Free A Cowboy in Manhattan by Barbara Dunlop Page A

“We were never fighting.” She glanced away. “It was… He just… He’s helping me with my ankle.”
    Good grief. Why was she having trouble with such a simple explanation? It wasn’t as though she was lying. Everything she was saying was true.
    Mandy blinked. “Katrina?”
    “Hmm?”
    “What’s going on?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Are you attracted to Reed?”
    Katrina formulated an answer. “Reed is Colorado.”
    If ever there was a man who was a perfect metaphor for a place, he was it.
    “And you hate Colorado.”
    “I’m intimidated by it.”
    Mandy’s gaze was probing. “So you’re intimidated by Reed?”
    “Why does this conversation feel like a chess game?”
    “Because you’re being evasive.”
    “I like my men in tuxedos,” Katrina answered honestly.
    Mandy grinned and chuckled. “Then tomorrow night at the ball ought to be very interesting.”
    “Why?”
    “Because Reed will be in a tux.”
    “Not a problem,” Katrina answered with conviction. It was one thing to dress a man up, but the grit of Colorado tended to stick.
    The elevator door opened into the lobby of the Sunburst Hotel in downtown Lyndon, and Katrina nearly stumbled on her high-heeled silver sandals. Reed didn’t look remotely gritty. Quite the contrary, he looked fantastic in a tuxedo.
    Next to a marble pillar and an oversize leather furniture grouping, he was joking with Caleb, Travis and Seth. He was the tallest of the three, broad-shouldered, clean-shaven, with his hair freshly trimmed and his dark eyes zeroing in on her.
    “Wow.” The word whooshed out beneath her breath. She had to remind herself to keep walking between Mandy and Abigail.
    “You mean Caleb?” Mandy asked, a thread of amusement in her tone.
    “Right,” Katrina returned without missing a beat. “Caleb.” Her gaze stayed glued to Reed.
    “Seth’s tie is crooked,” Abigail put in, quickening her pace, clearly hoping to get to Seth and correct the problem before anyone else noticed.
    “Liar,” Mandy muttered to Katrina.
    “Who? Abigail?”
    “Admit it, you’re attracted to Reed.”
    “Not at all,” Katrina lied.
    “You haven’t taken your eyes off him.”
    “I was thinking he’s too tall.” Among other things. He was also too strong, too determined, too attractive and far too good a kisser for a Colorado cowboy.
    “He looks great in a tux,” Mandy singsonged.
    “All men look great in a tux.” Though few men looked that great in a tux.
    As they drew closer, Caleb gave a low whistle of appreciation, his gaze warm on Mandy in an off-the-shoulder, full-skirted, full-length gown in shimmering silver.
    “I love it when you dress up like a girl,” he told her, putting an arm around her bare shoulders, placing a gentle kiss on her temple.
    Abigail finished with Seth’s tie, chatting to him about the attendees at the ball, enumerating those he should seek out. Travis joined in their conversation, joking about who could make the biggest financial contribution to Seth’s campaign, as the three started toward the hotel exit. Mandy took Caleb’s arm and they fell into step behind, leaving Katrina and Reed to bring up the rear.
    “You look very nice,” Reed offered to Katrina, taking in her slim-fitting, butter-yellow satin gown. The V-necked bodice was crisscrossed with tiny strands of crystals that also ran the length of the spaghetti straps accenting her bare shoulders. The back dipped low, while the hem flared out. The skirt was snug at her hips, but loose enough along the length of her legs to allow for dancing.
    She’d bought some inexpensive but fun dangling crystal earrings that now hung below her simple updo. She’d paired them with an elaborate necklace of crystals interspersed with yellow topaz snug against her throat. Her makeup was to Liberty Ballet standards, a little heavier than Katrina preferred, but nobody in the ballet company would have a complaint if her photo ended up in a national magazine.
    “Thank you,”