Page 20 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
She blinked over at him. “You people have a Mexican restaurant in this town?”
He fought a smile at her shocked expression. “First of all, no one likes to be referred to as ‘you people.’”
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Yeah, okay, fine.”
“And yes. There’s a couple in town who make a mean homemade salsa… if you’re up for it.”
She met his gaze and cocked a brow. “Oh, I’m up for it.”
He turned to face the street with a grin. How’d he just known that she wouldn’t be able to turn down a challenge?
If a man did want to date her, he’d have a battle on his hands the whole time. There’d be nothing easy about dating Ms. Dahlia O’Sullivan.
But, then again, a man would know precisely where he stood with her. There’d be no guessing her feelings or tiptoeing around any issues, but…
His insides huffed with exasperation as he pulled his truck up along the curb to park.
Why are you even considering what it would be like to date this woman?
Good grief. It was a good thing she wasn’t staying here long. He might just forget that he’d given up on the idea of a relationship after his failure of a marriage.
She turned to him with one hand on the door, her brows drawn together in question. “Where’d you go? I feel like I lost you there for a minute.”
He shook his head. “Just hungry, that’s all.”
She nodded and pushed open her door, leaping down to the sidewalk. He sighed as he followed suit. Of course she wouldn’t wait for him to help her. But he did beat her to the door of the tiny hole-in-the-wall burrito shop, and he held it open for her with a triumphant grin.
“After you, my lady,” he said.
“Don’t push it,” she muttered.
He was still chuckling as he joined her at the counter.
They ate in silence for a while, both of them hungry after nothing but snacks all day. When she finished, she set down her napkin with a satisfied sigh. “I have to be honest and admit that wasn’t all bad, but you can’t beat a slice of Uncle Joey’s pepperoni.”
“Uncle Joey’s, huh?” JJ wiped his mouth with his paper napkin.
“It’s the best.” She nodded. “You’ll have to come—” Her words cut off as if she suddenly realized what she was going to say.
JJ guessed it was an invite to the city, and he couldn’t deny the little spark of hope that flared inside him.
His eyebrows wrinkled, silently asking for more, but she just linked her fingers together and looked out the window with a pensive frown. Or maybe it was plain ol’ resignation. “I guess we ought to get back to the ranch. I can’t put it off much longer.”
He stilled, hating the fact that her casual comment had the ability to hit him in the chest like a blow. “You really hate the ranch that much?”
To his surprise, she didn’t shoot back right away with some defensive remark. That was what she’d have done if she were surrounded by her sisters or even with Nash and Kit. But here, with him, after their day together, she gave him a more thoughtful response. “It’s not like I have anything against the ranch itself. I’m not a rural person—I don’t know the first thing about it, honestly. But I can see how people might find it…”
She paused so long he found himself holding his breath.
“Calming.” The word came out in a grudging tone that made him smile.
“Oh no, notcalming,” he teased.
She rolled her eyes, and a smile tugged at her lips at his teasing. “No, I mean… it’s peaceful and pretty. I get that.”
She came to stand, and he fell into step beside her as they headed out the door, calling their thanks to the owner.
“But?” he prompted.
