Free Curves and the Cowboy (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 1) by Jenn Roseton Page A

for…
    Chase McCord.
    She was not going
to think about him while eating cherry pie. No way. She already
spent too much time thinking about him, dreaming about him, as it
was.
    Sarah dug into the cherry
pie, savoring the first mouthful. Nobody made cherry pie like Betty.
She closed her eyes, the sweet tartness of the cherries hitting her
taste buds in an explosion of flavor. If she came here to eat cherry
pie every day for a month, it would be worth putting on a few extra
pounds. She sighed. It just wasn’t fair that some girls could
eat whatever they wanted and stay as slim as a reed, while she had to
watch every mouthful. Although she had come to accept her curves for
the most part, too many treats meant the weight crept on.
    Halfway through her slice
of pie, the bell jingled over the diner door. Sarah looked up and
her fork froze on its way to her mouth. A tall, dark haired man
strode into the diner.
    Chase McCord.
    She drew in a deep
breath. Her heart thudded in her chest as if she’d just run
the 100-metre dash.
    Her eyes feasted on him
as he placed his order at the counter. He filled out his well-worn
jeans and long-sleeved denim shirt quite nicely. The last time she
had seen him was seven months ago, when she had come home for
Christmas. He still looked amazing.
    Each time she visited
home, she couldn't seem to avoid him. He'd come around the house,
always on some business with her father. And she'd stare longingly
at him from her bedroom window, feeling like the teenager she used to
be.
    Now, although her eyes
took in every detail about him, she didn’t want him to see her.
What would she say to him? She’d hate it if she blushed when
he said hello to her. If he said hello to her. After all,
why would he?
    He turned around and she
flickedher gaze to her cup of coffee. Please don't see
me, please don't see me, please don't see me.
    “ Sarah.” His
attractive, deep voice forced her to look up. At him.
    “ Hi--” she
squeaked. Heat raced to her cheeks.
    “ Mind if I join
you?” He gestured to the opposite side of the booth.
    “ Of course not.”
Her pulse beat erratically.
    He slid into the booth,
his firm, sensual lips tugging upwards. Her heart flip-flopped as
she took in his dark blue eyes and ruggedly handsome face.
    “ How have you
been?” He looked as if he really wanted to hear her answer.
    “ Good.” At
least her voice was less of a squeak this time. She swallowed. “And
you?”
    Before he could reply,
Betty came to the table with a cup of steaming coffee and placed it
in front of Chase. “Here you go, Chase.” She winked at
Sarah.
    “ Thanks, Betty.”
He took a long swallow, then turned his attention back to Sarah, his
eyes gleaming with interest.
    She lost herself in his
gaze. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach when he grinned at her.
    “ I’ve been
good, too.”Chase took another sip of coffee and she
watched, fascinated, as his lips touched the coffee mug. What would
his lips feel like on hers? She shivered at the thought.
    “ I heard you’ve
got a job teaching school here.”
    His voice snapped her out
of her sensual fantasy and she met his dark blue gaze. Her mind
blanked for a second as he waited for her answer.
    “ Yes, ” she
finally managed to utter. “Elementary school.” Great
going, she scolded herself. He probably thinks you should be
in elementary school, not teaching it. Flustered, she wrapped her
hands around her coffee cup and took a small sip.
    He boldly reached over,
picked up her fork and snagged a piece of pie. “Mmm. Nobody
makes cherry pie like Betty.”
    Sarah smiled . “I
know.”
    “ Want some?”
He forked up a bite and offered it to her.
    She stared at his large,
tanned hand, tempting her. Only in her dreams had she envisioned
this scenario. She never thought it would actually happen. Sarah
tapped one toe against the other - hard. Nope. Not dreaming.
    “ Sure,” she
managed to say, shyly parting her lips. Her eyes met his as he
gently guided the