New Year, New Man: A Kiss on Crimson Ranch / The Dance Off / The Right Mr. Wrong

He smiled. “The best. Everything you planned is perfect.”

A little zing tripped along her spine. “The questionnaire helps narrow down their interests. Your friends were easy. Anything loud, with lots of adrenaline.”

“When does the next group come in?”

“This weekend, only one day between them and your crew. It’s the family reunion. Age range from toddlers to the patriarch in his seventies.”

“The old man who wants to catch a trout with his great-grandson as part of his bucket list?” Josh laughed. “No pressure on me.”

“You have a gift for leading the groups, Josh. Everything will be fine.”

“I hope it’s enough to make it work.”

She sighed. “Me, too,” she answered, unsure if she was talking about the ranch or her life.

They talked easily the rest of the drive, about his life on the tour and the places he’d seen in his travels. The way he described them, those seconds in the ring reminded her of the way she felt the moment a director called, “Action,” the spotlight on her with adrenaline pumping. While a scene wasn’t life-or-death high stakes the way a ride on a thousand-pound animal could be, it had the same emotional letdown when it was over.

Talking to Josh made her remember how much she’d loved the actual acting part of her job if she could leave behind the baggage that crowded her life.

By the time they got to the shopping area, Sara felt relaxed. Claire’s excitement about the boutiques that lined the streets was contagious to the point that she’d almost forgotten her trepidation about a public outing.

Josh dropped them along the block that looked the most interesting to Claire and went to park. Sara followed Claire into a store and to a rack of colorful sundresses near the front.

“I love this,” Claire said on an excited breath, holding up a low-cut V-neck sundress with a deep back.

Sara stifled a laugh at what Josh would think of that choice. She thumbed through the dresses and pulled out two with a more modest neckline. “I think one of these would be perfect.”

Claire hesitated, then put the first dress back. “The blue one is pretty.”

Sara’s sigh of relief was interrupted by a voice behind her. “Let me know if I can be of any help,” a saleslady purred. “We’re having a great summer sale on all dresses in the store.”

Sara turned and met the woman’s critical gaze with a bright smile. “Thanks. Are the dressing rooms in the back?”

To her surprise, the woman returned her smile. “Yes. Can I take those dresses for you?”

“The blue one,” Sara answered, and released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Okay. That went well. One stranger down, dozens of others to go. She hated feeling so nervous and out of sorts, especially when Josh was along to watch her squirm.

Claire’s squealing caught her attention.

“This one,” the young girl said on a rapturous breath. Sara’s grin broadened at the soft pink fabric draped across Claire’s arm.

“It’s beautiful,” she agreed.

“What’s beautiful?” Josh asked at her shoulder.

“Dad, look at this dress. I love, love, love it.”

“Try it on then. Let’s see how it fits.”

Claire practically ran toward the dressing room. “Be right back,” she called over her shoulder.

“I don’t get women and shopping.”

Sara turned to Josh, who looked more than uncomfortable standing between racks of feminine clothes. He adjusted the bill of his baseball cap lower on his face.

Sara studied the color that crept up his neck. “Are you blushing?” she asked, and followed his gaze. “At a mannequin wearing a bra and panties?”

“I don’t blush,” he argued, adjusting his cap again. “And I like to see a real woman wearing a bra and panties.” His gaze raked her. “I’d like to see you in a bra and panties.” He paused, then added softly, “Or out of them.”

She swayed forward a fraction as her southern hemisphere revved to life. Glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one else had heard him, she pointed a finger at him. “You can’t say that here. Your daughter’s in the dressing room.”

“I know where she is, and I can say whatever I want.” His big shoulders shrugged. “I’ve got to think of something interesting to keep me going today. You need a distraction, too. You’re wound like a top.”

“I am not.” She followed his gaze and quickly let go of the wad of fabric bunched in her hand, placing the dress back on its hanger and smoothing her hand over it. “What happened to your attitude from the other night?”

A Cheshire grin spread across his face. “I got a better one.”

“I’m not sure this is any better. We agreed nothing will happen between us.”

“You agreed.” He took a step toward her, his hand brushing her bare arm. “I might buy you something to model later for me.”

Sara coughed and sputtered at his brazen words. “I don’t need you to buy me anything, and I’m not anyone’s model.”

Josh winked. “That’s more like it. I like you all full of spunk.”

“Okay, I’m ready,” Claire called from the back of the store.

Sara narrowed her eyes as Josh walked toward the dressing rooms but couldn’t quite stop herself from smiling.

He did that to her.

Their easy banter felt strangely right, and her whole body tingled at the message in his eyes when he looked at her. His attitude might be joking but his energy was intensely serious.

As she followed the sound of Claire’s voice, the saleslady grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a bathing suit display. “Just a minute,” she whispered, her head bobbing over the shelves to make sure they couldn’t be heard. “I need to ask you something.”

Here it comes, Sara thought, tension curling tight in her chest once again.

“Is that Josh Travers?” the woman asked, her eyes bright with expectation. “Are you with the Josh Travers?”

Sara blinked and looked over her shoulder. He had to have put the woman up to this. “The Josh Travers?”

The saleslady nodded. “He’s the retired PBR champ, right?”

Sara racked her brain. “Professional Bull Riders,” she said, almost to herself. “Yep, that’s him.”

“I knew it.” The woman patted her chest. “He’s even hotter in person than on TV.”

Sara felt her jaw drop. “Are you for real?”