Page 21 of Cowboy

Belinda: So, when you going to see your hottie again?

Ava rolled her eyes and shook her head as she set the phone aside to start the car. She wanted to get the air conditioner started before responding to her sister-in-law. Once she was comfortable, the door closed and air blowing, she picked up the phone and typed out her response.

Ava: Dinner tonight.

She’d wondered all day long if Cowboy had gotten back to her and what he’d said, but she wasn’t allowed to have her phone with her at the window. She understood why. It was a security risk since she handled people’s account information all day long. Not that she would do anything with it, but there were many not as scrupulous as she was.

She’d checked at lunch, but there hadn’t been a reply yet. On her way out to the car, Belinda’s message had been the first to pop up. Now she navigated to his message.

Cowboy: How’s seven? And I’d love to take the bike if you’re up for it.

Did she want to go out on the bike tonight? She had this morning, but now her feet ached.

No, she reminded herself, she was going to live life, not watch it pass her by.

Ava: The bike would be great, and I’ll be ready by seven.

She dropped her phone back into her purse and turned her attention to the wheel. If she was going to be ready, she needed to get home.

By the time she pulled into her space at the complex, she’d mentally moved past her reluctance to change and get ready and was excited to see Cowboy again. She wondered if he had something in mind or would he ask her what she wanted to do. Not that it mattered. After researching the area last night, she had a list of things she wanted to do and places she wanted to try. If he asked, she’d mention one of those. In the meantime, she needed to get changed.

Inside her apartment she hung up her purse and headed for the bedroom, stripping out of the semi-dressy clothes she wore for work. She’d long since gotten used to dresses and skirts, as that was what Hank expected her to wear all the time. Jeans were not considered appropriate unless they were doing something rough or grubby like moving or yard work.

Now, she loved the freedom of wearing what she wanted and what her mood called for and she loved that Cowboy encouraged that. She shucked her skirt and hose, then pulled her favorite pair of jeans from the closet and stepped into them. She grabbed her favorite pair of cowboy boots from the corner where she kept them and set them in front of the chair so she could put them on in a minute before turning back to the closet and trying to decide what top to wear.

She stood staring at the closet for a long time. Not that the selection was huge or much varied once you removed her work clothes from the options. But there was that halter top she’d bought on a whim and had never had the nerve to wear.

Should she?

Would Cowboy think she was too old to wear something that fun and girlish? As those thoughts flitted across her mind, they solidified her decision. She would wear it and to hell with what he thought.

She pulled the bright red halter from the hanger and put it on, taking in her reflection and having second thoughts before she firmly pushed those doubts from her mind and went to fix her hair. She’d pulled it back high on her head this morning, and that wouldn’t work if they were taking the motorcycle tonight.

She’d just stepped into her boots, stood, and checked her appearance in the mirror when a knock sounded on her door. She wondered who it could be, but a glance at the clock told her it was five minutes to seven and probably Cowboy. She grabbed her jacket and went to answer it.

She tossed the strap to her purse over her head and stuffed one arm into the sleeve of her jacket as she opened the door.

“I’m ready,” she said in greeting as she tried to find the other arm of the jacket.

“Did you even check to see who was at the door before opening it?” Cowboy scowled at her.

Ava bit the inside of her lip as her face heated.

“Angel, you really need to be more careful. I’d hate to have to hurt someone for hurting you.”

The heat in her face faded so quickly she had a moment of dizziness and had to grab hold of the door to make sure she didn’t go down. Cowboy stepped close and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Are you okay?”

She blinked a couple times and made sure the world had stopped spinning.

“I’m good. I was just dizzy for a moment. It’s passed now.”

“You sure you’re okay?” A crease formed between his brows.

“It was a passing thing. I’m fine. Are you ready to go?”

“I’m ready when you are, but I want to be sure you’re not going to fall off the bike.”

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