Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,2
And, yes, she owed him. Not only for rescuing her, but for an extravagant dinner.
Exasperating, but such a hunk, even with his unruly hair creased from the Stetson he’d been wearing. His face was strong and angular with a slightly crooked nose like he’d broken it once or twice. His lips... well, she shouldn’t be looking at those, because he was an amazing kisser. Like that was any test of a decent human being.
He’d rescued her, though. Kissed her like she’d demanded. Held her tight against his broad, firm chest and sent Scotty packing.
Pretended they were engaged.
Riley shivered.
The server set their drinks and the nachos between them.
She reached for a chip and dragged it through the spicy cheese. It tasted even better than it smelled, and that had been amazing.
“Have you eaten today?”
Riley’s gaze shot back to Adam’s. “Um... not much.”
“How come?”
He couldn’t possibly really want to know.
She ate three more chips, but his gaze didn’t waver. “It’s a long story,” she said at last. “I doubt you want to hear the details.”
Adam’s gaze only intensified. “Try me.”
“I’m... let’s just say I’m between situations and leave it at that.” She eyed him. “Besides, I don’t know anything about you.”
He shrugged. “Already told you where I live. My stepdad operates two of the biggest ranches in the region. My brothers and I will be taking one of them over when the time is right.” He studied her for a long moment.
“What, do I have salsa on my chin?” Riley dabbed with her napkin.
“Not at all. Just thinking... maybe the time is right.”
Now he was getting weird. “Pardon me?”
“I’ve been away a long time. My stepdad and I don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, and he hasn’t been willing to let me prove myself. I think he’d take me more seriously if I were engaged.”
Riley stared at him. “Come again?”
“People break engagements all the time. It doesn’t mean a life sentence.”
“Wait a minute. You’re asking me—”
His phone rang, and he held up one finger to silence her.
It annoyed her like crazy that it worked.
“Yo, Nathaniel. What’s up?” Adam took a sip of his ginger ale then set the glass down with a clunk. The ice cubes rattled as his gaze shot back to Riley’s. “Erickson’s faster than I gave him credit for.”
Uh oh. She should have paid more attention to the fact that Scotty and Adam seemed to know each other.
“Yes, that’s what he heard ... I didn’t tell anyone about Riley because she’s a surprise.”
Riley snorted.
Laugh lines crinkled around Adam’s eyes as he grinned at her. “We haven’t made any firm plans yet ... Definitely, bro. You’ll be the first to know ... How’re things at home? How’s Mom?”
He had a mother? He’d talked about his stepfather as though the man were his only parent.
Jaw tensing, Adam looked down at his free hand lining up the cutlery with the edge of the table. “Sorry to hear that ... Riley and I are waiting to be served, so we’ll be a couple of hours at least ... Tell Mom I’ll see her in the morning then ... You too, bro. Later.”
Riley crossed her arms over her chest. “What’s going on?”
“Erickson told his sister who told my brother who told my other brother who was understandably surprised since I didn’t have a girlfriend yesterday. At least that he knew of.”
“Sorry?”
“Don’t be.”
The server chose that moment to set their entrees in front of them. “Can I get you anything else?”
“I think we’re good for now.” Adam spread his cloth napkin on his lap.
Riley should do the same. She stared at the heaped platter in front of her. The steak was perfectly crisscrossed, and the crab legs joined the beef in sending up a mouth-watering aroma. If she had to get a to-go container later, that would be okay. It’d give her something for breakfast. Best to start with the crab in that case.
She reached for the cracker tool then became aware Adam was still studying her. “What?”
“What are your plans for the next few weeks?”
“Um...” Her mind scrambled, trying to come up with something that sounded believable or important.
“Christmas with your family?”
Right, the holidays were coming. “I don’t think so. My parents are...” Remember how lying was a bad idea? “Busy this year.”
“How are you with horses?”
Riley blinked. “I’ve ridden some.” Not as much as the rich kids she’d known.
“Come with me. We can always use another hand at the ranch. And I need a fiancée until about the new year. What