Page 18 of Cowboys & Hot Sauce
"7:30," I confirmed.
As we walked toward the parking area, my arms full of carnival prizes and my mind swirling with conflicting emotions, I couldn't help wondering what tonight might bring. Tomorrow was the final competition—my last chance to prove myself worthy of Smokin' Lurline's. But tonight...tonight was just about me and Burke and a dance floor under string lights.
And maybe figuring out if what was simmering between us was as real as it tasted.
Chapter Six
Burke
I stood on the porch of the Landry's modest ranch-style home, my hand raised to knock. The evening air hummed with cicadas, warm and heavy with the scent of jasmine from the bushes flanking the walkway. After a quick shower to wash off the festival dust, I'd put on a clean western shirt and jeans—nothing fancy, but a step up from what I'd worn all day at the fairgrounds. No sense in overthinking it; this was Sweetwater, not some Dallas nightclub.
"It's not a real date," I reminded myself, adjusting my collar one last time before knocking.
The door swung open to reveal Wayne Landry, who gave me a quick once-over the same way he sized up engines—taking in all the important details with a single glance.
"Burke," he said with a nod, stepping aside. "Good to see you back; come on in. Scarlet's just about ready."
I stepped into the familiar living room where childhood photos of the Landry kids lined the walls. My gaze caught on a picture of Scarlet at what must have been high school graduation, her hair wild with glitter and her arms thrown around two friends, their faces painted with the Sweetwater Wildcats colors.
"Voted 'Most Spirited' in her class," Wayne said, following my gaze. "That was right before she headed off to A&M. Always full of more ideas than she had time to try."
The fondness in his voice was unmistakable. Before I could respond, footsteps sounded on the stairs, and I turned to see Scarlet descending.
The greeting I'd mentally prepared evaporated instantly.
She wore a vintage dress in a swirl of turquoise and coral that somehow matched the vibrant energy she carried everywhere. Her copper-red hair was styled in loose waves with colorful ribbons woven through a small braid at her temple. Cherry-red vintage cowboy boots peeked out from beneath her skirt, adorned with silver studs and intricate stitching. Everything about her was a riot of color and life against the more muted tones of the Landry home.
"You clean up nice, cowboy," she said with a smile that tightened something in my chest.
"You look... incredible," I managed, suddenly wishing I'd thought to bring flowers or something to mark the occasion, fake date or not.
An electric moment passed between us—like the split second before lightning strikes. For a heartbeat, I forgot this was all pretend.
"You kids have fun now," Donna called from the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Big day for both of you tomorrow with the last day of the festival and all."
"Yes, ma'am," I replied automatically, offering my arm to Scarlet.
Her fingers rested lightly in the crook of my elbow as we walked to my truck, and I found myself unexpectedly aware of every point of contact. When she settled into the passenger seat,I noticed the way she automatically reached for the seatbelt without looking, like someone used to making herself at home wherever she went.
"Thanks for doing this," she said once we were on the road. "I know a barn dance wasn't part of our original deal."
I kept my eyes on the gravel road leading into town, recalculating the variables of our arrangement with every mile marker. "I've been known to suffer through a two-step or two in my time."
She laughed, the sound bouncing off the windows and making me smile. "Burke Tate, did you just make a joke?"
"Happens approximately once a fiscal quarter," I replied. "Just don't tell my brothers. They think I've had my sense of humor surgically removed."
"Your secret's safe with me."
The community center parking lot was already filled with trucks and cars when we arrived. Fairy lights crisscrossed above the adjacent barn, and the muffled sound of a country band tuning up drifted through the evening air. Inside, the barn had been transformed with more lights, hay bales arranged as seating, and tables laden with enough food to feed half the county.
Scarlet's hand found mine as we entered, her fingers intertwining with mine in a gesture that felt unnervingly natural. I scanned the room, nodding to familiar faces while trying to ignore the knowing looks and whispers that followed us.
"Burke! Scarlet!"
I turned to see Rhett making his way through the crowd toward us, still wearing that smug grin he'd had since catching us together at the dunking booth this morning. Instead of his casual festival attire, he'd cleaned up for the dance in a crispwhite shirt and his favorite hat, tilted at the precise angle that had half the single women in Sweetwater following his movements across the room.
"There's the happy couple," he said, his dark eyes dancing with amusement. "I see my big brother actually showed up for the dancing part too. Normally we can't drag you to these things with a tractor and chain." He tipped his hat to Scarlet. "Your influence continues to work miracles."
