Page 29 of Some Cowboys Fight for Love

“Go out with me.” The words spilled from his lips before he had a chance to realize what he was asking, before he could stop himself from looking a fool. Daniel held his breath as he watched her closely. This was it. She could push him away, brush him off, and tell him he wasn’t her type. Then he’d have to keep his distance and pick up the shattered pieces of his broken pride.

A small smile touched her lips. “I’d love to.”

12

Aria

“Ithought we were going out?” Aria sat forward and stared out of the front window of Daniel’s truck. They weren’t anywhere near the middle of town. In fact, it felt like they couldn’t have been farther from it if they tried.

She’d long since lost track of their surroundings. There weren’t any landmarks. All that spread out before them were rolling hills. Occasionally they’d pass a couple animals grazing in the tall grasses.

The uneven dirt road was clear of any signs of life. When they hit a bump, she grappled for the armrest at her side and threw him a dark look.

Daniel chuckled. “We are. This is out.”

“I didn’t mean literally,” Aria muttered, turning her focus to the road. “And while I enjoy the occasional horse ride, I tend to prefer staying where there’s civilization. Where are we going?”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and his grin stretched wider. He was wearing the blue shirt she’d given him. The sight of it stretched across his muscular form did something to her she wasn’t prepared to address.

In fact, she wasn’t sure she was ready to consider what it might be like to be with Daniel in any other capacity than his friend.

Seeing those scars had done something to her—changed something in her mind about him. She couldn’t explain it. Aria’s heart had ached for him. He’d been a victim just like she had. For hours, she dwelled on the memories of what his body had looked like out on the trail while she’d helped patch him up. She’d wanted to demand he tell her what had happened to him. None of the markings had looked fresh. Some were so faded she knew they would have been inflicted when he was a child.

If only she could have pulled him into a tight hug and told him that everything would be okay. Aria had held back because she knew he would have pushed her away. Daniel wasn’t the type of guy who wanted to show weakness.

Cayden was similar, but that was where their similarities ended.

Where Daniel was quiet, respectful, and soft-spoken, Cayden used his words to strike others down to show he wasn’t weak. Ironically, out of the two of them, she knew who the stronger man was—and it wouldn’t be due to their statures.

Part of her wondered what it would look like to see them go toe-to-toe.

Aria shook off that thought as quickly as it came. She wasn’t interested in Daniel getting hurt. Cayden had never lifted a hand to her, but he did work out. He was strong and capable of drawing blood if he wanted to. He simply preferred psychological warfare.

She heaved a sigh.

“I promise, you’re going to like it,” Daniel’s quiet words tore her attention to him. He’d pulled his brows together and concern shined in his beautiful blue eyes. The set of his jaw hardened further. “But if you don’t?—”

Without thinking, she placed a hand over the one he had dangling off the armrest between them. Her fingers slipped between his and she tightened her hold, smiling to show him she was just fine. “I’m excited to see what you’ve planned. I was curious, is all.”

His frown remained. “You didn’t look fine.”

Uh, oh. Whenever she thought about Cayden, she had a habit of wearing her thoughts right where everyone could see them.

Daniel pulled his truck to the side of the road. “I’ll take you back.”

Her hand tightened around his. “No!”

He stared at her with curiosity, or maybe it was more confusion than anything else. “You’re not happy. I can take you to a nice restaurant. It’s?—”

“I want to do what you planned.” She swallowed hard. Even though she hadn’t seen Cayden in what felt like ages, he was still ruining her date. Aria forced a smile at him. “I was just… thinking about something else.”

“Are you okay?”

Her lashes fluttered as she blinked at him in surprise. “Of course I’m okay.” Her past wasn’t a confession she wanted out in the world at this moment and definitely not given over to the handsome hunk of a man who could make her stomach do summersaults with one look. “Really,” she insisted, “I’m excited to see what you’ve come up with. You’re always so quiet. It’s hard to predict what you might do next.”

He cocked his head, watching her, that concern still present. Lifting his left hand, he traced his knuckle down the right side of her cheek. Shocks of pleasure hummed in the wake of his touch,and she was only able to exhale when his hand returned to the steering wheel.

Daniel gave her a short nod, then set his foot to the gas once more. The dirt road shifted into something paved, and she sat up straighter.

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