Her Lucky Cowboy (16 page)

The Kendrick brothers went for over three thousand dollars each. Not surprisingly, Colt went for the most money.

“And now, ladies, let’s hear it for my brother, Pro Bull Riders world champion, Dane Bowden.”

The crowd went nuts.

Dane didn’t stand. Instead, he leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Please, Bell. I really do want to go to dinner only with you.” He leaned back and looked her in the eye. “I’ll pay whatever you bid.”

“Go up there. They’re waiting for you.”

He still didn’t move.

“I’ll bid, but only because I was going to make a donation anyway.”

He kissed her on the forehead, stood to another round of applause, grabbed his crutches, and worked his way to the stage. The five steps up took him extra time, but he made it and stood next to Ella. She covered the microphone and said something to him. He shook his head and hugged her close. They both turned to the cheering crowd.

Ella opened the bidding. “Okay, ladies, this is a bona fide cowboy through and through. The man rides bulls, trains cutting horses, and runs his own ranch. He may be a little banged up, but that’s never stopped him from having a good time.” Ella gave him a sideways glance with an apology in her eyes. Dane eyed her back and frowned. Didn’t matter if he didn’t want her playing up his rowdy side; the crowd went nuts anyway, shouting out bids. “Two thousand.”

“Twenty-five hundred.”

“Three thousand.”

Bell better get in there before she couldn’t afford to pay. “Thirty-two hundred.”

“Thank you, darlin’,” Dane called from the stage, giving her a wink, playing his part for the crowd. She caught the look of thanks he cast her.

That “darlin’ ” was supposed to let people know he wanted to be with her, but it had the opposite effect. More bids came in all the way up to eight thousand dollars.

“Ten thousand,” Katherine called.

Ella hit her gavel on the podium. “Sold for ten thousand.”

“Katherine, I can’t afford to pay that,” Bell said under her breath.

“Don’t worry. I have the money. You didn’t want anyone else to go out with him. Now they can’t.”

“Where did you get ten thousand dollars?” Her sister didn’t have that kind of money. She and Tony made a decent living, but with a baby on the way, they couldn’t afford to donate that kind of money. It dawned on Bell the second her sister’s gaze fell away. Her stomach went tight. Her shoulders tensed.

“He gave you the money.”
He
being their father. He helped Katherine all the time. Why not? He could afford to on his outrageous salary. Granted, he was one of the top scientists in his industry. She didn’t like it one bit that his money indirectly helped her with the clinic. Katherine’s idea, no doubt. Their father wouldn’t lift a finger or give her a dime to help her. He’d certainly never cared about her well-being. Now he’d indirectly paid for her to go out with Dane.

“Bell, it doesn’t matter where the money came from. It matters that the money is going to a very good cause. The clinic is important to the community.”

Bell tamped down her anger. “You’re right. It’s for the clinic.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve upset you.”

“You haven’t. It’s a generous donation. I thank you for doing it. Really. I appreciate it.”

Katherine touched her shoulder. “I think the two of you are really good together. He’s not exactly the kind of man I pictured you with, but he seems to genuinely like you.”

“I believe he does.”

“Then stop pushing him away if that’s not what you really want. Men like the chase, but you got to let him catch you eventually, or you’ll bruise his ego and he’ll give up.”

“Bell, you saved me.” Dane took his seat beside her again.

“Katherine did. She’s making the donation.”

“Well, thank you, Katherine.”

“No problem. I want my sister to be happy, so don’t mess this chance up,” she warned.

Bell smiled and shook her head. Okay, maybe her sister did mean well even if she went about it the wrong way. Katherine should leave their father out of it.

“From now on, Katherine, let’s keep things between you and me.”

Katherine pressed her lips together and nodded. “Deal. I really am sorry if I upset you.”

“I’m fine.”

Dane touched her neck with his fingertips to get her attention. She turned to face him. “What happened?”

“Nothing. The money came from my father for the donation. I overreacted. That’s all.”

Dane frowned. “I can make the donation instead of Katherine if it makes you feel better.”

“Let it be. She planned to make the donation anyway, but she used it to get you out of a date with the blonde Bettys.”

