Free Suddenly Sexy by Linda Francis Lee Page B

looks strong enough to pick her up and carry her off if
something happens."

Sure enough, Cowboy Bob swept Kate off her feet, though it had nothing
to do with fainting. She gave
a squeal, and the cowboy sort of staggered a little bit. But seconds
later, she was sitting high atop a
horse that looked as surprised as Kate did—and about as happy.

"Wow!" Travis was enthralled, his breakfast forgotten. "Did you see how
he picked her up?"

Jesse wasn't nearly as excited.

Travis peered closer at the screen. "What's she doing? Looks like she's
trying to hide her feet."

" Well, uh, Cowboy Bob, please tell
our viewers a bit about the flora and fauna ."

"She's wearing workout shoes"—Travis watched as Kate scrambled to tug
down her buckskin pant
legs— "and, oh man, she's still got on those ankle weights!"

"Ankle weights? What the hell—heck—is she wearing those for?"

"I don't know, but when she was walking out the door this morning, I
heard her say something about needing to reinvent herself."

"What?" Jesse blurted out, before he shook his head. "Katie, Katie,
Katie. It's always when she tries
too hard to do something crazy that she gets herself in trouble." Then
he whistled. "If she's trying to reinvent herself, let me tell you,
Travis, we're in for big trouble around here."

"Do you think?"

"I know."

" You want me to tell you about Flora
and Fauna? " The cowboy laughed. " I think I mighta dated a
couple of gals named that. Though I
can't imagine you came all the way out here to talk about them.
But I'd be happy to tell the folks at
home what I'm thinking about you. " He whistled.

She cut him off abruptly, her lips pursing like a mad schoolteacher's. " Thank you, but that really isn't necessary. "

The man leaned one strong forearm on the pommel of the saddle, winked
directly into the camera, then looked at her in a way that heated the
already blistering hot day.

"Did you see how he looked at her?" Jesse demanded, setting his coffee
cup down with a thunk.

" Now sit back, little lady, I'm going
to give you the ride of your life ."

Her eyes went wide. But seconds later they narrowed.

"Uh-oh," father and son said at the same time.

" Mr. Bob . . . ah . . . Mr. Cowboy. "
She shook her head. " Sir! " she
stated primly.

Then all of a sudden she froze and turned to the camera. Travis would
have sworn she blanched white. With an amazing amount of effort, she
smiled. " Ha, ha! " she laughed,
though she didn't look like she thought anything was very funny. " You're having fun, right, Cowboy Bob ?"

When the cowboy didn't say another word, only glowered, Kate got real
nervous—and kind of panicky—then started reeling off facts and figures
regarding the desert surroundings with mind-numbing speed. She even
said something about the state capital of Texas.

Travis wasn't sure what that had to do with Cowboy Bob or the desert in
El Paso, but he had seen his mom get that way before, saying weird
things when she was trying to make up for some kind of mistake.

"Jeez," Travis said, "Kate looks so pathetic and sad and all, that it's
hard not to feel sorry for her up on that mangy-looking horse."

Jesse stood and took their plates. "Katie, Katie," he mused, then
chuckled as he put the plates in the dishwasher. When he was done, he
headed for the back door. Then suddenly he stopped. After a long second
and what sounded like a groan, he turned back.

"I guess we need to think about what you are going to do today. I'll
call Suzanne."

"Like I said, I don't need anyone to watch me."

"And like I said, I can't leave you here by yourself."

"I could go with you!"

"I'm going to the golf course."

"Even better."

His dad tensed. "Sorry, but I've got to get a couple hours of practice
in before the morning's over."

Travis sighed. Jesse hung his head.

"Maybe we could do something together later," Jesse offered.

The young boy perked up. "Wow! Great! You and me can do some kind of
real father-son thing!"