Becca flushed. She charged ahead. It wasn’t about this guy in particular. It was any guy, just to change how the town viewed her. She needed to change the conversation, period. “I know I’m being forward. I hope you don’t mind. But . . . I figure now’s as good a time as any to ask. Want to go on a date?”

He stared at her, up and down again. There was a long, awkward pause. Then he spoke a single word.

“No.”

CHAPTER TWO

Hank said nothing as the pretty woman worked on Libby’s hair. He knew it was a mess. Knew he’d somehow failed his little daughter in a way he’d never even considered. When he was a boy, if he got gum in his hair, he’d had the entire chunk hacked out, and then his head was shaved. But one look at Libby’s tearful little face and he didn’t have the heart to do that to his daughter. It was his job to keep her safe and take care of her, and if that meant he was going to sit in a girly salon all night, then he would.

He hadn’t counted on the salon lady asking him out on a date, though.

He didn’t trust it. Women didn’t ask him out. Not that he knew a lot of women. Up in the remote wilds of Alaska, there weren’t a lot of women, and the ones that were there tended to be as rough as the men. Ever since he and his brothers had come down to Wyoming, he’d seen the looks people gave him. He knew he didn’t fit in. He scared people. His silence just made things worse.

So a pretty little thing like the salon lady asking him out? Had to be a trick.

She was nice, though. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as she patiently worked through strand after strand of Libby’s hair, her oil-slicked fingers moving deftly and separating bits of gum and peanut butter and lint. She chattered in a bright voice, talking about dolls and horses and keeping Libby laughing and smiling.

His little bit was normally a happy child, but he’d never seen her light up so much around another person. Made him a bit jealous, really.

But she was working out a large section of Libby’s hair from the gum, so he’d shut his trap and endure for his baby girl.

Hank peered over at the woman from under his lashes. Short little thing, maybe five feet in height. Long, pretty brown hair in big curls that fell down her back. Big eyes. Nice figure, too. Kinda rounded but with good hips and tits.