Page 27 of Headstrong Cowboy
“You’re welcome and, if you want to tell me more, I’m here to listen.But if you don’t, I understand as well.”
The temptation to spill all that he’d been through as a child to Chrissy was strong, but he controlled it.She didn’t need to know all the bad stuff that happened to him, or things he did himself to sabotage his life.The past was over and it couldn’t be changed, no matter how much he may want to alter some aspects of it.All the things he’d been through had turned him into the man he was today.“Thank you for the offer.Maybe another time.”
Chrissy sipped her wine and then smiled over the top of her glass.“There’s going to be another time, is there?”
This woman was flirting with him, and he loved every second of it.“There could be.”He winked to let her know he was teasing.He most definitely wanted there to be another time.
Chapter Thirteen
Chrissy didn’t thinkshe’d ever had a better night.Dinner and conversation with Ryder had been so easy.There hadn’t been any moments where the conversation had died and she’d struggled to find something else they could talk about.
Now they were finishing up their dessert and the night would be over before she wanted it to be.It wasn’t as if Ryder had to drive her home.She’d met him at the hotel.All he had to do was go upstairs to his room.She supposed she could walk him up to his door, a role reversal on the traditional way dates worked in the past.
Chrissy kind of liked that idea.Who was to say she couldn’t do that?Couldn’t make sure Ryder got to his room safely, give him a kiss goodnight, and then drive home?Her body warmed at the thought of kissing Ryder again.Every time their mouths collided, all rational thought flew out of her mind, and all she wanted was to lose herself in him.Something she’d never experienced with Beau.She should feel guilty about that, but she didn’t, because Beau was gone and she was still here, and they’d been separated and divorced for a while before he’d passed.He’d want her to move on and be happy, just like if he were still alive, she’d want the same for him.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”Ryder asked as he reached out and brushed his fingers against hers.
“Kissing you.”The words erupted out of her, and mortification threatened to consume her.Where had her brain and mouth coordination gone?Clearly, it had taken a hike and Chrissy wished it would come back.
“You shouldn’t say things like that,” he murmured, his eyes turning dark with desire.
“Why?”
“Because we’re in a crowded restaurant and all I want to do now is kiss you.”
A shiver trickled down her spine at the intensity of his words.This was all new territory for her.She’d only ever been with one man, but what she wanted now was for Ryder to take her up to his room.Do all the things she hadn’t done in a long time.The intimate side of her marriage to Beau had been over a long time before their divorce—another sign that they should’ve ended things before they did.The uncertainty she’d felt when they’d been together that afternoon, about moving this quickly, vanished.She didn’t have to fear anything when it came to Ryder.“There’s a perfectly good bed a few floors up.”
Again, her words shocked her.She’d never been this forward with anyone, not even Beau.But everything about what she was saying and doing with Ryder felt right.As if her life journey had been leading her to this very moment.
Ryder gripped her hand.“Don’t say things like that.I’m trying to be a gentleman here.”
“What if I don’t want you to be one?”she countered.Was she pushing for something that she wanted, but Ryder didn’t?
No, he wanted it.The way he was holding on to her.The tortured groan that had come from him when she’d mentioned his room.
“Are you ready for the check?”The server came up, popping the sensual tension bubble that had surrounded them.
Ryder relinquished his hold on her hand, and Chrissy wanted to snatch it back, hold it with both of hers so they were still connected.But she did none of that.
“Yes, that would be great.”Ryder said quietly.
Chrissy sighed.Perhaps the server showing up at their table had been at the right time.She’d gotten so swept up into a fantasy that, while her body might want it, was she really ready for it?For the prospect of letting Ryder see her fully.She wasn’t ashamed of how she’d look, but being naked in front of someone she’d only known for a short time was a little intimidating.
“You ready to go?”Ryder asked.
Lost in her busy thoughts, she hadn’t noticed that the server had returned and Ryder had paid for their meal.“Um, yeah, sure.”
Whatever had been swirling between them before the interruption was definitely gone now, but Ryder still reached for her hand, and the second his warm palm slid against hers, some of her anxiety eased and she fell into step beside him.
They stopped in the lobby, with the doors to exit the hotel in front of them and the elevators to the right.Chrissy moved to stand in front of him, placing her hand on his chest.Immediately, his rested on her hips.Beneath her fingers, the fabric of his shirt was soft and warmed from his body heat.She wanted to wrap herself around him and have some of that warmth seep into her bones.When she was with him, she forgot everything else.All the stressful things that were happening with the farm.The way her mother wouldn’t look her in the eyes and avoided any questions she asked about whether she was going to sell the farm.The way Sunny appeared to get more stressed every day, as if she knew that all of Chrissy’s plans were going to collapse and the farm was going to be swept out from under their feet.
While she’d been at Tilly’s getting ready for her date at the Graff with Ryder, she’d explained the situation to her sister and, as expected, Tilly had said she could pitch in some money.Or whatever other help they needed.Chrissy loved her sisters and the way they all banded together to stand strong.Whatever the outcome, she would know that they’d given everything they had to save the farm.Each day she hoped that it would happen, but each day a little bit of her began to doubt that they would succeed.
All of those things should be enough to convince her that getting involved with Ryder wasn’t a great idea.Not to mention she didn’t know how long he was going to be in town for.He hadn’t come right out and said that he would be leaving after the rodeo, but that made the most sense to her, considering his past involvement with the event.
A soft touch brushed against her forehead and she looked up to find Ryder studying her intently.
How often had she’d gotten lost in her mind with her troubles and other thoughts around him?Way too many to count.
