Page 21 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

Everyone chuckled and they made their way to the kitchen. For some reason Sam couldn’t figure, he held back, waiting for her by the door. She’d told him not to compliment her, yet he couldn’t think of much else to say. She looked amazing.

She faced him at the front door, her green eyes aglitter.

He stared at her.

“Thanks for tonight,” she said.

He swallowed hard. “Sure.”

She gestured toward the door he seemed to be blocking. “Are you going to let me out?”

“I shouldn’t,” he mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just uh, have a nice time.”

“I hope to, if you’d just move out of the way.”

“Oh, uh. Sure.” He opened the door for her and then stepped away. “Be careful.”

She glanced at him, puzzled.

“The weather. It’s a cold one. A storm might be coming.”

She nodded. “Sam, with you, sometimes I think I have two dads.” And with that, she walked out the door, leaving him to wonder why in hell he was so tongue-tied around her lately. Why couldn’t he just have let her leave? She wasn’t his… responsibility, his concern, hisanything.

And that dad comment really stuck in his craw.

He turned to find Garrett watching him from the kitchen doorway. “Hey, man, why don’t you do yourself a favor and ask the girl out.”

“I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair. I’m not…” What could he say?

He was twice wary of getting involved with Autumn. She was Joe’s little sister and he’d already hurt her once. And he wasn’t over Hilary’s betrayal of trust. Those were two very valid reasons for a man who wasn’t sure of his future.

“You’re not what?”

“I’m not… ready.”

“I get that,” Garrett said.

And Sam believed him. Garrett and Nicole had to overcome quite a bit before finding love with each other. So, his future brother-in-law knew what he was going through.

“Why not join the game and forget about the pretty woman in the little black dress for a while.”

“I can do that,” Sam said walking past him, heading toward the kitchen, not entirely sure his mind would be on the game at all tonight.

*

Autumn took afinal sip of her margarita. Sitting at a table at the Last Stand Saloon, she’d almost forgotten what a night out with the girls felt like. The laughter, the music, the camaraderie all sank into her bones, making her realize what she’d been missing. Making her vow to seek new friendships and enjoy life a little bit more. Thanks to Nicole, and well, her brother, Sam, Autumn was having one of the best times of her life.

“Want another round?” the waitress asked.

She glanced at her phone, noting the time. “Not for me,” she said. “I have to drive home.”

Nicole nodded. “It’s getting late, and three of us have to teach school tomorrow. We’d better not all show up with hangovers.”

They’d dined on appetizers and eaten a full meal, then shared the most decadent seven-layer chocolate cake, the piece almost the size of Texas itself, all the while sipping margaritas, telling jokes, sharing secrets, and laughing at the most nonsensical things.

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