9781631052323ForeverKindofCowboySullivan (3 page)

“Right
this way, please.”

He laid
the palm of his hand at the small of her back as they followed the hostess
through the tables toward the patio area up on the second floor.

“Will
this be all right, sir?”

“Perfect.
Thank you.” Callie rubbed her arms as if chilled, so he took off the suit
jacket he wore to drape it over her shoulders.
“Can’t have
you getting chilled with your shoulders bare.”

“Thank
you.”

“You’re
welcome.” He held out her chair while he waited for her to sit before taking
his own across from her. He wanted to be able to look into her gorgeous blue
eyes while they sipped margaritas and ate chips.

“You’re
such a gentleman.”

“My
mother would be proud to hear you say so. She raised us
boys
right, I guess.”

“I
would say so.” Callie laid the napkin on her lap before she picked up the menu.
“Hmm.
What sounds good besides having you for supper?”

He
wasn’t sure he heard her right. “Would you like a margarita?”

“I
suppose, although something a bit stronger would certainly loosen things up in
the nether regions.”

Jeremiah
ordered her one and a Jack and Coke for himself when the waitress stopped at
their table.

“I’ll
have one of what he’s having instead of the margarita.”

“Of
course.
I’ll
be right back with your drinks,” the waitress said, sliding the tortilla chips and
salsa onto the table between them.

He must
have had a startled look on his face because she said, “What?”

“I
figured you for one of those fruity drink
kind
of gals.”

“I’m
feeling right adventurous tonight.”

“Apparently.”
As he perused the menu, he kept
glancing over the top to look at the woman across the table from him. He
couldn’t believe this was the same sweet girl he’d tutored in math in high
school. Sure, he’d talked to her, saw her, and watched her off and on since
they graduated several years ago, but he hadn’t seen her like this.

“Is
there something on my nose?” she asked, setting her menu down on the table to
her left before she grabbed a chip, dipped it into the salsa and then popped it
between those tempting as hell lips.

“No.
Why?”

“You’re
staring.”

“Sorry.
I’m trying to figure out what happened to the
Callinda
Lewis I know, because I think you left her back at your house. I don’t know
this girl at all.”

“What’s
wrong with me being different than the girl you grew up with?”

“Nothing,
but I like Callie too. Is this Callie or
Callinda
?”

“It’s
me, Jeremiah. I’m not any different than the girl you’ve known your whole life,
but you haven’t been out with me on a date. This is how I am.”

“Somehow
I don’t think so. Don’t put on a different persona for me. I liked you the way
you were.”

“You
don’t like this me?”

“It’s
not that. I think this you is hotter than holding a firecracker, but the sweet
Callie is nice too.”

The
waitress brought their drinks and then took their order for food. The evening
darkness had started to surround them as the sun went down. Candles were lit on
the tabletops covered with brightly colored tablecloths. The light flickering
from the small candle made her eyes sparkle like sapphires. He hadn’t noticed
their deep blue color before or how kissable her lips were.

“I’m
not a virgin, you know. I’ve been around a bit.
Dabbled in
some bondage.
Nipple clamps, rope work, dildos…that kind of thing.”

He
choked on the sip of his drink he’d just swallowed. “Oh?”

Her
lips bowed into a teasing little smile. “No. I lost it in high school so you
don’t have to worry about my inexperience.”

After a
couple of coughs, he said in a gravelly voice laced with the whiskey he’d
practically choked on, “I really hadn’t thought about it.”

“Well I
have. I wish it had been you.”

“Callie—”

“Am I
making you uncomfortable?”

“A
little.
I’m
not used to you being this bold.”

“You
don’t like bold women?” she asked, sipping her own drink with a wide-eyed
expression that made her look all the more innocent except the dark eyeliner
she rimmed her eyes with.

This
Callie had him stumped. He wasn’t sure what to make of the changes in her and
he wasn’t sure he liked it at all. Of course, he liked bold women to an extent,
but this didn’t fit the Callie he knew. “I do.”

“So
what’s the problem?”

Their
food arrived, saving him from trying to explain his thoughts to her. Was she
trying to impress him? Make him want her over Lydia? Didn’t she realize he’d
much rather go out with her than Lydia?

