Page 59 of Cowboy Stole My Heart
Chapter 16
“WOW.”
Sam leaned into the doorway as he looked at Mia. She did a little twirl and laughed at him, which made his mouth twitch into a smile. She was nervous, her cheeks flushed and her shoulders slightly rounded, and when her eyes finally met his he wasn’t about to stand there and let her blush.
“Gorgeous,” he said, gently touching his fingers to her jaw as she lifted her head. Sam paused, looking down at her mouth, lips plump and parted, kissing her slowly and carefully so he didn’t ruin her makeup. She’d made a big effort and he wanted her to know he’d noticed.
“You sure know how to make a girl swoon,” she teased. When Mia’s fingers brushed his he clasped her hand, their palms pressed together as he tugged her toward him and out the door.
“I think I could be a little overdressed for where we’re going,” she murmured, looking uncertain.
Sam shrugged. “You look great to me.” He looked her up and down, her tight faded blue jeans, heels, a cute littletop with tiny straps that he was sure could break with one tug, and a leather jacket slung over her arm. “I’ll wait if you want to change back into your riding gear though?”
She laughed and leaned into him. “Ha-ha, very funny.”
Sam opened his mouth and then shut it, pulling the door closed behind them and walking down the path with Mia to where his vehicle was parked. He was going to tell her that she looked just as beautiful when she had her hair pulled back and her old boots on, but he didn’t. This was already feeling too much like a date, too much like something more was happening when it wasn’t supposed to feel like that.
“So what’s on the menu tonight?” Mia asked.
Her eyes were bright, her smile warm as they reached his car and he opened the door for her.
“Hmm, chili chicken, and maybe some delicious but hard to identify meat?”
Mia laughed and he found himself trying to think of something else witty just to see her look like that again. He closed her door and walked around, getting in beside her.
“Bluey!”
Sam groaned as she threw her arms around his dog. Blue was standing in the middle, separating the driver and passenger seats, and making it impossible to glimpse more than the top of Mia’s head now.
She lavished some more love on his canine before Sam muttered and pushed him back. “Stay,” he said firmly.
Mia patted her hands on her jeans and he grimaced.
“Sorry, he really needs a bath.”
“I don’t care,” she said simply, wiping her hands and then leaning back into the chair. “Honestly, I don’t.”
He believed her. Now that he’d seen her so many times, in her element with her horses and out on the ranch, hedoubted she cared a bit about a smelly dog, but he’d still have liked to have a vehicle that smelled less old socks and more… anything other than that.
“You’ve never told me all that much about you,” Mia said, breaking the silence as he reversed then turned around.
“I’ve told you plenty,” he said, ready to dive head-first away from this particular conversation. “What is it you want to know?” He regretted asking her that the moment the question shot out of his mouth.
“Well,” she started, shifting in her seat. He glanced at her and saw she was facing him now, one knee tucked up. “Do you think you’ll always live in Texas?Haveyou always lived here?”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am to both,” Sam said, relaxing somewhat. He didn’t mind those types of questions.
She reached out and ran her fingers down his arm, the one he had resting between them. Her touch was light as she stroked him.
“Have you been in love before?” she asked.
Sam almost drove clean off the road. “Next question.”
Mia laughed, her fingers leaving his arm. “Sam! Come on, it’s just us here. Do I take it there’s one who got away who you’ve never stopped loving?”
He gripped the steering wheel, about ready to spin it and turn straight back the way they’d come from.
“Wrong on both counts. Now can we please talk about anything other than me?” he asked, exasperated. He sure as hell wasn’t about to start talking to her about all his past screw-ups, especially where his love life was concerned.
