Lone Star Burn: Broncos & Bouquets (Kindle Worlds Novella) (3 page)

Chapter 5

Sawyer buttoned up his nicest shirt and rummaged through until he found his least worn pair of jeans. He had two pairs of boots and neither were anything he’d consider nice, but one was less ragged than the other. He then peered into the small medicine cabinet mirror above the sink. He could use a haircut, but it was too late for that. A hat wasn’t an option. He found a tube of some kind of hair stuff. Must belong to one of the other ranch hands. He tried a little and the result wasn’t too bad.
This is as good as it’s gonna get.

He climbed into one of the ranch’s pick-up trucks. He didn’t have his own vehicle. Tony had given him permission to use the ranch trucks whenever he needed, as long as he replaced the gas he used. His nerves went haywire as he drove away from the ranch and into town.

He pulled up in front of Hank’s Hardware then walked toward the back entrance that led to the apartment above it. With a shaky hand, he rang the bell. Had he ever been so nervous before? The random hook-ups over the last few years had been as meaningless for the women as they’d been for him. That had been the point. This was so different, even though it technically wasn’t a date.

But the second he laid eyes on Laney his nerves eased. His heart raced, but in a good way.

“You look…stunning.” He tried not to stare as he drank her in. Golden hair in waves, the faintest pink on her lips. Jeans that hugged her curves.

“Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.”

He offered her his arm. “Ready to go?”

“Yes.”

She seemed hesitant to take it, but when she looped her hand through and held on to him tight, warmth filled his core. It felt right. More right than anything in his life.

He led her to the truck. “I know this is technically not a date, but I couldn’t come empty-handed.”

She looked at him quizzically. “I’m intrigued.”

He opened the passenger side door, reached in, and pulled out a single red rose. “I know you see flowers all the time and I bet they’re not even that special to you anymore, but this one looked perfect to me and I wanted you to have it.”

Laney’s cheeks were pink, and more so than just her makeup. “Thank you.”

He helped her into the truck and when he opened his own door to climb in, he found her with the biggest, goofiest grin ever, her nose sunk deep in the flower.

Sawyer drove the two miles to the edge of town and the new restaurant everyone had been raving about. The place had red and white-checkered tablecloths, brick walls, lights strung above them. Every table had a candle, giving the place a glow. Perfect for a romantic date. Which he had to keep reminding himself this was not. He gave his name to the hostess and they were seated at an intimate table for two. That did not help his cause.

Conversation flowed easily, as it always did between them. He itched to touch her hand, only inches away from his. To lick the spot of pasta sauce on her lip. To tell her he was feeling things for her that he’d never felt before. But none of that was allowed. He’d promised.

They shared a bottle of wine. Not his first choice. He was happy with a beer. And not this fancy microbrew crap, either. But this red stuff wasn’t half bad.

The waitress cleared the table and promised to be back with the check.

“Excuse me,” he said as he stood. “Little boys room.”

He’d lied. And felt bad. But there was no way in hell—date or not—that he was letting her pay half the bill. He chased down the waitress and settled it, leaving her with a nice tip and a request.

Sawyer returned to the table and moments later, the waitress laid the check wallet in front of them.

Laney grabbed it, looked at it, then narrowed her eyes at him. “What did you do?”

“Nothin’.”

“It says we owe zero.” She turned it and showed it to him.

“Lucky us. Ready to go?”

“No. Not until you tell me the truth.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down, unable to hold her serious demeanor.

“Fine! I paid the bill. I’m sorry if that makes me a bad guy.”

“We had a deal.”

“We did and I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.” She stood and slung her purse over her shoulder, a self-satisfied grin. “This just means that it’s on me next time.”

She turned and headed for the door, not giving him the chance to refuse. Instead she gave him the opportunity to admire the sway of her ass. He’d take it.

Sawyer quickly caught up to her as they stepped out into the night. “There’s gonna be a next time?”

“Well, we do have to eat, after all. Might as well do it together.”

That sounded like a mighty fine plan to him. He was starting to think he’d like to eat every meal with her.

*   *   *

It was hard for Laney to even try and be mad at Sawyer. He was too damn cute. She had a feeling those baby blues could get her to agree to anything. Which could be really bad, or really really good, depending on which part of her body you asked.

He helped her into the truck then slid into his seat. A wave of sadness rolled through her. For the girl who didn’t want this to be a real date, it was going by way too fast. She didn’t want to go home yet. She didn’t want her time with him to be over.

Sawyer put the key in the ignition and turned. Nothing. He tried again. A pathetic squeal came from the front of the truck and then nothing.

“Well, this sucks.”

Maybe not. The universe worked in funny ways sometimes. “I guess you’ll have to walk me home then. It’s not that far.”

