Page 62 of Bull Rush

I lift the dress up to get a better look at it, and it’s a black dress with a tea-length tule underskirt, a corset top with ribbing, and two thin straps. It’s pretty and way sexier than anything I’ve worn lately. I’m gonna have to dig deepin my makeup drawer to see if I even have red lipstick that could live up to it. I shift on my feet, wiggling my ankle back and forth and biting my lip. Iamtired, but it’s been forever since I’ve gone out in something fancy, and the idea of being out on the arm of my famous football-playing, kidnap-plot-busting hero of a husband doesn’t exactly sound terrible. We could at least set a few gossips on fire tonight. I grin to myself as I play with the lace edge of the corset and then hurry to get ready.

When I’m done, I stand in the mirror, doing one last check to make sure my curls are sufficiently undone and messy and my lipstick is staying firmly within the bounds of the liner I put on. I don’t look half-bad when I clean up out of my admittedly dowdy innkeeper outfits and the torn jeans and tanks I usually wear taking care of the horses. I spritz my apple perfume on my wrists and rub a bit behind my ears before I hurry down the stairs to meet Ramsey.

But if I don’t look half-bad, he looks positively heart-stopping. He’s in all black, from his boots and pants to his button-down shirt and cowboy hat. His sleeves are rolled and all of it highlights the tattoos and the tan he’s been developing since he got here. The muted tones of his outfit make his green-gold eyes that much more brilliant in comparison.

I might have to rethink how much I hate him.

“You look gorgeous.” He flashes a panty-melting grin at me as I make my way down the final steps. I try to remind myself I’ve been married to this man for years, and I don’t have to be nervous just because we’re going out on a date.

“Thank you. You clean up well.” I raise a brow and make a point of running my eyes over him. His grin widens in response, and my heart skips a beat.

“I’m glad you think so.” He kisses the side of my neck and pauses. “And fuck do I love that perfume.”

“I know.” I can’t help the bashful grin that comes, and Icatch myself nibbling my lower lip. He kisses his way down my neck and buries his nose against me as his arms go around my waist, a low growl rumbling from his chest.

“Fuck. Okay. We’re getting out of this house first.” He tears himself away and holds out his hand for mine.

“Do I get to know where we’re going?” I ask as he leads me out back toward the truck.

“Dinner first. Then a surprise.” He winks at me.

“Where’s dinner?” I’m curious if it’s somewhere in town or if we’re traveling for this dinner.

“I was going to take you to Daniel’s, but I found out they closed.” It’s the steakhouse we used to have in town. One we went to for fancy occasions only but I used to love going to growing up. It always meant a big accomplishment or celebration in my family, something that pulled us all together at a table dressed up for the occasion, and made my dad pull out his credit card. I can still feel the red pleather under my legs and smell the warm bread they used to serve at the table with apple butter.

“Yeah, your brothers’ steakhouse ran them out of business a couple of years ago.” I pout because I’d loved that bread and these perfect little twice-baked potatoes they had that I’d been obsessed with since I was a kid.

“So… we’re going to The Avarice, to eat there.” Ramsey introduces the idea reluctantly, knowing what my reaction will be. I might have the Stockton name, but I don’t support their business practices.

I let out a little sound of protest at supporting the town’s enemy.

“But…” Ramsey looks to me to see if I’ll let him finish before I say no. I press my lips together and give him an expectant look. “Only because they promised me they could make the dinner you always used to love.”

“With the potatoes?”

“With the potatoes and the bread pudding with the brandy sauce and ice cream for dessert.” He gives me a worried look like he’s half afraid I’m going to say no.

“I usually try to stay away from anything Stockton-run. But I’ll make an exception this once.” I grin at him. Inside I still feel a little guilty for being a traitor to the town’s cause, but half of them have looked at me that way anyway just for having fallen in love with the youngest one—as if it was a thing I could ever control.

An hour later,we’re halfway through dinner, and he’s just absently grinning into the distance like he’s daydreaming about something amusing. It makes me smile in return, though I try to suppress it so he doesn’t realize I’m watching him. I missed this version of him so much that it almost hurts the way my heart swells to see it.

“Something amusing?” I ask, twirling my fork through the last of my potatoes.

He focuses back on me, and the grin grows.

“Yeah. Just remembering that first time I took you to Daniel’s. For that dance?”

“Prom. My junior prom. Your senior prom.”

“Yes. Shit. That was prom, wasn’t it? I’d forgotten that part.”

“I didn’t. I felt guilty because half the senior girls were hoping you were going to ask them.”

“I had better plans.” He gives me a mischievous look like he’d had designs on me all along.

“Oh please, you weren’t dying to take out your best friend’s sister. You just felt bad for me after Eric was such a dick.”

“Eric’s loss, my gain. I’d been waiting for him to fuck up.”

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