“You like that name for all of them.”

“It suits.”

Dane held up the envelope with their dinner gift certificate. She tried to take it, but he drew it away from her grasp.

“Hey, I’ve been wanting to try that place out.”

“Great. I’ll take you. What night do you want to go?”

“I agreed to get you out of a dinner with another woman. I never said I’d go with you.”

“Come on, Bell, go to dinner with me. Please.” The sincerity in his voice touched her heart.

Her sister’s words came back to her. If she kept pushing him away, would he really give up? Why did she keep doing it? Because she needed to know he wouldn’t give up? “I have to go. I have an early shift in the morning. I need to get some sleep.”

“You didn’t answer me.”

“It’s not a no, it’s just not a yes yet.”

“I’ll take it, and I’ll walk you out.”

“You don’t need to do that. Rest. After all the standing and schmoozing we did, your leg must be tired of supporting all your weight.”

“I’m fine, Doc.” He rose from his chair and grabbed his crutches. “Let’s say goodbye to Ella and the rest of the family first. Katherine, Tony, nice to see you guys again. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”

“See you, man. Have fun on your date,” Tony said, winking at Dane.

Dane shook his head.

“I’ll see you both soon,” Bell said to her sister and brother-in-law. “Drive home safe. Katherine, take it easy on the buttered rolls. Eat more spinach and broccoli.”

“Great. Now I’m hungry again.”

“I see the dessert tray headed this way. You can have mine, too.”

The appreciation in Katherine’s eyes made Bell laugh.

She and Dane made their way over to say goodbye to his family.

“Seriously, Bell, that was a generous donation for the clinic. Dane’s definitely not worth ten grand,” Ella teased.

“Hey. That hurts.” Dane mock frowned at his sister and took the ribbing that ensued from his brothers.

“Katherine will give you the check. She made the donation.”

“We’ll talk soon. We raised more than I expected. Maybe we can move a few more pieces of equipment from the wish list to the buy list.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”

Dane endured the jibes from his friends and the pouts from the ladies as they made their way out of the ballroom, grabbing their jackets at the coat check. They walked through the lobby toward the front doors, but Dane stopped her.

“Hold up, Bell. I need to drop something off.”

She followed him to the front desk. He pulled out a bunch of key cards from his suit jacket pocket and handed them to the lady behind the desk.

“I don’t need these.”

Dane turned to go, but Bell asked the lady, “How many are there?”

“Four.” She held them up like a poker hand for Bell to see.

Dane stood with his head down between his shoulders, holding onto his crutches, waiting for Bell to scold him again.

“Not bad, Mr. Bowden. That’s better than decent.” She let her approval show in her words. “Do you even know the women who stuffed those in your pockets?”

“One of them. The other three I’ve met but don’t really know.”

“Wow.”

“You’re mad.”

“Not at all.” She thought about the way he’d practically begged her to bid on him so he didn’t have to go out with those women. “Really, I’m not mad at all. I can’t blame them for trying. You’ve made your point.”

“I’m afraid to ask, but what point is that?”

“You’re done with that kind of lifestyle. Those women, and others like them, hold no appeal for you. If you wanted to be with any one of them for the night, all you had to do was walk me to valet and go back in and take any one of them up on their offer. Instead, you handed over the keys in front of me because you’re trying to be honest with me as best you can while still letting me see all of who you are.”

“You analyze things far too much, but I’m glad you get it.”

They walked outside. Dane handed over the valet ticket she pulled from her purse, along with a huge tip. They stood beside each other while she waited for her car. He walked her to the driver’s side and helped her inside while the valet held the door.

“I had fun tonight.”

“I’m glad you came,” he said. “I’ll call you tomorrow night. Maybe you’ll agree to our date.”

“Do you need a ride home?”

“My ride is right behind you.”

She checked the rearview mirror and spotted the black SUV and driver.

“Ella didn’t want me to drive with my leg, so she had the car service pick me up.”

“Tell him you’ve got a ride, and I’ll take you home.”

“I’m way out past your place.”

“It’s not that far. I’m happy to do it.”

