Page 7 of Cowboy

“You didn’t find trouble. Trouble could have found you, but I didn’t let that happen night before last and I’ll do my best to keep it from happening if you’ll go out with me. Dinner, maybe a movie, though we could go dancing if you like. I liked watching you dance.”

Ava turned pink, as if the memory of her dancing embarrassed her. He didn’t know why it should, but then she seemed more repressed, or maybe innocent was the right word, with no alcohol to loosen her inhibitions. It stirred a protective instinct stronger than he could ever recall feeling, even for Lisa when she’d been in school and some asshole had been harassing her.

“I guess it would be okay. When do you want to go out?” She kept her voice soft, and didn’t look up at him.

Cowboy wanted to say now. Tonight. But thought that would be too much, too soon for her.

“How about tomorrow night?”

She glanced up at him then back down again. “I can do tomorrow. What should I wear?”

“Want a ride on my bike?” He watched her closely, wanting to read her reaction as well as her words.

The blush from moments before had faded, but she flushed now, and he knew the idea excited her.

“I don’t know. Isn’t it dangerous?”

“It can be, but I’ll make sure nothing happens. It will be fun and one more thing to mark off that bucket list.”

Her full lips disappeared as she bit them, obviously trying to screw up the nerve.

“All right. Let’s do it.” She looked up at him, excitement shining in her eyes. “What should I wear?”

“Jeans, a jacket of some kind and the boots you had on last night would be perfect. If you have a purse, something with a long strap that can go across your body works best.” Well, second best, after a backpack, but most women wouldn’t carry a backpack in place of a purse so there was no point suggesting it.

“Anything else I should know?”

He scanned her from head to toe, looking for things that wouldn’t be safe on the bike. “You can pull your hair back, but keep it low, so a braid or low ponytail, or the helmet will be painful very quickly.”

“Oh, good to know.” She tapped fingertips against her thumb in succession, as if counting something, then spoke again, still focusing on her hands. “Let me make sure I have it all. Casual dress, but warm. Boots, long strap on the purse, hair up and low. Right?” She looked up at him, her eyes a light with excitement.

“Warm but layers, because you might get warm at the theater and want to take it off. And you’re hair doesn’t have to be up, but if it is, it needs to be low. I like your hair. It looks like every strand is a slightly different color, so you can never be sure what color it really is.” He resisted the urge to reach out and see if it was as soft as it looked.

If he got his way, he’d have a chance to feel it soon enough. Same with her lips. They were full and plump, and he ached to know what she tasted like, but it was way too soon. They hadn’t even had a single date.

“Thank you.” She looked uncomfortable talking about her hair, and he wondered why, but she kept talking. “And thank you for agreeing to this.” She motioned to the table between them.

He started to tell her it was nothing, he was just doing what any decent person would do, but she cut him off.

“We know it’s not what anyone would do. All we have to do is turn on the news to know that. You did something big, at least to me. I want you to know I appreciate it.”

“Then you’re welcome.” He didn’t know what else to say.

“Now, I have to go. I have a few errands to run, then Aaron, my brother, is expecting me for dinner. I know he’s got a lot going on, but he’s made a point to have me for dinner every Sunday since I got to town. He’s trying to help as much as he can.” She gathered her phone and looked around the table top to make sure she hadn’t left anything else, then stood. Cowboy stood along with her, while she dropped her phone into her bag.

“Let me walk you out.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I’m headed out anyway, it’s no big deal. Plus, it gives me just a couple minutes longer with you.” He quirked one side of his mouth into a smirk.

“Then thank you.” Ava lifted her purse strap onto her shoulder then turned for the door.

6

“How was your week?” Aaron asked as they sat down to eat at the small square dinner table in their house.

She had wondered why such a small table, were they not planning on a family?

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