Free The Boss and His Cowgirl by Silver James

glasses back to the bridge of her nose. “He’s spending Christmas in New York. With Giselle Richards. And last night he told me he’d see me tomorrow...meaning today. Except he decided to leave early for New York and was going straight to the airport except...snow day.”
    Jen’s face smoothed out and sympathy filled her gaze. “Well...that sucks.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAre they like...a thing?”
    â€œHe’s been seeing her since...Valentine’s Day.”
    â€œWait. Their first date was Valentine’s Day? Who does that?”
    â€œIt wasn’t a date. Exactly. She was his escort for some deal at the Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City. They went to the same high school or something.”
    â€œ Pffft . She’s got nothin’ on you, Georgie.”
    â€œSays my best friend who is loyal to a fault. But have you seen her? She’s a former Miss America and she won the Tony two years ago and she’s gorgeous and...and...” Georgie couldn’t swallow her sigh this time. “You know he’s putting together an exploratory committee, right?” At Jen’s nod, she continued. “Giselle is the type of woman he needs on his arm when he runs for president. She knows what to say to people. Looks amazing. Doesn’t trip and fall over her own feet. Or wear glasses.”
    â€œI call BS.”
    â€œWhy? She’s beautiful and talented and...everything I’m not.”
    â€œAnd she’s a total airhead. Have you ever heard her interviewed? I mean, seriously. I don’t know what Senator Barron sees in her.”
    Georgie stared at Jen, all but gaping. “You are so not a guy. She walks by and their tongues hang out.”
    â€œWell, you’re smart and funny and...and sweet and...and...”
    â€œAnd nothing. I invited you over to cheer me up.”
    â€œIt’s too early in the morning. And there’s no ice cream.”
    â€œI know. I’m a lousy hostess, which just proves my point.” Georgie curled her upper lip and rolled her eyes, which made Jen laugh, as she’d intended. “At least Christmas is almost here. I’ll go home. Stuff myself on Dad’s turkey and dressing and drown my sorrows in giblet gravy.”
    â€œThat’s the spirit!”
    * * *
    Clay kicked back in the deep leather chair, his feet propped up on the matching ottoman. He negligently held a lead crystal glass with two fingers of scotch in one hand. Boone had decided to stay at the ranch with him while everyone else headed to downtown Oklahoma City to ring in the New Year.
    â€œWe didn’t expect you for the holidays, cuz.”
    â€œYeah. Staying in New York wasn’t really an option.”
    â€œYou give Giselle the boot?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œShe kicked you out?” Boone perked up and leaned forward. “This’ll be good.”
    â€œYeah, well.” Clay lifted one shoulder in a forcibly nonchalant shrug before sipping the aged whiskey in his glass. “Not smart to forget a woman’s name in the middle of things.”
    â€œYou forgot Giselle’s name? Oh, dude. You are a dog. That’s what pet names are for, right?”
    â€œWorse than that, Boone.”
    The other man stared at him, eyes crinkling and his mouth curling into a smirk as he figured it out. “Oh, hell, ol’ son. Please don’t tell me you called her by another woman’s name...”
    Clay did his best to maintain a poker face, but knew he’d failed the moment Boone burst out laughing. “It’s not funny.”
    â€œIs, too.”
    â€œIs not.”
    Boone controlled his laughter but still smirked. “Whose name?” Blinking several times, the full impact hit him. “Oh, crap. Georgie.”
    Clay figured he looked as miserable as he felt. “How screwed up am I, Boone?”
    â€œI don’t think you’re screwed up at all, man. Georgie is a gem.