Cowboy Love (6 page)

She shifted on the blanket, lying on her side with her hand beneath her head.

"No, I reckon not. I hadn't thought too far ahead yet, not much past the next couple of years. I'm hopin' to get a recordin' contract someday. I'd love to be able to perform for a livin', but it's such a cutthroat market, you never know. We don't do so badly with what we have, but I won't get rich that way." He let his eyes caress her face then settle on her lips. "What about you?"

"I'm happy at the hospital, with my job anyway. My love life sucks at the moment, but hopefully it won't stay that way."

Frowning, he asked, "Why does your love life suck?"

"I just haven't had much luck with relationships lately."

"I know what you mean. I've had my own troubles."

"A nice looking guy like you?" She appeared not to believe him and he laughed.

"Yeah. It's not easy when you play in a band. There are usually women that like to hang around, you know, but you are never sure exactly what they are after."

"I guess I understand."

"What I mean is, you saw those girls hangin' around at the bar last night, right?" He shifted, folding his arms across his knees.

"Most of them have slept with half of my band members."

"But not you?" She squinted as she looked at him with a questioning raise of her eyebrow.

"No. I don't like sloppy seconds. Its one thing if I dated them first and they moved onto someone else, but I don't share well. They want to be with someone they think may have money in the end." Turning the conversation back to her, he asked, "What about you? A pretty girl like you isn't married?"

She gave him a sideways grin. "No, never. I guess I haven't found the perfect person for me yet. I've had a few serious relationships, but nothing that has gotten to the point of marriage. Have you?"

"Yeah, once," he replied.

"Been married?"

"No, almost, though. It wasn't a pleasant experience and one I'd rather not talk about."

"No problem," he replied coming to his feet and holding out his hand to help her rise. "Shall we head for the house?"

* * * *

Confused at his sudden turn of demeanor, she let him help her to her feet. Reaching for the remnants of their lunch, she helped pack everything away as the now uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Slipping their shoes and socks back on, they re-cinched the saddles and prepared to mount, while she examined him over the horse's back. He sure did not want to talk about his almost marriage, but now it bothered her. What was she like? Was she pretty? Was it one of those women at the bar? No, she did not think so by the way he acted last night. He obviously knew them, but he wasn't uncomfortable around them like she assumed he might be around someone he almost married.

They checked to make sure nothing had been left behind, remounted and slowly walked the animals, following the riverbank.

Tanner talked about everything other than his engagement while they rode. He asked more about her job at the hospital and he told her some of his plans for the band. They finally reached his house about five, heading the horses toward the barn.

"Are you hungry?" he asked as they dismounted and pulled the saddles off.

"Where would you like to go for supper?"

"Doesn't matter to me. I'm not a really picky eater, but I love red meat."

Giving her a quick, sexy grin, he said, "A girl after my own heart. How about steak?"

"Sounds good, but I need to shower before we go anywhere. I like the scent of horses, but not on me."

"All right. I'll take care of them if you want to head back to Chris' place. I'll pick you up in about an hour."

"I like that plan. I'll see you then." She glanced in his direction as she left the barn, a small smile gracing her lips.

* * * *

Chris pulled the little black dress out she had purchased yesterday. "I can't wear that!"

"Why not? It's gorgeous on you."

"That's one of those dresses you put on when you are thinking of possibly getting lucky or want to knock the guys' socks off."

"This isn't your first date, and well, aren't you?"

"Aren't I what?" Amy said absently, searching through the things she brought for something suitable to wear.

"Hoping to get lucky or just knock his socks off."

Her shocked expression must have been hilarious as Chris laughed. Heat curled up her neck and splashed across her cheeks, giving away the secret of her growing attraction to Tanner.

"I knew it!" Chris exclaimed.

"Stop, for crying out loud. I've only known the guy for a couple of days."

"I still think you should wear the dress."

With a heavy sigh, she agreed. "I didn't bring anything else that seems appropriate. I hadn't expected to be going on a date."

