Free The Rancher and His Unexpected Daughter by Sherryl Woods Page A

time since I’ve gone calling on a lady.”
    She could tell. He looked about as at ease as a man making his first trip to a lingerie department. Not even his starched white shirt, expensive black trousers and snakeskin boots could combat the impression made by his anxious expression.
    â€œYou seem to forget that this isn’t exactly a date,” she said to reassure him. “You won dinner fair and square on a bet.”
    She waved him toward a chair. “Have a seat and I’ll get these in water. What can I bring you to drink when I come back? Wine? A beer? Iced tea?”
    â€œIced tea sounds good. Why don’t we sit on the porch? It’s a nice night. Or is dinner just about ready?”
    â€œNo, dinner will be a while,” she said in what had to be the understatement of the decade. However, sitting on the porch was out of the question. He was bound to spot Jenny returning from DiPasquali’s. She grasped desperately for an alternative.
    â€œActually, I hate to do this to you, but my bathroom faucet has been leaking.” Even though the tactic grated, she used her most helpless expression on him. “I don’t know the first thing about changing a washer. Could you take a look at it?”
    He latched onto the request as if she’d thrown him a lifeline. “Just show me the way.”
    She led him down the narrow hallway to the old-fashioned bathroom, which, thankfully, Jenny hadstraightened up after her shower. “I bought washers and there are some tools there,” she said, pointing.
    â€œI’ll have this fixed in no time,” he promised, already loosening his collar and rolling up his sleeves. “By the way, it’s nice to walk into a house and smell dinner cooking. There’s nothing like the scent of chocolate to make a man’s mouth water.” He glanced at her and winked. “Unless it’s that sexy perfume you’re wearing.”
    â€œI’m not sure it’s perfume you’re smelling,” she said. “It’s probably all these flowers.”
    He shook his head. “They were in the car with me all the way into town. That’s not it. I’d say you’re wearing something light with just a hint of spice. It’s the kind of thing that could drive a man wild.”
    Janet could feel herself blushing. “Thanks. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get these into water.”
    In the kitchen she put the flowers down on the only clear surface, the top of the stove, and drew in a deep breath. She hadn’t realized what a sucker she was for charm. Maybe it was just the sweetly tentative way in which it was delivered.
    She didn’t doubt for an instant that Harlan Adams had always been a flirt, but she was also very aware that he was out of practice delivering compliments with all sorts of subtle innuendo behind them. Teasing a woman just to make her feel good was one thing. It was another to be experimenting with dating after so many years of marriage. It made what they were doing here tonight seem riskier and more significant for both of them.
    She sighed and forced her attention to the flowers. It took three large vases to handle all of them. Shescattered the arrangements around the living room, poured Harlan’s iced tea, then traipsed back to the bathroom where she’d left him.
    â€œI brought your tea,” she said, keeping one ear attuned to any sounds from the kitchen that might indicate that Jenny had returned. “How’s it going?”
    â€œThe washer’s replaced,” he said, his voice muffled. He had his head poked into the vanity under the sink. “Thought I’d check to make sure all the joints were sealed under here while I was at it.”
    He slid out and grinned at her. “No leaks under there.”
    She took one look at the streaks of grime on his face and shirt and winced. “Harlan, you’re a mess. I’m sorry. I should never have asked