Page 38 of Naughty by Nature

Chapter 12

From the safetyof her chaise lounge and her dark sunglasses, Cheyenne could watch Sheridan as much as she wanted to. The green tractor he drove was not full-sized, but it was big enough to handle both the big yard and Sheridan’s size. Time after time he looped the yard, circling around trees and bushes, until he finished, then he headed for the front yard, which made her sad, because she couldn’t watch him any more. The sun was setting and the lights flicked on in the pool.

It was truly a beautiful setting and as she rested her head back against the lounge, she could feel the tension of the week easing from her.

Cheyenne apparently dozed off, because when she next opened her eyes the pool was glass smooth and there was a light blanket draped over her legs. Sheridan sat in the chair beside her, playing on his phone.

Cheyenne smiled and stretched, feeling refreshed. And if Sheridan was here she knew the girls were okay. “I guess I was sleepy.”

Sheridan nodded, putting his phone on a side table. “I guess you were. I’m amazed the kids didn’t wake you up.”

She snorted. “Oh, believe me, they can be quiet little sneaks when they need to be.”

“They’re inside watching a movie right now.”

“Grace, too?”

“Yup.”

That was good.

“I wanted to talk to you about something, Cheyenne.”

Uh oh. She sat up, focusing on his face. “About Wade?”

Sheridan shook his head and removed the ball cap so he could run his hand through his sweat-darkened hair. He dropped the hat to the ground beside him.

“In a way.”

He gave her a long look. “I’m thinking about doing something that might make him move. This waiting game is probably making us more tense than him, so I want to change it up. What do you think about going out with me?”

For a moment her heart took off into a gallop, then she realized the direction he was going and she had to look away to hide the hurt in her eyes. “You think if we go on a date and be seen, it will get back to him?”

Sheridan gave her a single nod. “And it might make his possessive side howl.”

Cheyenne took a deep breath, thinking about what he said. He was probably right. “Okay.”

“You know,” he said thoughtfully, “I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a long time. But this isn’t the way I wanted it to happen.”

Her heart bolted into overdrive again, and she felt like she was going to pass out. She was very glad she was sitting down. “You wanted to ask me out?” she repeated faintly.

He gave her a crooked smile. “I’ve wanted to ask you out for a long time, Cheyenne but I knew you’d say no.”

Wincing, she gave him a narrow-eyed look. “You’re probably right, but that’s only because I haven’t dated anyone since Wade. I’ve told everyone no.”

His mouth dropped open a little and she could tell he was stunned. She shrugged uncomfortably. “I just didn’t want to.”

Blinking, he turned to look out over the pool and yard. “Well, we can nix the dating idea then.”

“No,” she said quickly. “I think it’s sound.”

His gaze searched her face, as if looking for truth. “Really?”

“Yes. And just so you know,” she whispered, “you’re the only one I’ve wanted to date since Wade.”

The creases around his eyes deepened as he smiled. “Well, that makes me feel better then. Maybe we’ll go on the ruse date this weekend, then a real one when he’s gotten it through his thick head that you’re not coming back to him, and it will just be for us, no one else.”

Tears flooded her eyes again and she felt ridiculous, but he knew what she needed. “So, where are you going to take me for this awesome date?”

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