LITMIR.BIZ

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father, Frank. All too aware of ranch finances, Colton didn’t want to provide any extra strain. His father was still strong and healthy, but his back wasn’t the best. Colton wanted to ease his burdens, not make them worse.

      As he climbed the steps to the porch, he thought of Stacey again and made a decision. He was going to try to find a way to help bring back her sunny disposition. There had to be a way. Passing by the den, he saw his sister Rachel watching a reality matchmaker show on television. Those kinds of shows drove him crazy. He couldn’t understand why Rachel watched them. The couples never ended up staying together. Obviously he didn’t understand the female psyche.

      Colton shrugged. Maybe he should pick Rachel’s brain. Not only was she female, but she was also Stacey’s best friend. Perhaps she could give him a few ideas. He grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, then returned to the den and sank onto a chair.

      “How’s it going?” he asked when Rachel couldn’t seem to tear her attention from the television show.

      “Pretty good,” she said, glancing at him. “I’m taking a little break from making lesson plans for student teaching. How about you?”

      “Good,” he said. “It’s quiet. No trouble. Have you heard anything about Dad’s back?”

      “Not lately,” she said. “I wish he would go to the doctor. I don’t see how he’s going to get better if he doesn’t try to do anything about it.”

      “I try to keep him from doing things that might hurt him, but I can’t be by his side every minute,” he said.

      “True,” she said. “He’s lucky you’re around as much as you are.” She shot him a playful smile. “Colton, the saint.”

      “Yeah, right,” he said in a dark voice. “Listen, I wanted to ask you something.”

      “What’s that?” she asked, glancing back at the television. “Mom told me to tell you there’s a potpie in the fridge if you want to heat it up for dinner.”

      “I’m not asking about dinner. I want to know what women want,” he said.

      She swiveled her head around to gape at him. “Well, that’s a loaded question.”

      He lifted his shoulders. “Seems pretty straight-on to me. What do women want?”

      Rachel laughed. “There’s no one perfect answer. It depends on the woman.” She looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. “Who do you have in mind?”

      Colton resisted the urge to squirm under her inquisitive gaze. He’d rather die than admit he had Stacey on his mind. “Forget I said anything,” he said and started to rise.

      “Now, wait just a minute. You asked me a question. The least you can do is give me a chance to try to give you some suggestions.” She looked at him suspiciously. “Although I can’t help wondering who you’re trying to please. And I don’t have to tell you that nothing stays secret in Horseback Hollow for long.”

      “I know,” he said.

      Rachel sighed in frustration. “Well, there are the die-hard regulars,” she said. “Roses and flowers.”

      Colton shook his head. “Nothing that obvious.”

      “Hmm,” Rachel said. “The truth is that what most women want is a man who listens.”

      Colton frowned and shook his head. “That can’t be it.”

      Rachel stared at him for a long moment. “I have an idea,” she said, picking up her cell phone and dialing.

      “What are you doing?” he asked, but his sister wasn’t paying any attention to him.

      “Stacey,” Rachel said, sliding Colton a sly glance. “My brother needs a consultation. Can you come over?”

      Colton nearly croaked. “Stacey?” he echoed.

      Rachel nodded. “Great,” she said into the phone. “See you in a few minutes.” She disconnected the call and smiled at Colton. “This is great. You’ll have advice from two women instead of just one.”

      Oh, Lord, what had he gotten himself into? “I think I’ll heat up some of that potpie,” Colton said, hatching an escape plan.

      “Don’t go too far. Stacey will be here soon,” Rachel said, then shot him a crafty glance. “And don’t take off for your bedroom. I know where to find you.”

      Colton stifled a groan. This was why he needed his own place. He was too accessible. Colton heated the potpie and returned to the den, telling himself he would set a mental time limit of fifteen minutes for the insanity about to ensue. He scarfed down as much food as possible during the next few moments.

      A knock sounded at the door, but Stacey didn’t wait for anyone to answer. She’d been bursting through that door as long as he could remember. “Hey, Rachel, I’m here,” she called as she made her way to the den. Dressed in a winter-white coat, she carried her baby on her hip with ease. Piper wore a red coat and cap, and her cheeks were flushed with good health. She stared curiously around the room with her big, green eyes.

      “Give me that sweet baby,” Rachel said, rushing to reach for Piper.

      Piper allowed herself to be taken from Stacey, but the baby watched to make sure her mama was in sight. Rachel unfastened the baby’s coat and took off her cap.

      Stacey shrugged out of her own coat and glanced from Rachel to Colton. “What’s this about a consultation? Why on earth would Colton need a consultation from us?”

      Rachel’s face lit with mischief. “Colton asked me what women really want. We need to brainstorm Colton’s love life.”

      Stacey looked at Colton in confusion. “I always thought Colton got along as well as he wanted to in that department. I’ve heard from a few girls who—” She cleared her throat. “Well, they seemed to like him just fine.”

      “Thank you, Stacey. I have gotten along just fine in that department, despite my sister’s opinion,” he said in a dry voice.

      Rachel jiggled the baby on her hip. “Well, this one must be different if you’re asking me what women want,” Rachel said.

      Colton checked his watch. Thirteen minutes to go. This was going to feel like an eternity.

      “Who is this girl?” Stacey asked, curiously gazing at Colton.

      “He won’t tell,” Rachel answered for him.

      Colton figured his sister was good for something.

      “Well, what kind of woman is she? Country or city?” Stacey asked.

      “If she’s here, she’s only one kind,” Rachel said. “Country. We have no city to speak of.”

      “Hmm,” Stacey said, and Colton again resisted the urge to squirm. “You could take her to dinner.”

      “Out of town,” Rachel added. “People are so nosy here.”

      “Flowers would be good,” Stacey said.

      “He said flowers are too obvious,” Rachel said.

      Stacey frowned. “Too obvious?” she echoed.

      “What if I just wanted to cheer her up?” Colton asked. “What if I don’t necessarily want to date her?”

      Rachel scowled. “Oh, that’s a totally different matter. You don’t want to be with her?”

      Colton ground his teeth. “That’s not the priority.”

      “So, you may want to be with her in the future?” Rachel asked.

      “Let’s deal with the present,” he said in a grumbly voice.

      “In that case—” Rachel said.

      “Just visit her,” Stacey said

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