Page 39 of Spark
Sheesh, I feel like I’m back in high school, he thought wryly, and carefully selected the next fry to offer her.
Except he hadn’t really dated anyone in high school. Or college, either, when he left Bearpaw Ridge to get his Agricultural Business and Management degree from the University of Idaho.
Oh, sure, he’d tried dating various shifter and Ordinary girls, especially after Sophie decided to attend a different university with a better pre-med program.
But his bear had always objected vehemently to Matt’s dates, and he’d never gotten further than kissing. He hadn’t told anyone, not even Chris, about that part, because it was just plain embarrassing to admit to being a twenty-three-year-old virgin.
Which brought him back to his current hopes for his first real date with the woman of his dreams.
So far, so good,thought Matt, as Sophie accepted another of his fries.
It was a warm summer night, and they were seated out on Dancing Cow’s big covered patio, which was illuminated by festive string lights that competed with the first stars sparkling in the sky over the nearby hills, where the last glimmers of deep orange twilight still lingered. It was late enough that it wasn’t as crowded as it always was on Fridays during lunch and dinner.
They’d ordered burgers, which featured patties made with beef sourced from the Swanson ranch, and the restaurant’s famous huckleberry milkshakes. And spent the first part of the meal catching up on all the stuff that had happened while Sophie was in South America.
Sophie’s stories about her various adventures in Todos Santos had been more interesting than telling her what his various uncles, aunts, and cousins had been up to in the past year.
“I’m sure you’ll do a great job filling in as ranch manager, oh padawan,” Sophie said, giving him one of those smiles that made her face glow and made him feel like he could do anything. “Your dad wouldn’t have left the place in your hands if he didn’t think you could rock the job.”
“Thanks,” he said sincerely.
He looked down at the paper-lined basket that had held his burger and fries, and found it empty except for a few crispy potato fragments and some seasoned salt.
Sophie’s half of the ginormous shake that they’d split was mostly gone, too.
Matt glanced up at the big clock hanging over the condiments bar along the restaurant’s back wall, and sighed. He didn’t want this date to end, but he also had to get up before dawn to start his chores.
Sophie followed his gaze. “Shoot,” she said, sounding apologetic. “I didn’t realize it was this late! Want to call it a night? I know you have to get up early.”
“Believe me, there are times when I wished the hoof stock didn’t wake up with the rising sun,” he agreed.
He rose from his seat and gathered up their milkshake glasses and the empty burger baskets.
On their way out, Matt remembered a funny story about one of their new cattle dogs, a puppy named Cooper, and his futile attempts to herd a group of barn cats last spring.
When they reached the wide, unlit gravel parking lot, Matt took shameless advantage of his ability to see in the dark.
Still describing Cooper’s stupidly persistent attempts, and the cats’ evident amusement at finding ways to foil him, he put his arm around Sophie’s shoulders and guided her around ankle-turning ruts and bumps.
Laughing, she slipped her arm around his waist in return and let him lead him to where they’d parked their cars.
She fit perfectly under his arm…and against him. He relished the feeling of her soft curves pressing against his side, and decided that he was definitely going to try for a goodnight kiss.
He walked her over to her car, and then reluctantly released her.
“I had a really great time,” she said, suddenly sounding shy.
Matt sensed the moment when the energy between them suddenly changed.
“I had a great time, too,” he said, meaning every word.
He leaned in to kiss her, just a quick, gentle brush of his lips against her.
The sensation shot straight down his spine like lightning, and his cock immediately hardened.
She felt something, too, because he saw her eyes widen. Then her scent changed, becoming infused with the warm musk of attraction.
Yes!Matt wanted to cheer, but he had something more important to do right now.