"I knew you'd see it my way. Here." Chris laughed and handed the dress to her. She took it into the bathroom, slipping the dress over the black bra and panties. She touched up her makeup, splashed on a bit of some of her favorite perfume, pulled her hair up on her head, letting a couple of tendrils tickle her shoulder, and she was ready.

"Well?" Amy asked buckling the shoes she'd bought as well.

"I suspect he will be speechless when he sees you. You look awesome!"

"Thanks, but I'm not doing this to impress him. I don't want to be the pretty thing on someone's arm anymore."

"Nothing wrong with looking beautiful, Am. Tanner is a simple guy, but I'm sure he appreciates a ravishing woman." They heard the doorbell ring down the hall. "Must be him."

Her stomach tightened, her heart jumped in her breast and her palms started to sweat. She sucked in a steady breath, pulled the door of the bedroom open and walked down the hall into the living room. Catherine had already invited him in and he stood with his back to her, talking with Robert.

"Ah, there she is," Catherine said as Amy walked through the doorway. When Tanner turned around, the appreciation in his eyes was worth every minute she had spent in the bathroom.

Dressed much as he had been the night before at the bar, his starched white shirt had small blue stripes running down the front, pressed jeans and brushed clean boots, along with the standard stark black cowboy hat, he was a sight to be seen.
Damn! He's gorgeous.

"Wow! You look fantastic!" He quickly walked to her side and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. "All set?"

"Yes, just let me grab my purse." She reached over and picked up her small bag from the table as they approached the door.

"Make sure you have her home by midnight, young man," Catherine said sternly. As both sets of eyes turned in her direction, she laughed. "I'm kidding!"

The couple smiled and Tanner opened the front door, ushering her outside and closing it behind them.

Once she sat comfortable inside, she watched from behind the windshield as he moved around to the driver's side, her heart beating wildly in her chest. He swung open the door and slid onto the seat. He started the engine and graced her with a devilishly sexy smile.

Silence prevailed in the truck as they drove down the now darkening road toward town. The hair stood up on her arms as her heart continued to hammer against her ribs when she thought of being alone with him.

"What do you want to do after supper?" His voice broke the silence enveloping them. "We could go to Pete's if you'd like."

"You don't have to play tonight?"

"No. The other guy and I switch off. That way we both aren't tied up durin' the whole weekend. I'll be playin' on Wednesday night this week."

"Ah. Pete's is fine."

"Good. I can dance with you again," he said with a smile.

She smiled in return, giving him a sideways glance. They continued to the restaurant in silence. Once he had parked the truck, he walked around, and opened her door, taking her hand in his as she slid out, tucking her fingers into the crook of his elbow.

Once inside, a waiter met them. "Hey, Tanner. How's it going?"

"Good, Matt. How have you been?"

"Not bad, working a lot. Who's the pretty lady with you?"

"This is Amy Russell. She's a friend of Chris Robins from Dallas." Tanner smiled at her, the dimple peeking out of his cheek and appreciation clear in his eyes.

"Nice to meet you, Amy. Let me see if I can find you two a special table." Matt moved toward the podium with the restaurant seating sketched out. "This way. I have the perfect one." Matt grabbed two menus and pointed the way for Tanner and Amy to follow.

Acutely aware of the man next to her, all six feet of him as they walked side-by-side, she proudly lifted her chin, noticing the many stares of the other women in the restaurant. The scent of musk and man reached her sensitive nose, making her feel all liquid inside, as her heart thumped to its own excited tempo.

Matt led them to a little area sitting in the back secluded corner of the room. A small candle burned, illuminating the quaint space and Amy noticed a single white rose lying across the placemat. The table was obviously reserved. She did not quite understanding why Matt seated them there until Tanner pulled out the chair where the flower rested.

Raising her surprised gaze to his, she said, "What's this?"

"Call me a romantic. I thought you'd like it." He shrugged.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, her eyes getting a little misty. None of the men she had ever gone out with before thought to do such a small thing and the tender gesture quickly raised Tanner to the top of her list. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, but it wasn't anythin'." Tanner blushed as he took the seat across from her.

