Free Cowboy Command by Olivia Jaymes

and parked outside the station.  “I’ll come up with you to make sure everything is okay.”
    “ You don’t have—”
    “ Stop.” He raised his hand.  “I do have to.  I may be pissed as all hell, but it’s still my job to protect you.”
    She didn ’t bother to answer.  She led the way upstairs and let him check the tiny apartment for intruders.  He turned to leave, apparently satisfied she wouldn’t be murdered in her sleep.
    “ Good night, Seth.  I am sorry about you and Eliza.”
    He stopped right outside the door, but didn ’t turn around.
    “ It’s okay.  Eliza was right.  It wasn’t going anywhere.  Good night, Presley.”
    The sound of his boots on the stairs trailed away and Presley tossed her coat on a chair and went into the kitchen to make some tea.  It was going to be another long night of no sleep.  Too much had happened today and she needed time to process it.  Mostly she needed time to figure out what she was going to do about her attraction to Seth Reilly.
    She pulled her notebook from her handbag.  It was the only thing she had left from her former life, and began to write.  It was the one thing she knew would make her feel better.  It would make her feel sane.

Chapter Five
     
    It looked like the entire town had come out for the barn dance.  Presley hadn ’t known what to wear to a barn dance but between herself and Eliza, they’d managed to find perfect outfits.  Eliza was wearing a plum jersey long-sleeved dress that fell to the tops of her cowboy boots.  It skimmed every curve without being obvious and Presley had assured Eliza it would have the desired effect on one Mr. Alex Peterson. 
    Presley chose a crimson ribbed sweater -dress paired with knee-high taupe suede boots.  She’d let her long hair dry naturally and left it loose around her shoulders.  A touch of makeup completed her outfit and gave her a boost of confidence to meet so many new people.  Eliza had warned Presley she’d be much in demand tonight.  New people in town were few and far between.
    Presley scanned the crowd of bodies for Seth.  All week her awareness of him had increased until by the end of Friday her libido was screaming.  It wasn ’t fair for one man to be that sexy.  And maddening.  He could teach a mule a thing or two.
    “ That’s him.”  Eliza grabbed Presley’s arm.
    “ Seth?”  Presley sucked in her breath.
    “ No!  Alex.  Right over there.”  Eliza pointed to a man who exactly matched the description she’d given.  He was long, lean, and oozed a sexual vibe.  No wonder the librarian was intimidated.
    “ Holy smokes, he is hot.”  Presley watched as Alex Peterson strode into the party with a few of his friends.  “Do all cowboys look this good?”
    Eliza pointed to a few men in the corner.  “No, not all.  But they do all seem to have hearts of gold.”
    “ It looks like he doesn’t have a date,” Presley stated.  “Go get him.”
    Eliza ’s eyes were wide and her complexion had paled considerably.  “I can’t just walk up to him.  What would I say?”
    “ How about hi?  You know him, right?”
    “ I know everyone in this town.  I’m the librarian.”
    “ Well, there you go.”  Presley patted Eliza on the back.  “Does he come into the library at all?”
    “ No,” Eliza shook her head.  “He never has before that I can remember.”
    Presley looked down at her root beer.  It looked like she would have to take one for the team.  She tipped up the plastic cup and slugged the entire thing down. 
    “Okay, follow my lead.”  Presley headed toward Alex and his friends, with Eliza right behind her.  When Presley was right beside them, she held up her empty cup with a forlorn sigh, and faced her new friend.  “I think I’m turned around, Eliza.  Weren’t the refreshments over here?”
    Alex tipped his hat.  “Excuse me, ma’am?  The drinks are on the other side of that wall.  We’d be happy to get you and Eliza