Free Forever Cowboy (Montana Brides Book 5) by Leeanna Morgan Page A

staircase, the stained glass windows and the pressed tin ceiling were screaming out for someone to restore them. She knew she could bring them back to life and make her boutique into something special.
    “If I wanted to share the building and remodeling costs with you and Sam, what would I need to do?”
    “We’d ask a lawyer, probably Adam at Osborne and Sons, to draw up a partnership agreement. Then we’d make an offer on the property. After it was accepted we’d start on the remodeling plans.”
    “What do you mean, we’d start work on the remodeling plans? You were only helping to finance everything, not help with the design.” Emily didn’t trust the blush that put color in Alex’s cheeks. Even if he did know a thing or two about remodeling, he wouldn’t be working beside her.
    “It makes sense. You need someone who knows their way around a construction site and I need something to keep me busy. Gracie thought it was a great idea.”
    “Oh, really? And does Gracie know how much that leg of yours still hurts? Or how sneaky you are at hiding the pain?”
    “I’m not sneaky.”  
    “Of course not,” she scoffed. “If I hadn’t come looking for you, you’d still be sitting in the middle of an empty field watching the cows chew grass.”
    Alex leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I come with my money. Take it or leave it.”  
    She felt a low growl hum in the back of her throat. Alex Green was so annoying that she didn’t think she could work in the same room as him. Not without giving herself ulcers and premature wrinkles from scowling all day.  
    But this was business and she needed help. There was no way she could finance the project on her own so she did the only thing she could do.
    She walked toward him and held out her hand. At least one of them could be civilized and mature and everything else that he wasn’t. “I don’t like what I’m about to do, but I’m not walking away from opening my own boutique. You’ve got yourself a business partner.”  
    He shook her hand and grinned. “You won’t regret it.”
    As soon as their hands touched she felt a simple truth squeeze her heart. She already did.

CHAPTER FIVE

    “If you wiggle any further down the seat you’re going to fall on the ground.”
    Emily glared at Gracie, her soon to be ex-best friend that had pushed her into Joe’s Bar and Grill. “I’m not wiggling,” she hissed. “I’m hiding. You didn’t tell me Alex was coming.”
    “Must have been my forgetful pregnant brain.” Gracie patted her round tummy, smiling across the table as if she didn’t have a care in the world. And maybe she didn’t. But Emily did, and most of her concerns revolved around Gracie’s half brother.
    She looked at the pink umbrella leaning against the edge of her glass, hoping the crowd of cowboys and school teachers would shield her from the man she’d seen far too much of over the last couple of weeks.
    “Who has their baby shower in a bar, anyway?” she muttered.  
    “Move over, grumpy.” Nicky slid along the vinyl seat, pushing a plate of hot fries into the middle of the table. “Tell me why you’re sitting in a booth when there are at least a dozen sexy men within ten feet of you.”
    “You’ve only been married for eighteen months. Isn’t there a rule that says you’re not supposed to notice any sexy men except your husband?”
    “Not that I’ve heard of.” Nicky took a sip of Emily’s drink and winced. “Apart from having strange taste buds you’re the perfect woman. You’re single, over-the-top gorgeous and my sister. What more could a man want?”  
    Emily pulled her drink closer. “I’m not interested in dating anyone. And leave my drink alone. I’m wallowing in self-pity.”
    “Who said anything about dating,” Gracie said, picking up one of the fries and blowing on it. “Talking’s a good place to start.”
    “Forget about the dating thing,” Nicky said.