Free Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller Page B

needed. She was a bit too fascinated already.
    â€œDo you suppose he’d ever let me film him doing that? The calf roping, I mean?”
    â€œDoubtful.” Mace shook his head. “Slater might be Mr. Showbiz, but Drake is camera shy. I remember that he had to be bribed with this vintage pickup truck he wanted before he agreed to have his senior pictures taken. He just wanted to skip the whole thing. Some sort of compromise was reached because he said yes to the pictures and he got the truck. He and Red restored it. They’re kindred souls.”
    She’d met Red and could agree with that. “Hard to reach. Softhearted, but they hide it well.”
    â€œSee, you’re observant. What else have you picked up on? Have you decided he’s worth the effort?”
    Luce kept her cool. “I’ve decided you’re jumping to a few conclusions here.”
    â€œI doubt it.”
    The reappearance of the grouchy waitress ended that conversation. Luce couldn’t recall ordering, but she got a plate of fried walleye with homemade coleslaw and thick-cut fries, and Mace got a burger loaded with all the extras. Mystified, she asked, “How did she know what I was going to order? That’s impossible.”
    â€œThere are some questions better left unasked.” He gestured at his plate. “Usually, I arrive, she brings me a drink, then she delivers the food. Maybe she’s a witch or something, but like my brother, she tends to hit the mark.”
    The fish was delicious, crispy and paired with tartar sauce made from scratch. She’d barely finished the last bite when the poker party broke up and the players headed for the door, probably eager to get home to their wives and kids. Drake, the only bachelor in the bunch, didn’t keep late hours, either, since he got up before dawn.
    Speak of the devil... He stopped by their table. “How was your dinner?” he asked.
    â€œDelicious.” She waited; he seemed to have something to say.
    â€œGood.” He planted a hand, palm down, on the table, looking at her intently. “Finish your wine. You’re coming with me. Mace can find his own way home.”
    When the ultimate cowboy gave you an ultimatum, it was kind of hard to ignore.
    Mace was grinning behind his wineglass and his eyes twinkled. “Sure. Home. The place where we grew up. Sure, I can find it on my own.”
    â€œDon’t even try to be funny. It’s never worked for you before. I just want to show Luce something—not that it’s any of your business.”
    â€œWonder what that might be,” Mace speculated, his tone easy and unhurried.
    A muscle tensed in Drake’s jaw. “Your tactless comments are getting on my nerves, little brother.”
    Time to run interference.
    Luce finished her wine in an inelegant gulp and smiled apologetically at Mace. If she hadn’t known what Mace was up to, she would never have agreed to leave one brother, who’d treated her to dinner, for the other. But he was the one who’d set everything in motion, so she interrupted whatever he was going to say next. “Thanks for dinner. So...what’s your advice?”
    He gave Drake a once-over. “He’s harmless enough.”
    Drake didn’t look flattered. “Don’t be so sure.”
    Luce stood up hastily, aware that Mace could be right and Drake hadn’t liked her coming to Bad Billy’s with him. Even though it was none of his business. Her reaction to this was both positive and negative. So far, all her interactions with the Carson family had run that way. Three very different brothers who got along well, but there was some head-butting now and then. And she just happened to be the reason for this latest bout.
    Drake steered her toward the bar. “I’ll be a second. I need to talk to Billy.”
    Billy—a former biker, or so she’d heard—was busy pouring drinks. Smiling, he paused when Drake