Page 62 of Cowboy Stole My Heart
Sam licked his fingers and grinned at her. “It might not be expensive eating, but it’s damn good,” he said, sitting back and looking from her to the new plate of food placed between them.
“What’s this one?” she asked. “Fish?”
“Yep, fish tacos,” Sam replied, nudging the plate closer to her. “He said it’s spicy so be careful.”
She loved how colorful the food was, the fish surrounded by some sort of chili and tomato salsa that she bet was as tasty as it looked.
“I’m going to explode if I keep eating this fast,” she said.
“So sit back a bit, relax,” he said, as he picked up a taco and grinned at her. “Drink some more tequila.”
Mia did exactly that, taking a little sip, finding it refreshing after the hot food. Maybe she was getting a little drunk already, or maybe it was just that she felt relaxed in Sam’s company, but she felt good. And he was right, therewas definitely something good about dining somewhere unpretentious and eating damn good food. After studying him a bit longer, watching his jaw move, his eyes meeting hers for a moment and making her feel all fluttery inside, she picked up her taco for something to do. The flavors burst in her mouth, the hot chili balanced by lime juice, but still leaving her mouth pleasantly on fire.
“Good?” he asked as she reached for her drink. She wasn’t sure if it would make her mouth hotter or help to cool it.
“Uh-huh,” she managed, wondering how he seemed so cool as he raised a brow and finished his tequila.
“Want some water?” he asked her, but he was already waving the waiter over and saying one of the few words in Spanish she perfectly understood.
Once the water arrived she drained the glass. “How is my mouth getting hotter?” she muttered, noticing the way Sam was looking at her, his grin telling her that he was clearly finding her amusing.
“The chili does that sometimes,” he said. “I’m just doing a good job of putting on my poker face.”
She rolled her eyes at him, doubtful that he was pretending. He was probably well used to food this hot and just enjoying seeing her squirm. “I actually loved it, the flavors were amazing.”
Sam pushed their empty dishes aside and leaned in closer, his elbows on the table. With his shirtsleeves rolled up and his tanned forearms on display, he looked too handsome for words. His smile was wide, his dark eyes warm as he watched her, and she wondered what he was thinking about.
“So tell me about you,” he said. “I think it’s about timeyou told me why you were so keen for…” his mouth kicked up in one corner, “a no-strings affair.”
Mia wasn’t embarrassed, but she always found her skin flushed when Sam talked to her like that, when his eyes never left hers and made her feel like the only person in the room. It was a feeling that she liked as much as it made her uncomfortable. “There’s not a lot to tell.”
He laughed. “Why do I not believe you?”
“Honestly, I just…” she strummed her fingers along the glass in front of her before looking back up and meeting Sam’s gaze again. “I guess I’m sick of my expectations not being met and I don’t want to compromise who I am for anyone. I’m never going to be barefoot and pregnant, happy to live off my trust fund or a husband’s bank account. But the men I meet that seem impressed by what I do, they always treat it as a hobby, or else they see me as someone to providethemwith the lifestyle they want. The only guys not like that are the ones I’ve met through show jumping, but, I don’t know, nothing has ever come of those dates.”
Sam touched her fingers across the table, his thumb brushing back and forth against her hand. “I don’t think you’ve been looking in the right places. There are plenty of men who would love you for who you are, money aside. And I bet there are guys who see you, hell, maybe even compete against you, who’d love to ask you out but they’re probably just intimidated.”
She liked his optimism, even though she didn’t agree with him. “Intimidated by me?” she asked, watching how his face changed, feeling his thumb stop moving. “So these men, they’re not like you, then? Because you haven’t seemed even remotely intimidated by me.”
“Better men than me,” he replied, reaching for her glass and taking a sip of tequila before pushing it back across the table to her. “Trust me.”
“I think you’re too hard on yourself.” The words came out before she’d had time to think about them, the alcohol maybe making her more brazen than she would otherwise have been. “I’d like to know whyyouwere so hell bent on not ending up in a relationship. I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t want or need to settle down, but you, you give off the vibe that you don’t ever want to be in a relationship.”
More food arrived, the smell filling Mia’s nostrils almost immediately. But she still didn’t take her eyes off Sam, watching as his jaw tightened, visible even in the dim light.
“I’m not made for relationships,” he said. “Once I was, but not now.”
She was about to ask him more, wanting to find out what had changed him, what had made him the way he was, but the waiter appeared and made a fuss of asking them how their meals were. She smiled and nodded and Sam spoke, and when they were alone again he helped himself to the dish in front of them. Mia was so full she doubted she could eat much more, but she put a little on her plate.
“Chili con carne,” he said, his plate full. “He said he noticed you flapping your hands around your mouth after the last dish, so they’re hoping this one doesn’t blow you away.”
Mia laughed and looked over to see the chef leaning out of the kitchen, watching her with the waiter craning his neck beside him. She gave them a little wave beforetaking a mouthful of the hot chili, beef, bean and tomato dish. Like everything else, it was amazing, spicy but so tasty.
She touched her heart and smacked her lips together, making the men across the room laugh. When she turned, laughing herself, back to Sam, she noticed a change in his expression, a sadness there. Or maybe she was just imagining it.
“Pretty good, huh?” he asked.
“Amazing.” Mia put more on her plate, eating until her belly was beyond full.