They
ate for several minutes in silence as he tried to think of how to approach
this. He didn’t want to put Callie off, but he wanted the old Callie, not this
new throw herself in your face girl sitting across the table from him.

“You
aren’t eating. Aren’t you hungry?”

He
looked down at this plate and true, he’d been shoving his food around with his
fork more than he’d been eating his enchilada.
 
Placing the fork to the side, he tented
his fingers so he could watch her. “I guess not so much.”

A blush
spread across her cheeks as she glanced down at her own plate. “The food is
wonderful. I’m glad you brought me here. I haven’t been to this one before,
although I’ve been down on the River Walk thousands of times.”

“This
one is my favorite restaurant. I come here as much as I can when I’m in town.”

The
mariachi band strolled by their table to ask if they wanted them to play a
song. After Jeremiah gave them a tip, they played a soft Mexican ballad meant
for lovers. A moment later, he felt her foot slide along his inner thigh,
heading for his crotch.
Holy hell!
“Listen, Callie.” He shoved her foot down. “This is moving a bit fast for me.”

“What’s
wrong?” She swallowed hard, looking like she was about to cry. “I’m coming on
too strong, aren’t I? I’m sorry. I’m totally embarrassed now.”

“It’s
okay. This just isn’t the girl I know. I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I like her
very much.”

“Wow.”

“I’m
finished if you want me to take you home.” He signaled the waitress for the check
as he pulled his wallet out of his pants pocket.

“I
guess so.”

The
moment he paid for their tab, he stood to escort her back to his truck. This
whole date had turned into a disaster and he wasn’t sure what to think about
it. Obviously, he didn’t know her as well as he thought he did because man,
this Callie wasn’t for him. She made Lydia look like a saint. That was hard to
do since Lydia was a bitch.

Silence
stretched between them on the ride home. They didn’t talk at all and he thought
he heard her sniffle several times like she might be crying, but he didn’t know
what to do. If he played it like it was okay, he’d feel like a heel because
he’d led her on. He didn’t want the girl she’d been at dinner. He wanted the
sweet Callie he’d known all his life. He wasn’t sure how to find the real girl.

Chapter Three

I’m such an idiot!
Callie felt like shit. She’d
totally screwed up this date with Jeremiah. She probably wouldn’t get a chance
with him again and didn’t know how to fix this. Trying to be the woman she
thought he liked turned out to be the last thing he wanted. What to do?
“Jeremiah, I’m sorry.”

“For
what?”

“Acting
like a prima donna or whatever you want to call it. I thought you like those
kind of women.”

“No.
Yes.” He raked his fingers through his hair as they pulled up to the curb in
front of her house. “I’m not sure what I like at this point, Callie, but I know
the woman you were at dinner tonight wasn’t what I wanted. I liked you the way
you were.
Sweet, innocent, tomboyish.
It’s nice to be
with a woman who isn’t all about the hair and makeup. You work on cars. You
like to go fishing and four-
wheelin
’. Those are the
things I like about you.” He shut the truck off before he turned to face her.
“I don’t need to jump into bed with you on the first date either. Not that I
wouldn’t mind, but it’s not what this is about. I want to get to know you as
the girl I went to high school with who has turned into this
hottie
.”

“
Hottie
?” she asked, blushing to the roots of her hair. He
thought she was hot?
Wow
.

“Yeah.”
He took her hand and threaded
his fingers through hers. “I like you the way you are. Don’t change.”

“Okay.”
She loved the feeling of her hand in his. Warmth spread up her arm, making her
heart flutter in her chest. She had it bad for this man, always had. “Can we
start over?”

“Sure.”

She
captured her bottom lip between her teeth as she tried to think of how to start
this whole night again without the act. Once she unbuckled her seatbelt, she
turned to face him. “How was your day today?”

His
lips lifted in a half grin as he began telling her all about what he did at the
ranch, how his stocks were doing, and everything about his life as the Young
brother in charge of the finances. Her heart warmed as she relayed everything
about her day. They almost sounded like an old married couple as they talked.
She told him about working on the transmission she’d been having trouble with
at the garage, how the same customers came in every week for gas, including
him, and how she enjoyed spending Sundays with her dad going to church before
they went out for Sunday dinner at his aunt’s diner.

