Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(82)

He wrapped her tighter into his arms. “I could get used to coming home to kisses like that.”

“How about leaving in the morning?” she mumbled.

“Are you asking me to run away with you, Lizzy Logan?”

“No, I’m asking how would you like to have a kiss like that in the morning and have to walk out the door and work all day?” she answered.

“In my line of work I can always sneak away for a break any time of the day.”

“Hey, Toby, it’s wagons-ho time. Got the last pickup loaded and we’re ready,” Blake yelled.

Toby stayed long enough to brush another sweet, brief kiss across Lizzy’s lips and then she heard the back door slam and the sound of Allie’s boots coming her way. She quickly began to sweep again, shoving the dust, stray bits of paper, and other things that accumulate in a guest room toward the door.

“My job is done. I’m going home. Need a ride?” Allie asked.

“No, I want to get this room and the one across the hall completely swept and clean so I’ll catch a ride with Toby or Blake,” Lizzy answered.

“Be careful,” Allie said softly.

“About dust bunnies?” Lizzy giggled.

“No, about a hot cowboy named Toby. I’m not blind. I see the way he looks at you,” Allie answered. “And be careful about Mitch, too. He’s real good at manipulation. Oh, and one more thing, who bought this place?”

Lizzy pointed at Allie and shook her head. “You are pretty slick, but I’m still not telling.”

“Good night then. You sure have gotten sassy since Mitch broke it off with you.”

“It was either that or curl up and die, and there’s a lot of livin’ in me yet.” Lizzy hugged Allie. “Good night to you.”

“I’ll tell you what we’re going to name the baby if you will tell me who bought the ranch.”

“Not unless you are going to name her after me,” Lizzy teased.

“On that note, I’m going home for real now. See you tomorrow.”

Allie was going toward the door when Lizzy’s phone buzzed in her hip pocket. The text was from Toby saying that five of Deke’s cows were on the road. He was helping get them back in the pasture and then they’d have to fix the fence before they could unload the packed boxes. They’d have to take a rain check on the willow tree date.

She threw the broom on the floor and raced out the door, caught Allie as she was settling into the seat of her old work van, and hitched a ride home with her.



Toby awoke on Friday morning before the alarm sounded. He rolled over to gather Lizzy into his arms but all he got was an armful of air and pillow.

“Dammit! I was dreaming again.”

Blue whimpered at the side of the bed and Toby rolled over to see two big dog eyes staring at him over the edge of the mattress. He scratched the dog’s ears and wished he could go back to sleep because in the dream he and Lizzy were together. They were sitting under the willow tree and watching a bunch of kids play in the shallow creek water. Whether those children belonged to him or to Blake and Allie or even to Deke, he didn’t know, but there was something peaceful in the dream.

Blue yipped once, wagged his tail, and meandered toward the kitchen.

The reflection in the small mirror above the sink said that it was still Toby Dawson staring back at him. The scar where the bull gored him was faint but still there. His hair was still dark and his eyes hadn’t changed from blue to brown. His dark whiskers said he needed to shave. Nothing had changed and yet his world had been turned upside down by a fireball of a woman with brown eyes and dishwater blond hair.

He ran a razor over his face, got dressed, fed Blue, and opened the trailer door to the sounds of cattle, crickets, and a soft breeze rattling the wind chimes out in his backyard.

Tomorrow night the festival would be over and he and Lizzy would have no reason to go on pretending they were having a relationship. He’d know where he really stood with her. He pushed open the kitchen door to the ranch house and found Blake making breakfast. Pure unadulterated disappointment shot through his veins.

“Where’s Allie?” he asked.

“She’s been working pretty hard so I told her to sleep this morning and I’d make breakfast for the two of us. I worry about her, Toby.”

Toby poured a cup of coffee and sipped at it while he set the table. “She is a force. Must be in the Logans’ genes.”

Deke stopped in the door and sniffed the air. “I don’t have a kitchen anymore, not even a coffeepot. I’m used to setting the timer on the pot the night before so the coffee is ready.”

Toby filled a cup and handed it to him. “Tomorrow you’ll be unpacked and have a coffeepot.”

“I plan to wake up over there tomorrow morning in my brand-new place.” He sipped the coffee and rolled his eyes. “Never miss something until it’s gone.”

“Amen to that,” Toby said.

“What are you missing? Hand me that platter so I can stack up the pancakes as they get done,” Blake asked.

“He’s missing his wild and woolly days. I swear, I’ve lived here my whole life and no one has lassoed me. Y’all come to town and Blake gets a rope around his neck within six weeks and I believe I see stars in Toby’s eyes these days.” Deke opened the pantry door and pulled out two bottles of syrup.