Free Little Cowgirl Needs a Mom by Patricia Thayer Page B

mismatch. Evan wasn’t the man for her. A warm shiver went through her at the memory of his touch.
    Maybe if she wrote it on a piece of paper a hundred times then she’d start to believe it.
    Â 
    That same morning, Evan began his day as usual. He walked through the vines, checking the grapes as he had every day for years. He’d always been a man who thrived on routine, on habit.
    But he wasn’t in the habit of kissing women.
    He closed his eyes and Jenny came to mind. In the last twelve hours he hadn’t been able to erase her image, or the feel of her against him, or the taste of her.
    The truth was, kissing Jenny had been incredible. He hadn’t wanted to stop, but he’d had to. It wasn’t wrong towant a woman, he told himself, especially a woman as appealing as the dark-eyed blonde.
    What bothered him was how she made him feel. He wanted casual, and she had marriage and kids written all over her. He couldn’t go there again. Besides, Jenny had befriended his daughter. That could complicate things all to hell. And he needed to put his energy into his relationship with Gracie.
    No, marriage wasn’t for him. He couldn’t make his first one work, so why would he try again?
    At the sound of a horn, he looked over his shoulder and saw a crew-cab truck pull up next to the barn. Alex Casali and Gracie got out along with her new friend, Cherry. His daughter waved and he started down the slope as the group came toward him.
    â€œHey, Gracie.” He’d missed her more than he could have imagined.
    â€œHi, Daddy,” she called, surprising him as she rushed into his arms.
    â€œDid you have a good time?”
    She stood back and smiled. “It was so much fun. We watched movies and played video games.”
    Hadn’t she missed him at all? “Sounds like fun to me.”
    â€œDaddy, when can I have my sleepover?”
    â€œI’m not exactly sure.” He glanced at Alex. “We need to discuss that with Jenny.”
    Gracie looked at Cherry. “Jenny’s going to be the woman in the house. Daddy says mothers won’t let their girls come with only men here.”
    Alex hid a grin. “Wise idea.”
    Gracie turned back to Evan. “Will you ask her?”
    He wasn’t sure he was ready to face Jenny yet. “Okay.”
    â€œToday?”
    That could be an excuse to see her again. “We’ll see.”
    Gracie looked at her new friend. “Come on, I want to show you my room.”
    â€œTen minutes, Cherry,” Alex called after the twosome running toward the house. “Then we need to leave.” He turned back to Evan. “I doubt she even heard me.” He nodded toward the vineyard. “How about showing me around?”
    Evan was surprised by the request. “Sure.”
    Together they walked toward the rows of vines, heavy with grapes. “It’s quiet now, but we’ll start harvesting in a few months,” Evan said. “We’ll be busy then.”
    â€œHow many acres planted?”
    â€œRight now it’s about twelve.”
    Alex studied him. “You have plans for more?”
    Evan turned away. “I’ve always had plans for more. Just not in the near future.”
    â€œYou sell to Solomon Creek Winery?”
    Evan nodded. “Yes, my pinot grigio grapes.” He pointed to the highest section of the hill. “They’re harvested first. Then zinfandel and muscat. They’re all my grapes, but under his label.”
    â€œI’m impressed.”
    Evan was surprised. “Why? You’ve done well in the cattle business, and it’s been a lot more profitable.”
    â€œSuccess is not always measured by financial gain.” Alex smiled. “I discovered that when I met Allison and Cherry.” There was a long pause. “You’ve had a rough few years, but you’ve come through it.”
    Evan didn’t want to go there. “I have a daughter to