Dane waved the car forward so he didn’t have to walk the distance on his crutches. The driver rolled down the passenger window.

Dane handed in another big tip for the guy. “Thanks for the ride in, but I’ve got a ride home. You can take off.”

“Thank you, sir. Enjoy your evening.”

“Thanks. I’m enjoying it immensely,” Dane admitted.

Bell rolled her eyes, knowing the driver thought Dane was going to get lucky, and Dane knew she knew that. It made her uncomfortable.

“What?”

“Get in before I leave you here. And turn down that smug smile.”

“You love my smile.”

She hated to admit, even to herself, how much she did.

Dane stowed his crutches in the backseat and took the few steps to the front seat on both feet. He opened the door and got in.

“How’s the leg feel when you put your weight on it?”

“It hurts, but it’s getting better. I need to start using it before I lose too much muscle.”

“You’ll get there.”

She drove out of Bozeman and headed toward home. It would take an extra forty minutes to drive Dane home, but she didn’t mind. She loved driving at night in the country. The stars were out and beautiful. They drove for a long time in silence.

“Are you glad no one else won the bid to go on a date with me?” Yes, Dane was fishing, but his softly spoken words held a note of how much her answer mattered to him.

She tried to keep things light. “Do you really need me to answer that?”

“Yes.”

His earnest response surprised her. For all his appeal to other women, he needed to know he appealed to her. The same thing she’d needed to know, and he’d made her feel, tonight.

Maybe she had pushed him away one too many times. “I got really nervous and upset when the bids went higher than I could afford to spend. I didn’t want anyone else to go to dinner with you despite the fact I know that’s all it would have been for you.”

He brushed his fingers across her cheek in a soft caress. “Was that so hard to admit?”

“For me, yes. I’m not good at all this personal stuff. You’ve been very patient and understanding when I get things wrong.”

“You never get things wrong.”

“Half the things you say, I don’t understand.”

“We’re even there. Sometimes I don’t get what you’re talking about. You can be intimidating at times.”

“Why? You’re really smart. Even when I talk about things that probably don’t interest you at all, you always listen and ask questions. You’re inquisitive, like me.” She took a deep breath and admitted, “You intimidate me when we’re alone.”

“Bell, nothing is going to happen without your consent. I’d never push you in that way.”

“I feel like you’re waiting, and I’m holding you up.”

“Some things are worth waiting for. You aren’t holding me up. It’s been a long time since I did the whole get-to-know-you-before-anything-physical-happens thing. This is new for me in so many ways, and I’m enjoying getting to know you while we both let the physical attraction simmer. Don’t think I don’t see the way you look at me sometimes, or the way you catch your breath when I get too close.”

“You get too close on purpose.”

“Because I like the way it makes me feel as much as you do when you don’t move away. That’s part of getting to know you, too, Bell. Understanding who you are and how you react to me.”

Dane held out his hand, palm up. She laid her hand over his. His fingers linked with hers and closed around her hand. His warmth seeped into her. She liked his rough skin against her smoother palm and the sheer size of his hand engulfing hers.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.

“I had a great night with you, Bell. That’s enough for me right now.”

“You’re a good date. You stayed by my side, picked up the conversation when I didn’t understand some reference to rodeo or TV, and you acted like I was the only woman in the room, despite how many women came up to you and dropped their keys in your pocket.”

“Not all of them did that.”

“No. It was about a one-to-twenty-five ratio, considering you met about a hundred women tonight. Excluding me, of course.”

“That’s what I like about you, Bell. You do the math, add it all up, and figure out the result. But you got the equation wrong.”

“How so?”

“It was a one-to-one-hundred ratio.”

“How do you figure that?”

“I only wanted one woman out of those hundred, and I ended up with her tonight. I like those odds and the outcome.”

She squeezed his hand to let him know she appreciated not only the sentiment but also the compliment he hid in that statement, done in terms she got. In the way she spoke.

She pulled into his driveway twenty minutes later. The light on the porch came on.

“You should move the motion light to the end of the porch and face it toward the front door. That way the bugs will be drawn away from the door and fewer will get into the house.”