Page 42 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

“Yeah. And I know that you were right – what you said about so many vets thinking that therapy’s a waste of time. And maybe Idon’tknow enough about what they’ve been through. I don’t think anyone who hasn’t been there can know – but I still think there’s a lot I can offer. Even if it’s only helping them to think about the people they’ll leave behind.”

“Yeah.”

“Anyway, time to change the subject. Do you know where the hotel is? Do you want me to pull up the address on my phone and we can use the navigation?”

“I’m good. I went and checked in before I came to get you.”

“Oh. Okay.”

He glanced over at her. “Are you hungry? Should we get you checked in and then go find something to eat?”

“Yes! I didn’t eat anything this morning – I was too nervous. Now, I’m starving!”

He chuckled. “Are you one of those chicks who eats three leaves of lettuce and then claims she’s full?”

“Err … no! Oh god! Now, I’m going to feel self-conscious about eating too much. I’m definitely not that kind of girl.” She made a face at him. “I have a healthy appetite. I work hard and I eat well. Then again, being honest as always – sometimes, I eat crap, and I enjoy it! So, judge me if you will.”

He laughed. “I’m not judging! I’m relieved. I was worried that you’ll think I’m a pig.”

It was her turn to laugh at that. “Nope. I don’t see that happening.”

“Give it time. When you say that you eat crap sometimes, do you stoop as low as fast-food?”

“I … not very often, but only because there are no fast-food places where I live. Well, there’s a food court at the mall, but I hardly ever go there and … why?”

“Because I think I’m probably the same as you. I eat well, most of the time. But I’m not above indulging in a good burger and fries when I can find them. When I was stationed in Coronado, I got addicted to In N Out burgers. We don’t have them in Montana, so …”

“Oh! Do they have them here? I love them! We used to get them when we went to LA when I was a kid. I hadn’t had them for years until I did my PT training – I used to have to go to Sacramento for in-person weekends, and I found an In N Out there.” She laughed. “It made me laugh. You’d see all these aspiring personal trainers lined up in the drive-thru after class.”

He grinned at her. “They do have them here, and your reaction tells me that you won’t think less of me if I suggest we eat there at some point over the weekend. I mean, I was thinking I could take you out to dinner someplace nice tonight but …”

She turned in her seat so that she could see him properly. He glanced over at her and smiled. “What?”

“Can I be honest?”

“You already know the answer to that.”

“Okay, so … I like the idea of getting a big fat juicy burger and driving out to someplace quiet to …” She laughed when she saw his eyebrows shoot up. “I don’t mean like that! I mean these mountains are beautiful. I would so much rather find a place with a view and sit in your truck eating burgers, than go to some fancy restaurant in the city. That … that’s not who I am. And now I’m worried again but I did warn you right from the beginning that if you’re looking for some glamorous chick, I’m not your girl.”

He held her gaze for a long moment before turning his attention back to the road. “What you described sounds like the perfect evening to me. I’m not looking for glamorous, Shay. And …” He glanced over at her again. “Fuck it, I’m going to say it; with every moment that passes I’m hoping more and more that youaregoing to be my girl.”

~ ~ ~

When they got to the hotel, Ty slung Shayna’s backpack over his shoulder and reached for her hand.

When she said, “I can get that,” he just raised his eyebrows and waited for her to catch on.

She laughed. “But you’re going to insist that you can carry it for me, right?”

“Yep. Come on, let’s go and get you checked in.”

He hung back a little while she talked to the girl at the front desk, and scowled to himself when the girl told her that she was in room 407.

Shayna looked back at him over her shoulder. He’d already told her that he was in 224, and he’d been hoping that shewouldn’t be too far away. The fact that she’d be two floors up wasn’t what had him frowning, though.

When the girl handed her the key card, he stepped forward. He had to say something.

“Can I help you?” the girl asked with a smile.

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