Free Catch Me A Cowboy by Jacquie Underdown

jeans, but a dressier shirt tonight, crisp white, along with boots and his white cowboy hat. His gait was long and relaxed as he strode across the field to the table.
    Despite her doubts, her body’s reaction to him couldn’t be ignored. On a biological level, she was looking forward to seeing him again.

Chapter 11
    Wil strolled down the field. After spending the day with the contestants, who were all lovely and easy to talk to, he was more at ease than he was earlier that morning.
    Wil smiled. ‘Good evening,’ he said tipping his hat.
    The girls replied with a mixture of smiles and pleasantries. Wil noticed the empty chair set at the head of the table for him and irritation struck him. It was bad enough he was the only man here, accompanied by twenty women, let alone being placed at the head of the table as though he was some grand residing patriarch. He lowered his head, shook it, and stood behind Daniella. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he gestured towards his designated chair with his free arm.
    â€˜Please,’ he said to Daniella. ‘You take my place. It doesn’t sit right with me that in 2016, the man is still expected to take the head of the table.’
    Daniella, a little flustered, pushed her chair back and made her way to his seat. Meanwhile, Wil sat in her spot, removing his hat and placing it on his lap. The cameras rushed to be repositioned at the silent behest of the director. He had no sympathy because he had already warned them not to portray him as an egocentric arsehole.
    â€˜That’s better,’ Wil said, grinning. ‘Not so much the centre of attention now.’ But he couldn’t avoid, head of the table or not, that every pair of eyes was focused on him. This was going to take some getting used to.
    He met Emily’s gaze and smiled. ‘Nice to see the mud didn’t cause any lasting damage.’
    â€˜No. But my clothes didn’t fare so well.’
    He grinned. ‘Some minor carnage—’
    â€˜Good to see you again, Wil,’ said the brunette beside him, who was a weather girl for a local television station.
    â€˜Jennifer, you too.’
    â€˜You’re looking rather handsome tonight,’ said the redhead to Wil’s left, curling a long strand of hair between her fingers.
    â€˜That’s very kind, Becky.’
    Amber, who had shocked Wil during their private introductions by her forthrightness, leant forwards, so her low-slung top teetered just above her nipples, and said, ‘Ten girls will be leaving after tonight. I’m curious who’s going to survive this cut and who isn’t. What exactly are you looking for in a woman?’
    Wil smiled. ‘Fair question. After all, that’s why we’re here.’ He glanced at the hat on his lap, then lifted his gaze to meet Amber’s. ‘I’m looking for someone who’s kind, intelligent, down-to-earth, and doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty.’ His attention flickered to Emily as he said that last point. His heart thudded because he tried his hardest to avert his attention from her, though, mentally, she was who he was focused upon. Emily was different from the other ladies—unassuming —and he liked that.
    â€˜So no specific look? Like blondes or brunettes?’ asked Rachel who was seated beside Emily.
    Becky added, ‘Or redheads?’
    Wil laughed. ‘No, hair colour isn’t a deal breaker.’
    Amber chimed in again, her voice loud but melodious. ‘What would be a deal breaker?’
    â€˜You ladies sure are direct.’ He’d never met women like them. But he knew the answer without a doubt. After his marriage ended in betrayal and outright lies, he detested dishonesty more than anything else. ‘Dishonesty would be a deal breaker.’ He pressed his palms to the table and looked around at his table of guests. ‘It’s just as important that you’re happy with me. So what do you