The Cowboy and the New Year's Baby by Sherryl Woods

happen exactly like that, but yes, I suppose I’m the one who planted the idea.”
    “I think it’s a brilliant idea. It would be wonderful not to have to drive all the way over to Garden City just to pick up a paperback.”
    “Sharon Lynn stocks paperbacks at Dolan’s,” he pointed out. “Maybe she’s thinking of expanding. How’s she going to feel about a bookstore going in?”
    “She only carries a few bestsellers,” Kelly said dismissively. “Not nearly enough for an avid reader. Besides, she thinks they’re a nuisance.”
    He twisted his hat in his hands. “Yeah, well, it probably won’t work out. I doubt there’s any property available on Main Street.”
    “Actually, there is,” Kelly said, clearly enjoying his discomfort. “I checked it out today. That little tailor shop right next door to Dolan’s is closing. I think it’s the perfect size for a bookstore, don’t you? With a little work, it would be wonderfully cozy. And the rent is reasonable. More than reasonable, really. Trish couldn’t believe it.”
    Hardy bit back a groan. “Harlan Adams wouldn’t by any chance own that property, would he?” he asked suspiciously. If the man hadn’t owned it this morning, he probably did by now.
    Kelly beamed. “Why, as a matter of fact, he does.”
    “I don’t suppose it was his idea to boot the tailor shop out of there?”
    “Of course not. Willetta’s eyes aren’t what they used to be. Can’t thread a needle if you can’t see, you know. She’s been wanting to retire for a long time. She finally made the decision to join her sister in Arizona.”
    It wouldn’t surprise Hardy to discover that HarlanAdams was paying her moving expenses and giving her some sort of payoff to get her out of there.
    “Funny, I hadn’t heard a thing about that,” he said, watching Kelly’s face for any sign of a telltale blush. She didn’t so much as blink.
    “It was a recent decision,” she told him, then glanced upstairs. “Oh, here’s Trish now. Doesn’t she look wonderful?”
    Hardy didn’t need any coaching to agree. She looked fabulous. She was wearing a dark-blue wool skirt that fell to midcalf, boots, and a pale-blue sweater that looked so soft he had to stop himself from reaching out to brush his fingers over it. She’d worn her hair down, so that it skimmed her shoulders in soft waves. Suddenly he felt just as he had in high school when he’d picked up his date for the senior prom. He was flustered and tongue-tied. Why was it this woman could reduce him to a jumble of nerves, when no other woman on earth could?
    “Ready to go?” he asked, his tone brusque.
    “Absolutely.”
    He turned to Kelly. “We won’t be long,” he said, as if she’d just reminded him of some curfew.
    “Stay as long as you like,” she retorted, her eyes glittering with amusement. “I don’t have any plans for this evening. Laura and I will be just fine.”
    After they were settled in his truck and on the way, Trish turned in the seat to face him. “It’s very nice of you to do this,” she said.
    “No problem.”
    “It’s great to be able to start thinking about the future, making plans. For a long time all I thoughtabout was getting away from Houston, away from my father, away from…well, everything.”
    “Including Laura’s father?”
    “Him most of all, I suppose.”
    “Have you told him about her?”
    “No, but I’m sure my father has. They’re very tight.”
    Hardy gritted his teeth. “Is that so?”
    “Jack works for him. He’s been envisioning a vice presidency ever since he and I started dating. I’m sure it must be a huge disappointment to him to think he might actually have to earn it.”
    Hardy shot a look at her. “You don’t think much of the man, do you?”
    “I did for a while. He was handsome and charming. He courted me with fancy dinners and thoughtful little gifts. I got caught up in the romance.”
    “Doesn’t sound so bad to me. What happened?”
    “It turned out I