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then
    hooked his thumbs in his belt loops, cocking his hip as he looked
    around the cabin. “Doesn’t seem like enough luggage for a woman
    moving in permanently.”
    “I shipped some things, but I don’t believe they’ve arrived,” she
    paused and seemed to feel the need to explain more. “I wasn’t sure

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    Lori King
    what I’d need and what would be supplied, so I left a lot of things in
    storage back in Philadelphia. When I go back for a visit I’ll finish
    clearing it out.”
    Hawke let his eyes run down her form, taking in every curve and
    edge of her slender frame. She looked fragile, like a good gust of
    wind could blow her off her feet, and yet there was an inner strength
    behind her dark eyes. “Are you settling in okay?”
    “I haven’t had a chance yet. Lacy just walked me over here a
    moment ago.” Her fingers were laced together in front of her, and he
    stared at the dainty digits in wonder. How did she even use such tiny
    hands?
    “I can show you around if you’d like,” he offered, letting a
    flirtatious smile brighten his face. “Give you the nickel tour?”
    She took a small step away and shook her head. “Thank you, but
    I think I want to unpack and rest until dinner. I appreciate the offer
    though.”
    The awkward refusal hung in the air, and Hawke chewed on it
    for a few minutes. He wasn’t used to women turning him down. He
    was a pretty good-looking guy if he said so himself, and his
    ownership of Crawley Creek had made him an eligible bachelor of
    epic proportions in this region. It was entirely possible she was
    telling the truth and just too tired to wander around. The longer he
    thought about it, the more he doubted his appeal in her eyes. He’d
    never asked out a woman who was a white collar professional, and
    based on the clothes she wore, she was used to the best.
    “Are you really a doctor?” he asked, grimacing at how rude it
    sounded when she frowned at him.
    “I have my PhD in Psychology, yes,” she responded. When he
    didn’t say anything else, her eyes narrowed. “Would you like to see
    my diploma?”
    Chagrined, he shook his head. “Sorry. You just seem too young
    to be a doctor.”
    “I’m hardly a child.” Her laugh was melodic, tinkling in the air
    like a set of wind chimes in the summer breeze. Hawke felt his body
    respond instantly.

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    Claiming His Cowgirl
    “No, I can see you’re all woman,” he said, lifting an eyebrow in
    challenge. Much to his disappointment she didn’t rise to the bait.
    “Thank you again, Hawke, for bringing my luggage in.” Her
    eyes darted to the door and the implication was clear. She was done
    with their conversation.
    “All right, I’ll take a rain check on that tour.” Hurrying for the
    door, he glanced back to see her watching him. “It’s nice to meet you
    Dr. Hall. I’ll see you soon.”
    Walking away from her was the hardest thing he’d ever done,
    and he’d rocked one hell of a hard life. It gave him some measure of
    relief that he could feel her eyes on him until he disappeared from
    view.
    He loved women, almost as much as he loved owning a piece of
    Crawley Creek. In the last few weeks his life had changed course
    because Romeo had fallen for Franki and officially gone off the
    market. That left him as the playboy of the family, and he’d been
    getting more pussy than ever before. It was fantastic and unsettling.
    He realized that most of the women looking for his company were
    after the whole shebang. They wanted to hook a ring through his nose
    and drag him down the aisle so they could get a piece of Crawley
    Creek, but that wasn’t going to happen.
    He was only twenty-eight; there was no reason to get roped into
    anything permanent, but that didn’t mean he didn’t like a challenge.
    As prickly as she was, Dr. Jeanette Hall had just landed herself right
    in the middle of his radar, and he’d be damned if he’d lose his bead
    on her now.

    27
    Lori King

    28

Chapter 4
    August 1 – Wedding