Country Courtship (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 2) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Kathy Carmichael
honesty.
Barbara snorted, making her nostrils expand, and not in a becoming way.
He widened his eyes at her, projecting innocence for all he was worth. "She's more likely to be my soul mate than any other woman I've ever met." He shot her his most endearing grin. "Now, won't you help me convince your sister to go out with me?"
"You are so on your own, cowboy. I don't think anything less than an act of Congress would make Kelli change her mind. It's one of those family things. She adores all of her sisters, but she's exceptionally fond of Lori."
"But—" Bobby Gray tried to interject, but Barbara wasn't having any of it.
She shook her head. "Nothing against you, mind you, but family is very important to all of us. We've been raised to value it and our duty above everything, except honesty, sincerity and integrity."
"Of course," said Ben quietly, and something in his tone made Bobby Gray start paying very close attention. "You might be able to make her change her mind—if she thinks it applies to honesty, sincerity or integrity."
"How would I go about that?"
"Dang if I know. Just saying that it's not impossible."
"Thanks for the encouragement." Like that was the least bit of help.
"I think you're both wrong," said Abby with a tilt of her head. "Kelli and Bobby Gray are meant to be together. It's total nonsense to think she's stolen you from Lori, Bobby Gray. Lori would have had to have you first."
Everyone grew silent and all eyes turned toward him.
Had him first? What were they asking? Good heavens. "Of course Lori didn't have me first—or at any time."
Abby let out a relieved sigh. "As far as I'm concerned, then, that gives you the go-ahead to pursue Kelli. You should definitely go after her."
Barbara snorted again. "I can't believe you're encouraging him."
"Someone has to." Abby fisted her hands on her hips. "All my friends think I'm the best matchmaker in Texas. You'd think my oldest and wisest sister would be a little more supportive of her baby sis."
Bobby Gray tuned out their family argument. He'd rely on his strongest trait—charm—to help him with Kelli. He didn't see how dating him could possibly appeal to any woman's sense of integrity, as Ben had suggested.
Too bad Lori had already headed out. Otherwise he'd have been able to get her to give her blessing. It's not as if they were going out with each other.
For Kelli to think she might be "stealing" him from her sister was a total misunderstanding. He was sure Lori would clear it up right away.
In the meantime, he needed to find Kelli to start convincing her that she really did want to go out with him—at least once, in College Station, in two weeks.
Or that's what he told himself.
* * *
Kelli fumed at herself. Why had she let that cowboy's smile get to her before making sure he was eligible? Just like Lori to bring a guy home and then abandon him without the introductions that would have made sure Kelli didn't accidently fall—well, maybe that was too strong a phrase—start to like said man.
At least now she knew he belonged to Lori. If Kelli avoided him, maybe her sister wouldn't be upset anymore.
The problem was, he'd been following her around the property all afternoon. She'd been barely able to avoid him.
She caught sight of her dad's security chief and she suddenly knew exactly what she needed to do.
* * *
It took Bobby Gray nearly an hour to locate Kelli. Sunset was advancing when he found her on a make-shift dance floor at the edge of the tree line past the picnic area. Streaks of pink and orange ribboned through the trees, giving her silhouette an almost neon quality. She was doing a line dance—looked like La Grange to him.
Just as he stepped onto the dance floor, armed with a new line he'd worked out about being soul mates, and how she simply had to give him a chance to prove it, his forward momentum was abruptly halted. By two men. Two large men.
The little one was built like an eighteen wheeler. And the other resembled
Barbara snorted, making her nostrils expand, and not in a becoming way.
He widened his eyes at her, projecting innocence for all he was worth. "She's more likely to be my soul mate than any other woman I've ever met." He shot her his most endearing grin. "Now, won't you help me convince your sister to go out with me?"
"You are so on your own, cowboy. I don't think anything less than an act of Congress would make Kelli change her mind. It's one of those family things. She adores all of her sisters, but she's exceptionally fond of Lori."
"But—" Bobby Gray tried to interject, but Barbara wasn't having any of it.
She shook her head. "Nothing against you, mind you, but family is very important to all of us. We've been raised to value it and our duty above everything, except honesty, sincerity and integrity."
"Of course," said Ben quietly, and something in his tone made Bobby Gray start paying very close attention. "You might be able to make her change her mind—if she thinks it applies to honesty, sincerity or integrity."
"How would I go about that?"
"Dang if I know. Just saying that it's not impossible."
"Thanks for the encouragement." Like that was the least bit of help.
"I think you're both wrong," said Abby with a tilt of her head. "Kelli and Bobby Gray are meant to be together. It's total nonsense to think she's stolen you from Lori, Bobby Gray. Lori would have had to have you first."
Everyone grew silent and all eyes turned toward him.
Had him first? What were they asking? Good heavens. "Of course Lori didn't have me first—or at any time."
Abby let out a relieved sigh. "As far as I'm concerned, then, that gives you the go-ahead to pursue Kelli. You should definitely go after her."
Barbara snorted again. "I can't believe you're encouraging him."
"Someone has to." Abby fisted her hands on her hips. "All my friends think I'm the best matchmaker in Texas. You'd think my oldest and wisest sister would be a little more supportive of her baby sis."
Bobby Gray tuned out their family argument. He'd rely on his strongest trait—charm—to help him with Kelli. He didn't see how dating him could possibly appeal to any woman's sense of integrity, as Ben had suggested.
Too bad Lori had already headed out. Otherwise he'd have been able to get her to give her blessing. It's not as if they were going out with each other.
For Kelli to think she might be "stealing" him from her sister was a total misunderstanding. He was sure Lori would clear it up right away.
In the meantime, he needed to find Kelli to start convincing her that she really did want to go out with him—at least once, in College Station, in two weeks.
Or that's what he told himself.
* * *
Kelli fumed at herself. Why had she let that cowboy's smile get to her before making sure he was eligible? Just like Lori to bring a guy home and then abandon him without the introductions that would have made sure Kelli didn't accidently fall—well, maybe that was too strong a phrase—start to like said man.
At least now she knew he belonged to Lori. If Kelli avoided him, maybe her sister wouldn't be upset anymore.
The problem was, he'd been following her around the property all afternoon. She'd been barely able to avoid him.
She caught sight of her dad's security chief and she suddenly knew exactly what she needed to do.
* * *
It took Bobby Gray nearly an hour to locate Kelli. Sunset was advancing when he found her on a make-shift dance floor at the edge of the tree line past the picnic area. Streaks of pink and orange ribboned through the trees, giving her silhouette an almost neon quality. She was doing a line dance—looked like La Grange to him.
Just as he stepped onto the dance floor, armed with a new line he'd worked out about being soul mates, and how she simply had to give him a chance to prove it, his forward momentum was abruptly halted. By two men. Two large men.
The little one was built like an eighteen wheeler. And the other resembled
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