Free Shotgun Vows by Teresa Southwick

pregnant bride-to-be?
    But today he’d felt restless. It had been over twenty-four hours since he’d actually seen the sassy Aussie. He wished it had been that long since he’d thought about her. She had an annoying way of creeping into his mind at the weirdest times: in business meetings, in his dreams, first thing in the morning. But as he walked to the barn to find her, he reminded himself that he was just doing his duty. He would make certain that she was all right.
    He needed to see that she was present and accounted for and hadn’t run off with one of the cowboys. He smiled at the thought. Since Griff had left, she’d been on the prowl with little success. His grin widened as he remembered poker night. Bobby Leeand Ethan had welcomed her with less than open-armed enthusiasm. Then when she’d started winning, they couldn’t get rid of her fast enough.
    And at the Watering Hole, she had been as obvious as all get out, walking to the ladies’ room every two minutes. He’d caught a couple of guys giving her legs the once-over. But with one look Dawson conveyed his message: Look but don’t touch if you know what’s good for you.
    He figured he had this covert assignment wired. Griff had called to say he would be home a few days before the wedding. When he knew an exact date, he said, he would let Dawson know. But Mattie had struck out twice with men. Dawson decided the odds were in his favor that her inning would end without a score, so he had nothing to worry about on his watch. He would play the part of surrogate big brother a little while longer to the little girl from Australia.
    As he drew closer to the barn, he noticed a group of cowboys standing by the corral. He wondered if there was a problem, but when laughter drifted to him, he decided not. As the bodies shifted, he noticed a woman at the center of the gathering and wondered who she was. Loose blond hair tickled her collar, but he couldn’t think of any female on the ranch who wore her hair that way. His gaze lowered to her trim waist, where her shirt was tucked into worn jeans that hugged her curvy hips. Whoever she was, her figure should be registered as a lethal weapon. Then he looked lower and noticed her long, shapely legs. He’d had dreams—day and night—about those legs.
    Mattie? Surrounded by men?
    Increasing his pace, he arrived just in time to hear one of the cowboys say, “C’mon down to the bunkhouse later, Mattie. Ethan’s plannin’ to teach us a new card game.”
    â€œI’ll be there,” she said. “Thanks for asking.” Her voice drifted to him. When had it turned so sweet and musical that she could play his insides like a violin?
    â€œHey, look who’s here. How’s it going, Dawson?” Bobby Lee stuck his hand out.
    Dawson took it as he glared at the four ranch hands gathered around Mattie. “What’s going on?” he asked.
    Bobby Lee frowned. “Not much. How about you? Something wrong? You look like someone kicked your dog and stole your favorite horse, partner.”
    Mattie turned to look at him. If it hadn’t been for the legs that had haunted him, he probably wouldn’t have recognized her. Her hair! It hung silky, sexy and loose around her face in a very flattering style. Her eyes looked bigger and grayer than he’d ever noticed before. And she was wearing lipstick! He felt like he’d been jabbed in the gut with a two-by-four, knocking the air from his lungs.
    Mattie Fortune was beautiful.
    When he could take his eyes off her, he got a better look at all the cowboys who were drooling over her.
    â€œHi, Dawson. What are you doing here?” she asked, watching him carefully.
    Pull it together, he told himself. He would give her the same story he’d used at the house when he’d arrived. “I needed a ride to clear my head.”
    â€œThat’s a wonderful idea,” she said. “You spend