“She
enjoys having you for supper, I’m sure.”

“It’s
just me and Dad time, so it’s fun. We talk about all kinds of things.” She
scooted closer. “Tell me what it was like growing up with such a huge family.”

“I
forgot you were an only child.”

“Yeah.
When Mom left us, Dad had to do
what he could. He didn’t know how to raise a girl.”

“He did
a damn good job. I don’t know many women out there who can do what you do. It’s
a great trait to have.” He brought her hand to his lips, brushing the back
lightly. “You are an amazing woman, Callie.”

She
smiled at the compliment, absorbing everything about being with Jeremiah she
could. Talking to him about little things made this the best date ever. “Would
you like to come in?” She glanced at the front of the house, watching as her
dad’s light in his bedroom went out. “Dad went to bed so we can sit and watch a
movie here since we didn’t hit the theater.”

“Okay.
Do you have some popcorn?”

She
gave him her best
are you crazy
look and
said, “What is a movie without popcorn?”

With a
tip of his head, he pushed open the driver’s side door before slamming it shut.
She waited for him to come around to open her door and help her out of the
truck, knowing it was what men like Jeremiah did.

When
they stopped at the door of the house for her to open it, he rested his hand at
the small of her back. The warmth emanating from his skin sent goose bumps down
her legs. She knew he probably only did it because he was raised to be a
gentleman, but she loved having him touch
her.
“Let me
check in with Dad for a minute. There are movies on television or you can pick
one of the discs we have in the entertainment center.”

“Okay.”

She
headed down the hall to tap on her father’s door. Since he’d seen the light go
off only a few minutes before, she figured she should at least let him know she
was home.
“Dad?”

“Come
in.”

“We’re
back.”

He
glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “It’s early.”

“I
know. We decided to watch a movie here instead of going out.”

“All
right.
You
two kids have fun.”

“We
will. I love you, Daddy.”

“I love
you too, doll baby. Be good.”

She
laughed. “I’ll try.” After she closed the door behind her, she walked down the
long hall toward the kitchen to make the popcorn and get them something to
drink.

Jeremiah
was still looking through the discs when she glanced across the island. “What
would you like to drink?”

“Anything
cold is fine.”

“I have
Coke?”

He
looked back at her with a grin on his perfect lips. “Perfect!”

She
poured him a glass with some ice in it as she kicked off the heels on her feet.
With a heavy sigh, she leaned on the bar with her elbow.

“You
okay?”

“Yeah,
but those heels were killing me.”

He set
the discs he was looking at down and walked around the island. “You didn’t have
to do all of this for me.”

“I
thought you liked those kinds of women.”

“Sometimes,
but like I said, I like the Callie I already knew. I just want to get to know
her better.” His gaze raked down her body, causing her nipples to pull into
tight little nubs under her dress.
“Although you look killer
in that dress.”

Her
cheeks heated with a blush as she set the can down on the counter. “Thanks.”

He
leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. “Why don’t you change into something
more comfortable like sweats and a T-shirt?”

Her
whole body shivered from the touch of his lips. She really wanted them on hers.
Once would be enough, right? Yeah, probably not, but she could live for the
moment.
“Really?”

“Yes. I
like seeing your curves in that clingy little number, but I know it can’t be
very comfortable.”

He’d
noticed her curves, wow. “It’s not.”

He
swatted her on the butt as she started to walk toward her room. “Then go change,
woman, and I’ll get the popcorn in the microwave.”

The
moment she had a second for herself, she leaned against the closed door and
sighed. He’d kissed her even if it was just on the forehead—she’d had
Jeremiah’s lips on her skin. Why did he have to be the one to turn her upside
down like this? Why did it have to be one of the Young brothers? Why not
someone easy to love? Not them. They all were bachelors to the core. Well,
until they met the right woman. A few of the boys had settled down recently,
but all of them were women from somewhere besides here. Bandera, Texas residents
weren’t what the boys looked for when they contemplated a mate, or at least it
appeared so. “They’re attracted to a different woman, not some down-home
country girl like me.” Oh well. She’d take what she could get. For tonight,
Jeremiah Young was all hers.

