Page 14 of Snowed In With the Maverick
Seth was handsome in a way that set off way too many alarm bells. The revelation that he was part of a major corporate empire was unexpected—she still had to wrap her head around that—but for all the qualities that put him in the column of “warning: dangerous man ahead,” there was a sweetness to him.
The way he spoke with genuine conviction about wanting to help the community, his words laced with a sincerity that hinted at something deeper. It wasn’t just about business for him—there was a real altruism beneath it all, a desire to make a difference.
And that? That was not only admirable. It was dangerously attractive.
It was making her want to tell him to park the car and come inside.
But she wasn’t going to be that stupid again.
“Thanks again for coming along today,” Seth said, putting the car into Park, engine idling. “Any chance you’d be interested in meeting for lunch next week? I have a few more ideas I’d love your input on.”
The correct answer was on the tip of her tongue.Thanks, but no thanks.Andrea didn’t owe Seth anything, and she was pretty sure he could figure things out on his own. She could stay at arm’s length, let him do his thing, and watch from a safe, drama-free distance as he brought a great idea to life in Tenacity.
But the words wouldn’t come out. Because despite her good sense, and her reluctance to stoke the embers between her and Seth, she actually did want to get together with him. She just had to be smart about it.
“Sure,” she said, hoping her tone came across as light. Lunch was safe, neutral. Not like dinner, which was inherently more intimate. “How about the Silver Spur? I know that’s a lot of driving for you, though.” She’d only been to the diner that one time when she’d first toured the ranch, but she knew it was popular. Busy was good. Busy meant noise, people, distractions—everything she’d need to keep her wits about her.
“I don’t mind,” Seth said. “I like driving. Monday at noon? I can pick you up.” Andrea considered. The thought of sliding back into this car, surrounded by the warm leather and the maddeningly perfect scent of Seth Taylor, was dangerously tempting.
“I’ll meet you there,” she said quickly. “Noon on Monday.”
Seth’s smile lit up his face, sending a flutter rippling through her stomach. She steeled herself against it, but as he drove away, she couldn’t help feeling as though she’d just agreed to something much riskier than lunch.
* * *
An hour later, she was doing her best to convince herself that she hadn’t made a stupid, reckless decision.
Lunch. Lunch was fine, right? Lunch was when people did business, then went home to their families. She could do lunch.
But the truth gnawed at her. She wanted dinner, and she wanted dessert, and everything that came after dessert.
But dinner, dessert and everything after was not why she’d come to Tenacity.
Andrea stood in the front hall of the ranch, surveying the progress she’d made, and all the work that still needed to be done. Any thoughts of after-dessert activities needed to be put aside.
Over the next two hours, Andrea did her best to busy herself with some of the tasks on her list. Match paint chips with fabric swatches for window coverings. Compare towel and linen prices from the two companies she’d narrowed down to.
But despite her best efforts, her thoughts kept turning back to Seth.
The way his face came alive when talking about the research he’d done, and the shimmer of excitement she’d felt talking about her past life. The first time it had felt positive since she’d packed up and left Denver.
Andrea sighed, setting the swatches aside as her gaze drifted to the horizon beyond the ranch. Maybe coming to Tenacity wasn’t just about starting over—it was about discovering what she truly wanted, even if that meant risking more than she’d planned.
Chapter Six
When Seth arrived at the Silver Spur Café shortly before noon on Monday, he scanned the diner and located the last free table for two.
He nodded at the young waiter, who was depositing mugs of hot coffee for three older ladies who looked like they’d just come from bingo, and gestured toward the table, holding up two fingers. “I’ll be right over with menus,” the waiter said.
Seth took the seat facing the door, so he’d see Andrea coming through. The anticipation he’d been feeling all weekend for this moment had almost killed him. When was the last time he’d felt this excited about a woman? Never, he reckoned. But Andrea Spence had set up shop in his mind, her image playing on a loop in his mind, and the daydreams he’d had of her all weekend were no substitute for this real thing.
This was confirmed when at exactly twelve o’clock, the door of the café opened, and Andrea passed through, her long red waves cascading down her back. She wore a white turtleneck sweater under her light parka, and a pair of tight blue jeans with black suede ankle boots, and Seth had a momentary feeling of paralysis when her eyes found his, and she flashed a warm, delicious smile.
He stood up as she approached the table.
“Hi, Seth,” she said. She shrugged off her jacket and Seth noted how her turtleneck clung to her upper body, showcasing her slender but curvy figure. How was he supposed to focus on a lunch meeting?
They sat down, and Andrea waved away the menu their server passed her. “I’ve only been here once, and that was enough for me to decide I will always order the burger,” she said, grinning. “They do something magic with it. I don’t know what it is.”