Even in the moonlight, she could see the hypnotizing blue of his eyes. “I guess so.”

They headed down the road toward the center of town, pretty dead on a Monday night, walking side by side. A light breeze blew, rustling her hair, but she wasn’t cold.

“So, if we’re gonna start eating meals together, but not going on dates,” he started. “I need to know what the rules are.”

“Okay. Let’s figure them out.”

“We can take turns paying, or split the bill. That seems fair.”

She nodded. “Or we can take turns cooking for each other.”

“That’s not happening on my end. I can’t cook.”

“That’s okay. I’ll allow you to order takeout on your nights.”

“Deal. What about alcohol. Is it allowed?”

“Definitely.”

“Dessert?”

“Mandatory.”

“Okay.” He was quiet for a second. “Do we have to eat and leave right away or can we hang out afterward?”

“Hanging out is allowed.”

The top of his hand brushed against hers, sending a tingle through her body. He moved his hand to the inside of hers, his fingertips tracing lightly against her palm. “Is hand-holding allowed?”

She kept her gaze straight ahead, but a smile bowed her lips. She physically couldn’t say no. “Only in extreme circumstances.”

He pressed his palm to hers, their fingers intertwining. He gave her a gentle squeeze, then yanked her toward the middle of the barren road. “Pile of horse shit. You almost stepped in it. I think that classifies as an extreme circumstance, given your history.” He flashed that sexy grin again.

“My shoes thank you.”

And she was completely aware that there was no pile of shit on the side of the road.

They continued walking, hands still tangled, getting closer to the center of town. Closer to her apartment. Closer to the end of the night. The end of their non-date.

“It’s amazing how different the town looks at night when there’s no one around,” she said as they passed the darkened diner.

“It’s peaceful. If this were a date, you might even say it was romantic.”

She met his gaze, heart racing as he looked down at her. She knew that look. And she was pretty sure she was looking at him with the same hunger. “I guess you could say that.”

They reached the hardware store and turned the corner; only a few more steps until they were at her door. This was it. The end of the date or non-date or whatever the hell it was. She still didn’t know what she wanted it to be. They stepped to her door, bathed in the glow of a tiny bulb above them, her hand still in his.

She faced him. “I had fun tonight. Thank you for pestering me until I said yes.”

“I wasn’t going to stop until you did.” That damn smile. So freaking sexy.

“I know. So, will I see you tomorrow? At the coffee shop?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.”

He squeezed her hand. “Goodnight, Laney.” Then he let go and stepped away.

No!
The night couldn’t end with him just walking away. Forget about all the reservations she’d had. Forget the date or non-date debate. This night had been too good, too right to end this way. But he was leaving, moving further from her.

“Sawyer. Wait.”

She ran to him, her heart thundering in her chest, and threw her arms around his neck, while his arms snaked around her. But he stood straight, silly smirk on those gorgeous lips. Lips she wanted to nibble on.

“You said no hanky panky.”

“I changed my mind.” She stretched to kiss him but he leaned back even further.

“Is this your way of begging?”

“I don’t beg for anything.”

He pressed her against the brick building, his lips barely an inch from hers, chest to chest, his hands on her waist, skin on skin. The playful smile was gone, replaced with pure desire. “I think I can make you beg. And I’m not kissing you until you do.”

Every cell in Laney’s body was electrified, sizzling with anticipation. All it would take was a few words and she’d have what she so desperately wanted. Her heart had overtaken her brain, bound and gagged with no way to stop her from doing exactly what her body wanted. What it craved.

“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Please.”

His mouth crashed into hers, rough but gentle at the same time. She pulled him tighter, the sweetness of red wine still clinging to his tongue, as they devoured each other. She could feel his heart pounding in his chest against hers, his fingertips pressed into her skin. It all made her dizzy, in the best way possible.

He pulled back, his hands moving from her waist to rest on the wall on both sides of her, his forehead pressed to hers. They stood there grinning like idiots as they caught their breath.

“That was nice,” he said.

Laney let her hands slide down from his neck to his chest. She couldn’t resist the chance to put her hands on his body, to feel the muscle that had been pressed to her only moments before. “That was a whole lot more than nice.”

“Okay, fine.” He lifted his head, goofy grin morphing into that sly sexy smile she loved. “Don’t go gettin’ a big head about it, but I think that was the best kiss I’ve ever had.”

“I think I have to agree with you.”

He dipped his head, a sweet kiss to her lips, then her jawline. He nuzzled her neck and kissed the spot right under her ear. Shivers of lust raced through her body.

“I like it when you beg,” he said.

“I hope you savored the moment, ‘cause it’s not happening again.”

“You better just be talking about the beggin’ part. I might die if I can’t have the kissin’ part again.”

