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former bull rider and underwear model. He retired at the age of thirty-five and moved to the Bay Area just two months ago, looking to meet a California girl. He was honest and open in his online dating profile about what he wanted—just two things: to settle down and to have a family “pronto.”  
    He’d decided the Bay Area was the perfect place to do just that, since it was home to his favorite company, Google, and because he’d read an article about the sexy, smart women of Silicon Valley in American Cowboy .  
    As she waited in the lobby for him to arrive, her phone vibrated in her purse. Maybe he was going to be late. She pulled her cell out and looked at the caller ID. It was her brother, Derek.
    “Hey there. Anything important? I’m waiting for my date to arrive.”
    “You pissed away five hundred bucks from Grandpa Frank? That was guaranteed money in the bank.”
    Ellie switched the phone to the other ear and sighed. “I know, I know, but these guys are nothing like their dating profiles!”
    “You’re the pickiest woman in the world.”
    Ellie loved talking to her brother … even when he gave her crap. They’d been close ever since they were kids. Derek encouraged Ellie to move to Los Angeles to attend UCLA for her Library and Information Science degree. It wasn’t until he moved to Wyoming that they didn’t talk as much. Still, it just took a few minutes on the phone to make it seem like nothing had ever changed.
    “Am not picky,” Ellie lied.
    “Obviously you don’t want the promotion bad enough.”
    Not true. Ellie had been dreaming of being Branch Manager for years. “For your information, I still have two more dates this week. That’s a potential thousand dollars. And I have to run, I see my date in the parking lot.”
    “Well don’t let what happened to you in the past affect what’s going on in your life now. Get Vlad out of your head and try to enjoy yourself. Love you.”
    “Love you too.”
    Ellie disconnected and watched as Chuck slid out of his Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, sporting a classic cow-brown suede vest with matching chocolate and pearl crocodile skin boots.  
    She tried not to judge him by what he was wearing—she didn’t like materialistic men—and wanted to give him a chance since he seemed so nice during their email exchanges and phone calls. She loved his accent.
    And he was gorgeous.  
    One thing that did not make any sense was why this guy would choose International House of Pancakes as the location for their first date. Sure, Ellie loved IHOP, but for a dinner date?  
    Ellie checked her watch. Right on time.  
    She watched through the window of the lobby as Chuck swaggered toward the front door like a runway model. Confidence. She liked that. Upon entering the restaurant, he smiled.  
    Ooh. Very nice smile.  
    Chuck took off his black beaver fur cowboy hat and held it behind his back. “Hello little lady.” He ignored her outstretched hand and kissed her on the cheek.  
    Ellie smiled. “Hi.”
    Chuck grabbed her hand and spun her around as he checked out her body. “Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit, you certainly are a looker, aren’t ya? Even better in person.”
    “Thank you.” She felt dizzy from the spin.
    He seemed to be visually measuring Ellie, his eyes shooting back and forth from her left hip to the right. “And hot damn, you’ve got a body primed for pregnancy.”
    Ellie forced a smile, certain she didn’t hear him correctly. Must have been his Texas accent. She tried to think of words that sounded like pregnancy. Ecstasy. Leprosy …
    “Excuse me, Ellie, I need to use the restroom before we sit, if you don’t mind.”
    “Of course. I’ll be right here waiting.”
    “Thank you very kindly.”
    Ellie loved his manners. She loved his backside even more.
    “Nice butt, cowboy,” said Ellie, watching each cheek move in those perfectly fitted Wrangler jeans as he walked toward the bathroom. Left. Right. Left. Right.