Page 32 of Totally Off Limits

“Are you ready?”

“Um…actually.” She swallowed, suddenly feeling silly. “I need to change into a different dress.”

“Why? You look fantastic. All the men in Colorado will be envious that I have the most beautiful woman in the state on my arm.”

Flattery was going to get him everywhere if he didn’t stop. “Oh, Austin. That’s really sweet, but I—” Stopping herself, she decided she didn’t want to get into all the emotional baggage behind it all. “I was just trying this on as a lark. My mother found it in my closet and urged me to put it on. Before that, I was wearing something a little more, uh, conservative.”

“If you feel more comfortable…”

Ah, but she could see in his eyes something like disappointment—because now he knew she hadn’t chosen it for him—and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt this man.

Which meant she was going to wear that fucking dress.

“No. It’s just, um, this time of year, you know? You never know what the temperature will be.”

“Yeah, it might get chilly later on.”

“Just let me run upstairs and grab a shawl and my purse. Do you mind waiting a sec?”

“Not at all.”

“Need anything to drink?”

“No, thanks. I’m good. Our reservations are for eight.”

“Then I better hurry.” They were dining out in Colorado Springs after all, so they’d be late if she took too much time. “I’ll be right back.”

But that didn’t stop Austin from being a gentleman. “Take your time.”

Still, Sierra hustled up the steps and threw open a drawer on her dresser where she kept frilly little things like shawls and slips and lingerie that she rarely wore, much less remembered owning in the first place—but she knew she had a lacy light gray shawl that she could pull over herself to feel less self-conscious.

Once she found it, she wrapped it over her shoulders and grabbed her purse—but when she caught sight of herself in the mirror again, she knew she looked ridiculous. So after shutting off the light and walking down the hall, she pulled it off, cradling it in her elbow.

Letting out a quick breath, she said, “Okay. I think I’m ready.”

Austin leaned over and kissed her chastely on the cheek. “Where’s Mia?”

“My mom’s got her for the evening. She loves her grandma.”

“Ah…so we can take our time catching up. No pressure.”

As long as he didn’t expect a romp in the sack afterwards. “Yeah, no pressure.”

* * *

The Haydens might have been welloff—but only by Winchester standards. Although many wouldn’t consider the Ackermans to be made of old money, so far as their town felt, they were. They’d earned, acquired, labored and toiled for every gold nugget they’d turned into cash—which meant they’d seen a lot of the world.

The Haydens, however, were beholden to that mansion in the mountains. Sure, her parents vacationed from time to time and they got freer with their money as the days went by, but Sierra had never dined at a place like The Broadmoor. Although she’d heard plenty about the famous luxury hotel in the south Colorado Springs region, she’d never had occasion to go there.

Already, Austin had outdone himself.

The hotel had multiple restaurants, apparently, but Austin had chosen one that oozed elegance and sophistication, from the chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings to the fine off-white linens on the tables. It was the kind of place where Sierra felt like she’d have to keep her arms tucked in and walk slowly lest she break something.

That was silly, of course, but it was another reminder that Rebecca would always reside in Sierra’s head. But damned if she wasn’t going to try to get her out of there, at least for a while.

After Austin pulled Sierra’s chair out for her, she took another look at him. He was quite handsome in the sharp-looking suit, his hair cut short, emphasizing the angular lines in his face. Austin had always had what Sierra thought of as “all-American” good looks, the handsome boy next door—but Austin was far from that. Sometimes Sierra forgot that he came from a wealthy family…but that was the main and perhapsonlyreason why her mother was so desperate for them to become a couple.

“What do you think, Sierra?” he asked after the server handed them menus.

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