Free One Wild Cowboy by CATHY GILLEN THACKER Page A

okay…”
    â€œNo,” Simone said firmly, “it’s not. Andrew, you have a part-time job here and you are going to honor that commitment.”
    A mother-son stare-down commenced.
    Simone won.
    â€œFine!” Andrew slammed out the back.
    An awkward silence followed.
    â€œSorry,” Simone finally said, clearly upset.
    â€œIf you need to go ahead and leave for the day,” Emily murmured sympathetically.
    â€œThanks…I think I will,” Simone sighed, rushing out the back door.
    Then things went from bad to worse.
    The front door opened and Xavier Shillingsworth sauntered in.
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    H OW MUCH MORE was Emily supposed to have to take? Dylan wondered.
    â€œHi, Emily. Dylan—” Xavier paused dramatically. Furrowing his brow, he asked snidely, “—don’t you ever work?”
    Dylan refused to pick up the gauntlet. “You’re not worth the effort, kid.”
    Disappointed, but no less smug, Xavier turned back to Emily. “Andrew’s under sixteen so he’s going to need a work permit. His mother will have to fill the papers out and get them approved by the Texas Workforce Commission, before he can start.”
    Emily continued wiping down tables. “They’ve already left for the day.”
    Shillingsworth followed her, further invading her space. “Maybe you could give the papers to them for me, then?”
    Whatever pity he’d felt for the kid the previous evening vanished. Dylan stepped forward. “You know Andrew was working here?”
    Shillingsworth lifted an autocratic brow. “Yes. He told me that.”
    Dylan studied him. “And you’ve got no compunction about trying to hire him away from Emily?”
    â€œIt’s business. I’ll hire anyone I want who wants a job. Even, say—” Xavier gestured lazily “—Emily…”
    Oh, Dylan thought. Them’s fightin’ words.
    Emily, on the other hand, stepped forward, fire in her gaze. “Well, kind as that is of you, Xavier,” she drawled, “I really can’t see that happening. Because I actually like to cook the food—from scratch—not just take off the plastic wrap and heat it in the microwave.”
    Dylan threw back his head and laughed. Having had more than enough, he slapped Xavier on the shoulder and steered him in the direction of the exit. He seemed to be doing that a lot. “Looks like you’re outmatched and outclassed, kid. So you best be on your way.”
    Xavier stepped sideways instead. “First of all, you’d be surprised how good our stuff is.” He squared off, indignant. “And second, Emily has not asked me to leave. So…”
    Emily set her chin. “I’m asking you to leave.”
    Xavier looked at Emily, ready to continue to push the issue. Emily remained unmoved and Dylan lifted a warning brow.
    The restaurateur suddenly changed his mind and headed slowly for the exit. “My offer of a date is good anytime, Emily. ’Cause I still want a cougar for my trophy case.” The kid turned around and winked. “If you know what I mean.”
    Emily’s glance narrowed. “Goodbye, Xavier.”
    Reluctantly, he sauntered out, slamming the door after him.
    Emily turned to Dylan. Instead of complimenting him on the great restraint he had shown, in not booting the kid out by the seat of the pants practically the second the interloper walked in, Emily glared at him. “You do not have to run interference between the two of us. I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.”
    Dylan was willing to be amenable, but only to a point. “Suppose I want to defend you. Me being your pretend boyfriend and all. What then?”
    He had no idea what Emily was going to say. He didn’twant to know, either. All he wanted, at that moment, was to stake his claim in a way neither of them would ever forget.
    He wound an arm around her waist and used the leverage to