of water, then shut the stall door. He walked over to the sink at the rear of the barn to wash his hands. âWhich, as it happens, is old enough for a lot of things. Including running for public office in Laramie County.â
Rex slapped his Stetson against the leg of his custom Western suit. âSheâs an attorney, not a politician.â
The more things changed in the rural Texas area heâd grown up in, the more they stayed the same. Gannon sure was glad he now resided in Fort Worth. âWell, tell that to all the people who voted for her,â he retorted mildly.
As if recalling heâd been beaten in a landslide by the pretty and personable Lily McCabe, and forced to return to the real estate business his family owned, Rex scowled and ran a hand through his short, graying hair. âThe point is, youâre not the kind of âcelebrity judgeâ the committee had in mind for the First Annual Laramie, Texas, Chili Cook-Off and Festival. And Mayor McCabe shouldnât have asked you to do the honors.â
Gannon strode out into the unseasonably warm February day. He admired the rugged scenery and let the sage-scented breeze roll over him. âLily didnât have anything to do with my selection.â The request had come from a friend of his motherâs, whoâd erroneously thought dragging Gannon back to join in the festivities would lead him to abandon his high-profile career and return home permanently.
âI agreed to do it because I figured it would be fun.â
And maybe give me a chance to mend fences with Lily, at long last. Assuming I could get her to put our old disagreements aside. A pretty big if, given her stubbornness and the acrimoniousness of the words that had been exchanged.
Gannon turned his gaze away from the clear blue skies. âAnd I thought you were here to talk about the sale of my familyâs ranch.â
Which wasâGannon admitted guiltily, looking at the neglected grounds around the house and barnsâin pretty sad shape. Mostly because neither he nor his mother had had the time or inclination to put any work into the defunct cattle ranch since his dad had died five years prior.