After
she quickly changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, she did a quick swipe
of a makeup cloth to get the majority of the goop off her face. She’d done
herself up with dark eyeliner, lipstick and all, thinking he liked women all
dolled up. It turns out he didn’t want it at all. Who knew? If she compared
herself to Lydia, she came up lacking. She didn’t do her hair on a regular
basis, she didn’t wear makeup all that much, and she didn’t dress fancy. With a
glance in the mirror behind her door, she screwed up her mouth in a twist of a
sarcastic smile before she opened the door so she could head back into the
living room.

“Now
there’s the girl I know and love.”

Love?

Jeremiah
patted the couch next to him as he settled the full bowl of popcorn on his
thigh. “You look like what I picture you always wearing. I bet you’re more
comfortable too.”

“Yeah,
I am. This is what I wear most of the time during the summer.”

He
looked at her legs with a crooked grin as he tossed a couple of kernels of
popcorn into his mouth. “Nice legs.”

“What?
These old things?”
She plopped down on the couch beside him,
almost spilling the popcorn.

“Easy,
woman!
The popcorn!”

The
peal of his laughter made her smile. She loved his laugh. Hell, she loved
everything about him.

“Sorry.”
She grabbed a few pieces for herself as she asked, “What did you pick out?”

“
Die Hard
.”

“Of
course.”

“Hey,
it’s an action flick, but it has the mushy stuff too. I mean, you know how he
hollers his wife’s name and everything.”

She
rolled her eyes. “It’s so not a woman’s kind of movie.
Love Actually
,
You’ve Got
Mail
, those kinds of movies
are
chick flicks.”

“I’m
the guest, so I guess that means we watch my movie.”

“First,
then it’ll be my turn.”

“Deal.”

She
grabbed the remote and flipped on the disc player. The movie began to play the
opening scenes as she settled in next to Jeremiah on the couch. Being here with
him like this was surreal. She never thought this would ever happen to her.
Sitting next to the guy she’d been in love with since tenth grade didn’t happen
to girls like her.
Well, they do now.

“Are
you enjoying the movie?” he asked as their hands brushed together in the midst
of the popcorn bowl.

“Yeah.
I like Bruce Willis.”

“He’s a
pretty good actor.”

“I’d
say so. These action flicks are exciting.”

“I
thought you didn’t like action flicks?”

“I
never said that. I just said I figured you’d pick one rather than a chick
flick. I happen to like movies with car crashes, shootings, and explosions.”
She turned to face him. “You know I almost went to school to be in stunts.”

“Really?”

“Yep.
I wanted to be one of those
people who flew through the air and landed on one of those big airbags. It
looked so fun when I visited Los Angeles and went to Universal Studios.”

“Why
didn’t you?”

“Because
Dad needed me here to take over the garage when he can’t work on cars anymore.
Being the only child sucks
sometimes, but I love him.”

“You
have no idea how lost you get being part of a huge family like mine. Middle kid
syndrome jumps on a lot of people when you have a family of nine kids.”

“I can imagine
it would be hard not to get lost in the shuffle, but you seem to do pretty well
for yourself.”

“It’s
even worse now with the extra women in the picture. Mom and Dad are all about
the daughters-in-law and the grandkids these days.”

“You
make sure they’re financially secure though, right? I mean, you are the reason
they stay in business out there because you keep their finances straight.”

“True,
but it’s not simple to stand out in the crowd gathering out there.”

“Have
you thought about getting married yourself?”

He
laughed as he grabbed her hand. “Are you
askin
’?”

Her
breath stopped in her throat. “Well no, but I wondered since you are getting
close to thirty. Shouldn’t it be about time?”

“You
are too, you know. Are you feeling the itch to be married?”

“A
little.
My
dad is hinting at marriage and grandkids although without a steady guy, it
seems unlikely for the time being. With no boyfriend in the mix, it’s hard to
think about a future and a wedding, not to mention babies.”

“We
should just get married and put them all out of their misery.”

She
choked on the popcorn kernel in her mouth. “You can’t be serious?”

“Of
course not, silly. I’m kidding!”

“Oh,
thank God! I mean, we don’t really know each other. I could snore or something that
you hate. I mean you were mad at me earlier for trying to be what you wanted,
remember?” She took a breath to continue only to have him put his hand over her
mouth.