Vicki Thompson - Do You Take This Cowboy?

“So you went to New Zealand.”

“Yes, ma’am. I knew they would have wanted me to.”

“Well, then.” She managed to give him a smile. “I can’t wait to see what adventure you choose next.”

He smiled back. “Who knows? You might want to be a part of it.”

“You know, I just might.”

Chapter Four

As dusk arrived along with a cool breeze, Austin decided they should sit closer to the fire while they ate. He switched on the lantern he’d brought but kept it on low to preserve the ambience. As he settled down next to Drew on the blanket, he could feel the hum of sexual tension moving back through his system.

He did his best to ignore it and tucked into the stir-fry. It had turned out fairly well, which was a relief. Multitasking had never been one of his favorite ways to operate and he wouldn’t have chosen to cook dinner while telling his life story. But he’d known those facts had to come out, and the sooner the better. If he expected to spend more time with Drew, she needed to hear about his folks.

But he wanted to know her story, too. She’d worn the pearl-and-diamond pendant again tonight with a long-sleeved cotton shirt and jeans. Clearly it was important to her, so he decided to start with that. He mentioned that he’d noticed it when they’d first met.

She glanced down at the pendant as if she’d forgotten it was there. “My grandmother gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday.”

“You had it on earlier today, too.” Her scent, light and sweet, mingled with the aroma of wood smoke from the fire. It was an arousing combination.

“I wear it every day. I didn’t use to, though.” She picked up her wineglass and drank what was left in it.

“More?” He reached for the bottle.

“Sure.”

“Might as well finish off the bottle.” He divided the rest between them. “So when did you start wearing it all the time?”

“After she died last October. Wearing it makes me feel close to her again.”

“Ah.” He should have guessed something like that. “I’m sorry.”

She put down her fork and looked over at him. “Me, too, but she was ninety-three and wasn’t well. I miss her like crazy, but that’s all about me. She was ready.”

“Ninety-three. That’s a good run.” He wondered if she realized she was now holding on to the pendant and moving it slowly back and forth along its chain.

“She had a full life, although not one I would have chosen. My mother was the youngest of nine children.”

“Whew.”

“I know. My mom has a framed picture of my grandparents surrounded by all those kids. I would have gone insane with a brood like that depending on me, constantly needing things, but in the picture she looks serene. That’s something I admired about her. Our family is huge and when we all get together it’s a circus. Nonna Elena took it all in stride.”

“Rosie’s like that. Growing up, there could’ve been ten or eleven of us running around, more if we’d invited our friends over, and she hardly ever lost her cool. When she needed us to behave, though, all she had to do was give us The Look.”

Drew smiled. “Nonna Elena had that technique down, too. We used to say she could cut glass with The Look.”

“How many of that crew lives in Billings?”

“Most of them.” She let go of the pendant, picked up her fork and went back to her meal. “Did I remember to tell you this is really good? I’ve been so busy eating it I might not have.”

“Since you weren’t gagging and choking, I figured you were okay with it. Save room for dessert, though. I bought brownies at the bakery while I was in town.” He noticed she’d changed the subject. Was that on purpose?

“I love brownies, but I want to finish this, which means I’ll be too full for dessert. Can we wait awhile?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m flattered you like the stir-fry so much.”

“It’s great.”

“Want the recipe?” He grinned at her.

“How about I just talk you into making it for me again sometime?”

“Love to.”

“I look forward to it.” She went back to eating.

He did, too, but he wanted to find out if the change of subject had been deliberate. “Do you miss living close to your family?”

She finished chewing and swallowed. “Sometimes, I guess.” Then she shook her head. “At the risk of sounding awful, no, I don’t really miss that. If we were in Billings right now, I could expect several texts tonight wanting info about my date. I’m thrilled that they don’t even know you exist.”

“Gonna keep me a secret?” He finished off his meal and set aside his plate.

“For now, if you don’t mind. I love them all and they love me, but we’re too enmeshed, at least in my estimation. I came to Sheridan to escape the lack of privacy and the constant expectations.”

“A lot of privacy out here.” Seductive privacy that was working on him the longer they sat within inches of each other. By turning his head a fraction, he could study her profile—her high, intelligent forehead, thick dark lashes, prominent cheekbones and plump lips, which he’d longed to taste ever since he’d had his first glimpse of them while lying under the sink.

“Yes, I like this a lot. Much better than a crowded restaurant.” She scooped up her last bite and ate it.

“And no obligations.”

She put down her plate and gazed at him. “I like that a lot, too.”

“For example, just because I brought you out here to this extremely secluded place, fed you a good dinner and served you some excellent wine, you’re not obliged to kiss me.”

Her full mouth widened in a smile. “Really?”

“Scout’s honor. And that’s legit because I was a Boy Scout.”

“That doesn’t surprise me at all. Okay, then I’ll point out that just because I showered, changed clothes and drove out here to meet you when I could have spent the evening watching a movie in my grubby old sweats, you’re not obliged to kiss me, either.”

“Now that’s where you’re wrong.” He laid his hat on the blanket before reaching out to cup her cheek. Her skin felt so delicate that he lightened his touch. “I have a huge obligation after you made all those sacrifices.” He rubbed his thumb gently over skin soft as a rose petal.

Her breath hitched. “It was nothing.”

“That’s not the way I heard it.” He leaned closer and watched her eyes flutter closed and her lips part in invitation. “Sounds to me like you went to a lot of trouble to be here.”

“On second thought, maybe I did.”

“Let me make it up to you.” His heart thundered as he brushed his mouth over her velvet lips. He could barely feel her hand as she slipped it around his neck, yet knowing she’d reached for him heated his blood.

He moaned and fit his lips to hers, pressing a little, then a little more. Her grip on his neck tightened a tiny bit. Slowly he began to explore with his tongue, savoring the warm, arousing taste of her. Her jaw slackened ever so slightly. Easy, easy...

Drawing back, he changed the angle, settling down more firmly this time and becoming bolder with his tongue. A tiny whimper, a quick gasp, and she surrendered completely, opening to him with a rush of passion that made him dizzy.

He rose to his knees and cradled her face in both hands. She mirrored him, gripping his shoulders as she balanced on her knees and turned fully into his kiss, her intensity matching his.

Breathing hard, he lifted his head. “We should probably—”

“I know.” She gulped for air and leaned back, but she didn’t let go of him. “This is crazy.”

“Feels good, though.”

“It does, but...” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I think—” She sucked in a breath and let it out again. “I think we need to slow down.”