Free The Bull Rider’s Keeper by Lynn Cahoon

Maggie. Why do you have to treat me so badly?”
    Maggie laughed. It was a harsh sound made deeper from, what Taylor could imagine, years of breathing in the smoke from bar patrons. If the woman didn’t indulge in cigarettes herself. “I’m on a crusade to make sure that the women you date know the whole story, Jesse Sullivan, not just the fairy tale you spin.” She turned her focus back to Taylor, flipping a clean white bar towel over her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed and Taylor felt the steel behind the woman’s gaze, sizing her up even as she kept her words light and friendly. “I can’t count the number of hearts this boy has broken in this town alone.”
    “You make me sound like a gigolo. I can’t help it if they get the wrong idea when I’m nice to someone.” He nodded toward the dining room. “Too early to get some food? The woman’s a slave driver. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
    Taylor slapped his arm. “Hey, I didn’t even ask you to come along, you invited yourself.”
    “Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?” Maggie’s voice had a distinct drawl, and Taylor wondered if the Pacific Northwest wasn’t the woman’s first home. Was that a hint of Texas twang in her voice?
    Jesse held his hands up in mock surrender. “I give up. Having two of you attacking me just isn’t fair.”
    “Poor, misunderstood bull rider,” Maggie quipped. She pointed to a table near the dance floor. “Go sit, and I’ll send one of the girls out to get your order. Can I pull you something from the bar?”
    “Two drafts?” Jesse glanced at Taylor. “Unless you’d like something different?”
    Taylor shrugged, realizing her headache had disappeared during the short nap. “As long as it’s light, draft is fine.”
    Jesse slapped his stomach. “I have to watch my girlish figure.”
    Shaking her head, Taylor smiled at Maggie. “It was nice to meet you.”
    “Just keep the boy in line; that’s all the advice I can give you.” Maggie reached for the chilled glasses. “Get settled. I’ll bring these over in a second.”
    “You know I’m right here and can hear you, right?” Jesse shrugged. “Come on, Taylor, we’ve been dismissed.”
    He took her arm and led her to the table farthest away from the bar. He raised his voice and said, “Maggie can’t eavesdrop on us all the way over here.”
    “You’re not all that interesting, bull rider,” Maggie called back.
    He chuckled as he held out a chair for Taylor. “The woman loves me; what can I say. I told you I was kind of a big deal here.”
    “I think you overestimate your charm, Mr. Sullivan,” Taylor said.
    Jesse sat across from her, the table small enough that she could feel the heat from his legs so close to her own. He flashed what she’d come to think of as his promotional smile. “I think you protest too much.”
    A waitress slapped two glasses of water on the table along with two menus. “Hi, Jesse.”
    “Hey, Amanda.” Jesse didn’t even look at the girl. Taylor could feel the jealousy flowing from the waitress. “Can you bring us an order of wings?”
    “Whatever.” The girl stomped off.
    Taylor watched her bang through the kitchen door. “One of your exes?”
    Jesse leaned back, running his hand through his hair. “That’s Maggie’s daughter. She’s way too young, but boy, the girl is determined.” He lifted his eyebrows. “You really got her in a snit.”
    “Me? What did I do?” Taylor looked up from the menu and found Jesse staring.
    He reached out and pushed a wayward lock of hair off her shoulder. “You came in with me.”
    Taylor could feel the blush heat her cheeks, even as she willed it away. She was not interested in Jesse Sullivan, not in that way. Not now, not ever. He was her future employer, that’s all. And if she had her way, he wouldn’t even be that. Mike’s call that morning had made her realize she needed to be proactive. Maybe even buy the gallery herself? If she cashed out the available funds from