Page 16 of Falling For Her Cowboy
“Do you lose patients often?” She rested hercheek in her palm. She was truly fascinated with not only the man before her, but with what he did for a living. Not only had he accomplished one goal in life, but he was also fulfilling another one.
While here she was, trying to figure out her second phase in life. She’d honestly thought she’d have stayed in the Army much longer. She’d dreamed of going up in rank, but since accusing her staff sergeant of sexual assault, all of that was ruined. Even though he’d been found guilty, she, the victim, had suffered even more.
She’d heard plenty of times that she should have kept her mouth shut. That she could have transferred out. What really pissed her off were those who’d tried to say she was the one who’d instigated the entire scheme.
That cut her deep.
What drove home the knife in her heart was that Pierce, the man she had been set to marry, believed she was having an affair with Theo and she’d got caught.
She swallowed hard and blinked a few times.
Her hand curled up in a fist as the memory of that argument surfaced.
“Are you shitting me?” she screamed.
“You’re gone all the time. I go days, maybe evenweeks without hearing from you. If I’m the man you love, then why is that?” Pierce folded his arms.
Her mouth dropped open at his accusation.
“What don’t you get about being deployed? I was in the fucking desert. Enemy territory. Guns getting shoved in my face, and you are worried about me cheating on you?” She had been deployed for six months and had recently come home. When she should be getting comfort from her man after she’d officially filed her complaint against Theo, this was what she was met with.
“It happens all the time,” he snarled.
“Do you even know me? You know I’ve been faithful to you.”
“How do I?”
Melah blinked and shook off the memory. Pierce was a piece of shit. His true colors had come out that day, and she was so thankful she’d seen them then. It had hurt to have the man—one she’d thought loved her—abandon her almost immediately when things got tough.
According to Athena, she’d dodged a bullet.
“More than I like,” he murmured.
Melah couldn’t help but feel her heart tug at the sound of Ridge’s voice. There was a pure sadness in the tone. He deserved to go out and be treated with agood meal. It was the least she could do for him for looking after Daisy. Dropping food off to him wouldn’t do. She turned to him and drew up her big girl panties.
“Are you available for a bite to eat tonight? I don’t want you to think I forgot about paying you for your trouble last night.”
He smirked and glanced over at her. Those blue eyes of his captured her again. That fluttering in her stomach reappeared. She’d never experienced this sensation before. There was something about Ridge.
This was not going to be a date.
It’s payment.
Keep your focus, woman.
“I am available.”
“Well, you pick out the place and I’ll treat.” She stood to her full height, which didn’t do much. She was five foot six, and standing next to Ridge made her appear to be much shorter. He had to be about six one or two. She didn’t think she’d ever taken a man out to eat before. Grabbing food in the barracks didn’t count when it was her and friends.
Again, this was not a date. This would be no different than her going out to grab a bite to eat with her friend, Issac. That goofball never let her pay. Even when it was his birthdayand they had met up in his hometown of Dallas last year, he’d refused to allow her to open her purse.
“Mind if I drive?” Ridge arched an eyebrow at her while that devilish smile of his lingered.
She squeezed her legs together. Her core clenched at the heat that appeared in his gaze as it swept over her again. She may be getting in over her head with this one.
One dinner. That was it. She could handle this. Maybe they could even become friends. She hadn’t come here to hook up with anyone, but developing a friendship with others on the ranch wasn’t a bad idea.
“I guess I could let you.” She shrugged. She was still learning the town, so it would probably be best he did drive.