You have no idea how much this means.

"Order whatever you like. The rib-eye is good."

Picking up the menu and setting the rose to her left, she tried to focus on the selection of food. She kept peeking over the top of the laminated pictures to look at the man before her, unable to decide if he was real. If she didn't know better, she might think he had just walked out of one of her romance novels.

Once their selections were made, Matt took their order and disappeared toward the kitchen.

Tanner sipped the water sitting in front of him. "Pete's is usually pretty busy on the weekends. Are you sure you want to go there?"

"Whatever is fine. I'm here to enjoy your company, nothing more." She traced the water droplets on her glass, peeking at Tanner through her lashes.

The corners of his lips turned up and she had the insane urge to suck his bottom lip into her mouth and nibble. Lost in her steamy thoughts, she almost missed what he said.

"That's fine with me."

Matt arrived at the table with their salads and drinks. Amy picked up her fork and stabbed at a piece of lettuce. The tang of the Italian dressing danced on her taste buds as she chewed, the aroma of seared meat wafting in the air, making her mouth water.

Gazing across the table, she wondered what he was thinking as his eyes twinkled in the dim light, almost like he knew the images racing across her mind. Her sight moved down his freshly shaven chin, down his throat as she contemplated running her tongue along the column, licking and sucking on the soft skin into her mouth. His shirt opened at the collar and the curling hairs of his chest peeked out, daring her to run her fingers through them.

"Does your family visit you in Dallas at all?" His question brought her thoughts back to their present location, instead of the steamy encounter she had begun to imagine.

"Not very often. Dad has a hard time sitting with his bad knees so it's easier for me to visit them."

"I can imagine." He smiled across the table and her heart skipped a beat as heat rushing through her blood, making her shift uncomfortably in the chair.

"So, what department do you work in?"

"Chris and I work in the critical care unit. We take care of patients on ventilators, or people fresh out of open-heart surgery. Ours are the sickest of the sick."

"I imagine your job is rewardin' though."

"Sometimes, but other times things get rough. If we lose someone we've been taking care of for a while, it's bad. It's really hard when there is a wife or husband. To see such love between two people and then their other half is gone so quickly..." Her voice trailed off to a whisper, and she dipped her head to hide the pain.

"I bet you tend to wear your heart on your sleeve."

He picked up her hand in his, turning it over and kissing the inside of her wrist. The soft kiss sent a tingle all the way up her arm and settled itself in her belly as their eyes met.

The moment disappeared as Matt returned with the rest of their food and Tanner let go of her hand. She slid the appendage back onto her lap, trailing her finger over the spot he had kissed.

The food tasted wonderful. The steak was prepared perfectly, slightly pink in the middle, a delicious marinade kept the meat moist and tender – almost tender enough to cut with a fork. Tanner told her stories of growing up in Brenham and by the time they finished eating, she laughed so hard, her stomach hurt. "Okay, stop." She giggled, holding her side. "I can't take it anymore."

* * * *

Tanner's mouth curved into a smile. Her laughter strummed his heart strings and his chest ached for the sound. He could easily picture spending the rest of his life with her.

"You two sound like you are having a good time over here. Anything else I can get for you?" Matt asked as he laid the bill onto the tabletop.

"I think that's it." Tanner reached behind him and slipped the wallet out of his back pocket, laying some money on top of the check.

"Great. I'll be right back with this," Matt replied as he left the table.

Amy grasped her purse, intending to leave the tip, but he stopped her. "I've got it."

"Let me get the tip at least, Tanner." She grabbed ten dollars from her wallet, intent on leaving some money for the waiter.

"I said I got it. My treat, Amy. I asked you out, remember?"

Shaking her head, she gave him a small smile. "All right, but next time, it's my turn."

Blushing as she realized what she had said, she shrugged. "Yeah. You never know when we might run into each other again."