Page 18 of Cowboy Stalker
Aunt Dorothy gestures for me to follow and goes into the guest bedroom. She disappears into the walk-in closet and returns a few minutes later, nudging me to stand in the full-length mirror in the bathroom.
When we’re in there, she fastens a string of pearls around my neck without letting Daisy grab the delicate strand. “These are genuine,” she says when I run my fingertips along the beautiful necklace. “It’s an heirloom that’s been in our family for three generations.”
I don’t know what to say to that, especially when she slips a matching bracelet on my wrist. It’s timeless and classic. She follows it up with earrings to complete the set.
She applies a coat of red lipstick to my lips. By the time she’s done, I look like a fifties pin-up model. I’ve never felt as glamorous as I do right now.
“Thank you,” I whisper to her.
The doorbell rings, and butterflies take flight in my belly. He’s here. Griffin is here for our date.
“I don’t want you to worry about a thing. I’ll be watching Daisy the entire time,” Dorothy says. In the other room, I can hear Russell answering the door and greeting my date.
“I’ve never been apart from her for so long. Will you call me if she needs me?” I ask, taking one more glance at myself in the mirror. What if this isn’t his favorite color?
“She’ll be fine. I’m going to introduce her to the love of my life, Magnum PI.”
Now that I think about it, the show’s star and Russell do share a striking resemblance. “When was the last time you went on a date?”
“Dates are for young people,” she says. “Now, let’s go see about your man.”
Russell and Griffin are in the living room, and from the looks of it, they’re discussing something intense. But the moment he sees me, Griffin stops talking. His gaze rakes across my figure, cataloguing every detail. He licks his lips like he’s about to call off dinner and eat me instead. My cheeks heat at the thought.
“The dress is…”
“Perfect. Just like you.” He crosses the room in three strides to hold out a bouquet of roses in an ornate glass vase. “I don’t know your favorite yet, but I will soon.”
I bring the flowers to my nose, giving them an appreciative sniff as I study him. He’s wearing dark jeans, and his cowboy boots have been shined. His white button-up has been pressed, and his wavy hair is smoothed down. I have a nearly overwhelming urge to reach out and tousle it. I love those stubborn waves that do whatever they want. “Anything from you is my favorite.”
He beams at that.
“Let me put these down and get my bag,” I tell him as I excuse myself to the guest room to set the flowers down and grab my tiny handbag. It only has room for my cellphone and wallet, but that’s all I need tonight. It seems strange not to have a hulking diaper bag to lug with me.
He offers me his arm when I return, and after one more round of kisses with Daisy, I leave with him.
Outside, the evening air is humid from the earlier thunderstorms. It’s as if the world took a shower, and the bathroom is still steamy. But even the damp heat doesn’t dim the glow of happiness I’m carrying inside.
Griffin helps me into his truck, his fingers lingering on my hips for a beat too long. He likes touching me as much as I like him touching me.
As soon as we’re on the road, I roll down the windows. It’s humid outside, but there’s nothing like riding with the wind in my hair. It feels like freedom. I have that feeling a lot when I’m with him, like I can let go of everything and trust him to hold me together.
He does the same, rolling down his window. Then I scoot across the bench seat like there’s a magnet drawing me to him. The moment I’m buckled in the middle, he puts an arm around my shoulders. The gesture is so casual and natural. It feels like we’ve spent our whole lives doing this. For a moment, I can see it. Our future selves doing this at seventy, riding through town with the windows rolled down and honeysuckle on the breeze.
He drives to Liquid Courage, a bar and grill in town. It’s the only other restaurant besides Ernie’s. I haven’t been inside the bar before, but I’ve heard their cook, Anchor, makes an incredible steak.
“I’ve been wanting to try this place,” I tell Griffin once we’re seated in a booth with our drinks.
He gestures around the room. “It’s always been a good bar. It got even better when Harry sold it to Peyton and Ledger. They’re the ones who added a restaurant.”
“It has definite charm. Every day, I fall in love a little more with Courage.”
He smiles. “What were you doing with your life before Daisy came along?”
“I was a sophomore in college, and I had big plans to become a doctor. I wanted to work in emergency medicine. It’s kind of late for that.” I don’t tell him that as a foster kid, I decided if I couldn’t be wanted, the next best thing would be being needed.
“It’s never too late to follow your dream.”
“True, but my dream has changed. I’d still like to go into the medical field, so I can help people. But I’m thinking something more like a pharmacy tech. I don’t want to be on call for crazy hours.”
