Free Shotgun Vows by Teresa Southwick Page B

to it. Not when he had to look into her beautiful face and pretend he couldn’t care less.
    The best way to handle this was to make her believe he hadn’t noticed the change in her. Besides, once he got used to it, surely the feelings would go away.
    â€œLast one in the saddle is a rotten egg,” he said.
    â€œYou’re on.”
    Her sudden, sunny, stunning smile would have knocked him out of the saddle if he’d already been in one. He was brighter than the average bear, but it didn’t take a mental giant to see that this was a really bad idea.

Five
    â€œH ow nice that you can stay for dinner, Dawson.” Aunt Lily smiled at him.
    â€œI appreciate the invitation. Not to mention the effervescent, charming company,” he answered.
    Mattie realized her own feelings echoed her aunt’s words, but her reasons were quite different. She and Dawson had ridden all afternoon, which normally would have put her in a wonderful mood—the riding, the fresh air, the horses. Except for the company.
    Dawson Prescott unsettled her too much to produce anything even close to peace of mind. But now they were cleaned up and visiting in the great room. Her aunt sat on the sofa facing the hearth, and she and Dawson occupied chairs across from each other with a coffee table between them. A crackling blaze filled the fireplace.
    Mattie felt a little crackly herself, and just a bit hot, maybe enough to spit sparks. She had spent hours with Dawson and he hadn’t mentioned a single word about the difference in her appearance. Maybe he thought she looked better the other way. If he did, he was the only one, because everyone else had given her a thumbs-up on the new look. Some of the ranch hands had snapped their heads around so fast for a double take, she wondered if the local chiropractor had an epidemic of whiplash on his hands.
    She grinned at the thought, but it faded fast. For some reason she didn’t understand, Dawson’s vote on her change carried more weight than anyone else’s—probably because he’d given her such a hard time about looking like a kid. Since he was hanging around for supper, she might be able to coerce a confession from him that she looked grown-up now.
    â€œI think Dawson has an ulterior motive for staying to dinner, Aunt Lily,” Mattie said to her aunt. “Something that has nothing to do with the Fortune charm or effervescence. He told me this afternoon that his house is being redecorated, and he can’t stand the chaos.”
    â€œThen by all means, you must stay,” Lily said to him.
    â€œThank you, Lily,” he said, shooting a look at Mattie that said, loudly and clearly, he wished she would mind her own business.
    She just smiled smugly at him.
    â€œYou’re very welcome, Dawson. In fact, if you need to move in for a while, please feel free. After all, that’s why Willa is here. Thank goodness for that, or we wouldn’t have the pleasure of her company. And we’d love to have the pleasure of yours.” Before Mattie could speak for herself, her aunt continued, “Except tonight it’s just Mattie who will have the job of entertaining you.”
    â€œWhat?” Mattie asked.
    Her and her big mouth. She had just been having a little fun at Dawson’s expense. Now he practically had an engraved invitation to move in. But she figured he wouldn’t do it. After all, she was here and her presence would no doubt discourage him. Although, she had to admit, she had seen more of him in the lastfour days than she had since her arrival in Texas a few months before.
    â€œWhy just me?” she asked.
    â€œWe’re taking Willa to that new restaurant in San Antonio and to the theater. There’s a touring company in town. She’s upstairs getting ready now. If it were just Ryan and me, we would cancel. But Willa—”
    â€œDon’t change your plans on my account,” Dawson said. “I’ve