“I certainly can’t have your death on my conscience.” She pressed her lips to his needing to taste him again, a gentle kiss that turned into something far more passionate, once again leaving them breathless.

He pulled back again. “I better go.”

It was the last thing she wanted, but the right thing to do. Making out on the first date was fine, but if they didn’t stop now, it was sure to turn into something they definitely should not be doing. Laney had been there, done that. The fallout had been disastrous.

“I had fun on our non-date,” he said.

“I think what happened just now qualifies it as an official date.”

“Oh really? So can the rest be dates and not just dinners?”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “I guess so.”

“Good. That’s the way I wanted it.” He gave her one last kiss, then stepped back. “Goodnight, Laney.”

“Bye.”

She watched him walk away, and even though she hadn’t planned it, hadn’t wanted it, she was excited for this new thing they’d started.

Chapter 6

Sawyer parked a few storefronts down from the coffee shop, unable to keep the grin off his face. It had been there since the night before. Not even the ice cold shower he’d taken before bed had wiped it away.

“Hey,” he said as Laney met his gaze and stepped to the counter.

“Hi. What can I get you?”

Another one of your amazing kisses.
But he’d settle for a cup of joe. “Just coffee. Plain this time.”

“No more cappuccinos for you?”

“Hell no. That was disgusting.”

She got his coffee and one for herself and they sat down together for her break. Her hand rested on the table. He flipped it, rubbing his fingers over her palm. He just needed to touch her.

“That tickles,” she said, her voice low.

“I can stop.”

“Please don’t.”

He couldn’t help his wide grin. “There you go. Beggin’ me again.”

She crinkled her nose—adorable as fuck—and stuck her tongue out.

“Don’t stick out that tongue unless you plan on using it.”

“Maybe later.”

“Does that mean we have a date for tonight?”

“We do have to eat.”

He hated to say what was coming next. “I’ll have to get back to you. The ranch is down to one truck and I have to make sure Tony doesn’t need it tonight.”

“Oh my God!” Laney’s eyes went wide and she slapped her hands over her mouth. “I totally forgot about the truck.”

“We were pretty distracted.”

“How’d you get home?”

“I called Travis, one of the other ranch hands. He picked me up and Tony called for a tow this morning.”

“I’m so sorry. I could have driven you home. And I can totally drive tonight.”

The thought didn’t sit well with him. In the last three years it hadn’t bothered him that he didn’t own his own vehicle. It did a little bit now. He couldn’t even pick Laney up for a date. But he wasn’t about to let his pride get in the way of whatever this was. “That will work.”

Sawyer wasn’t sure how it was all happening, but this thing with Laney was something special. He knew it in his gut. He’d been prepared to just get by in life. Head down, work hard, try to make up for his sins. He didn’t expect happiness or joy of any kind. He didn’t deserve it.

Laney had changed everything. He might not deserve good things, but that didn’t stop his heart from wanting them. From wanting them with her.

*   *   *

Laney walked Sawyer to the door and gave him a far more pathetic kiss than she wanted. But she was at work. It was better than nothing.

“I’ll see you later,” he said then headed outside.

Later couldn’t come soon enough.

As Laney got back to work, her thoughts were totally consumed by Sawyer. The eyes, the smile…that strong muscular body. She couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like. And it wasn’t a PG daydream.

“Excuse me? Miss?” A man’s voice snapped her out of her lusty thoughts. “My coffee is wrong.”

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” She took the cup from him. “I’ll make you a new one.”

Laney got back to work restocking the muffin and cookie displays, cleaning tables, taking care of customers, but the thoughts about Sawyer wouldn’t go away. What would they do that night? Did it even matter? She realized it didn’t. She just wanted to be with him.

“Here you go!” she said as she handed the newest customer her beverage. “Iced coffee with skim milk.”

The customer frowned. “I said almond milk.”

Laney breathed deep. Another screw-up. “I’m really sorry. Give me two seconds and I’ll have a new one for you.”

Get your head out of the clouds!
Laney really needed to find a way to stop daydreaming at work. Or she was going to have a lot of under-caffeinated people mad at her.

“Hey you!” a familiar female voice said.

Laney handed her customer the new iced coffee and turned to Sarah. “Hi!”

“So how’d it go last night?”

“Amazing.” Laney tried not to sound too girly and dreamy, but it was hard. Sarah was the only kinda-sorta friend she had to talk to. “But wait… How did you know?”

“Sawyer told me. And he seemed pretty damn excited about it.”

The tingles and butterflies returned to her chest. “Really?”

“Yeah. He’s a good guy, Laney. And I think he’s crazy about you.”

“I think I’m starting to feel a little crazy about him, too.”

The thought was exciting yet terrifying. James—the last guy she’d felt head-over-heels crazy about—had destroyed her life. But this thing she had with Sawyer was different. It had to be.