Free Western Pleasure (The Texas Two-Step Series, a Novella) by Kathy Carmichael Page A

nodded at the spread of cupcakes. "Davis said you'd given up your bakery business."
    "Well, I've given up the business , but can you imagine me giving up the baking?"
    He laughed. "No. You love it too much."
    "How are you doing, Jim?"
    "I'm doing about as well as usual for a lonely old bachelor." He shrugged. "The oil and gas company I consult for is expanding internationally, so I've been traveling abroad a lot, handling contracts, living out of hotels, surviving on food I can't even pronounce."
    "All that travel sounds exciting." She'd always wanted to see foreign countries, but while Ben had been alive, they'd spent their vacations camping and fishing with Davis. After Ben's death, there had been neither time nor money for it until recently. "Your mention of oil and gas reminds me, Jim. I've been meaning to call you. I got a new oil lease in the mail and I have some questions about it. Would you mind—"
    "Of course I'll look at it for you," he said. "Want to meet at my office one day this week?"
    It hit her how much she'd missed him. "Why don't you come over and I'll make you a home-cooked meal?" Ellen asked, before realizing what she was doing. Although Jim had been a mainstay in her life, he'd never been at her home without other family members being there, too. This invitation felt like—something different. Her nerves jangled and her hands shook. She ran her palms down her hips, trying to ease the tremors.
    So what if she'd never acknowledged Jim as the appealing man he was before now? It didn't make him any less a dear friend. She drew a deep breath. "Please say you will."
    "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
    The way he said it, sort of breathy, took the wind right out of her. Surely he wasn't flirting with her?
    The problem? She wished he was flirting with her. But he'd said it himself. He was a confirmed bachelor. Flirting was second nature to a man like him. She'd probably never noticed it before. "What night would work best for you?"
    "Friday night would be great. I'm flying to Nepal tomorrow morning and won't be back until late Wednesday."
    "Friday night it is."
    She'd be with him alone, on a Friday night, for dinner. OMG. Had she just asked him on a date?

 
     
     
    Chapter 2

     
    Ellen was finishing up her over-forty fitness class at the Y when her best friend, Lily del Rietz, strolled over and arched her brow at Ellen as if in question. "You're super cheery today."
    "Oh, am I?" Ellen couldn't help the lilt to her tone. Her thoughts kept returning to Jim. He'd looked so handsome in his tux the night before, and she still hadn't wrapped her mind around the idea of how attracted she was to him.
    "Yeah. In fact, you even smiled through the lunges. You never do that."
    "Guess I'm in a good mood." Ellen smiled and shrugged.
    "Care to expand on that?"
    Ellen wanted to tell her about Jim. Would Lily think she'd lost her mind? Lily was waiting for Ellen to explain. But she had nothing.
    Wasn't it just like her to feel on the spot and unable to think of anything mindless to say? As a result, she and Lily just grinned at each other as they used face towels to blot off the moisture created by their physical exertions.
    Ellen took a swig from her water bottle, hoping the hydration would bring some meaningful words to her lips. "That was fun today. I haven't ever tried Zumba before. Have you?"
    "My first time, too."
    Their class offered a mix of activities, so they never knew beforehand exactly what their workout routine would include. The class was held early on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so Lily was able to fit in her exercise before starting her day at work at Murphy Title Company.
    Lily had been with the company when Ellen's husband had first started out. Murphy Title Company was one of the few assets over which Ellen had control after Ben's passing, and the only one with any real potential to make money for the family other than a few land-rights leases for oil and gas.
    Ellen was thankful when her son,