Read Online COLLEEN: A Sweet Western Historical Romance by Ashley Merrick - Free Book Online
Authors: Ashley Merrick
Ads: Link
you to one of my favorite things. There's nothing like a good glass of wine. It makes the food taste better." Colleen doubted that, but Ricky was so passionate about it that she agreed to give it a try. She did know that although they didn't sell much wine, Liam did have a small collection of bottles for those who preferred it over the usual beer that was served.
When Billy came back to take their order, Ricky selected a bottle of red wine and then they both ordered sirloin steaks with buttered new potatoes.
"This goes especially well with red meat," Ricky said as Billy opened the bottle and then poured them each a glass. "It will get even better as it sits here and opens up. Try a sip."
Tentatively, Colleen lifted the glass to her mouth and breathed in the scent of the wine first and then took a small taste.
"It's good!"
"You sound surprised," Ricky chuckled.
"I am, actually. I wasn't sure what to expect or if I would like it." She took another sip. It was like nothing she'd ever tried before. The smell was rich and fragrant and the taste was both heavy and silky at the same time. As she continued to sip slowly, she began to feel a pleasant warmth in the back of her throat and then it spread through the rest of her and she felt relaxed and happy.
"So, I have some news," Ricky began. "You'll be the first to know." He leaned forward in his seat and Colleen did the same, eager to hear what he was about to say. She sensed that it was important.
"I've decided that I'm going to run for town office. For mayor," he announced and then waited for her reaction.
"You are?" That took her by surprise. "Why do you want to be mayor?" She thought he seemed awfully young for that, but kept that thought to herself.
"Why not? It's an important position. It could be quite helpful in my business. And I think I could be very good at it."
"Have you ever done anything like that before? I mean, do you have any experience for it?"
"You think I'm too young for it, too." He frowned and poured a bit more wine into both of their glasses, then set the bottle back on the table. "My parents told me I had a lot of nerve to even think of running." He flashed her his mischievous grin and added, "But I've always had a lot of nerve. That's what's gotten me to this point. I think I can win."
"Well, I wish you the best of luck, then."
Billy arrived a few minutes later with their dinners and they started to eat.
"Take a sip of your wine now," Ricky instructed as Colleen cut another piece of steak. It was cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of pink. "And then take a bite of your steak." She did as he suggested, first taking a sip of the wine and then following with the meat and she was surprised at what she noticed. It really did taste better with the wine.
"See? Was I right? Amazing, isn't it?" He leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his wine and smiled.
"Yes, you were right," she agreed. While they continued to eat, Ricky told her more about his family.
"My brothers remind me of David and Paul, actually. They have a lot in common. They're not sure what to make of me. I love buying and selling, negotiating a great deal. There's nothing like it." He grew quiet for a moment, and looked thoughtful.
"You know, a candidate for mayor would be taken more seriously if he had a wife and was settling down to start a family." He looked at her expectantly, anticipating that she would like that idea, no doubt. Instead, it made Colleen question his intentions. Was he really interested in her? Or would anyone do?
"When is the election?" she asked coolly.
"Not for almost a year. I just like to think ahead. Planning has been one of my keys to success so far," he said proudly. Colleen set her fork down. She was no longer hungry. The steak had been delicious, but she was completely full.
Billy came by a few minutes later and cleared their plates away.
"Can I interest you in dessert? We have a six-layer chocolate cake. It's really
When Billy came back to take their order, Ricky selected a bottle of red wine and then they both ordered sirloin steaks with buttered new potatoes.
"This goes especially well with red meat," Ricky said as Billy opened the bottle and then poured them each a glass. "It will get even better as it sits here and opens up. Try a sip."
Tentatively, Colleen lifted the glass to her mouth and breathed in the scent of the wine first and then took a small taste.
"It's good!"
"You sound surprised," Ricky chuckled.
"I am, actually. I wasn't sure what to expect or if I would like it." She took another sip. It was like nothing she'd ever tried before. The smell was rich and fragrant and the taste was both heavy and silky at the same time. As she continued to sip slowly, she began to feel a pleasant warmth in the back of her throat and then it spread through the rest of her and she felt relaxed and happy.
"So, I have some news," Ricky began. "You'll be the first to know." He leaned forward in his seat and Colleen did the same, eager to hear what he was about to say. She sensed that it was important.
"I've decided that I'm going to run for town office. For mayor," he announced and then waited for her reaction.
"You are?" That took her by surprise. "Why do you want to be mayor?" She thought he seemed awfully young for that, but kept that thought to herself.
"Why not? It's an important position. It could be quite helpful in my business. And I think I could be very good at it."
"Have you ever done anything like that before? I mean, do you have any experience for it?"
"You think I'm too young for it, too." He frowned and poured a bit more wine into both of their glasses, then set the bottle back on the table. "My parents told me I had a lot of nerve to even think of running." He flashed her his mischievous grin and added, "But I've always had a lot of nerve. That's what's gotten me to this point. I think I can win."
"Well, I wish you the best of luck, then."
Billy arrived a few minutes later with their dinners and they started to eat.
"Take a sip of your wine now," Ricky instructed as Colleen cut another piece of steak. It was cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of pink. "And then take a bite of your steak." She did as he suggested, first taking a sip of the wine and then following with the meat and she was surprised at what she noticed. It really did taste better with the wine.
"See? Was I right? Amazing, isn't it?" He leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his wine and smiled.
"Yes, you were right," she agreed. While they continued to eat, Ricky told her more about his family.
"My brothers remind me of David and Paul, actually. They have a lot in common. They're not sure what to make of me. I love buying and selling, negotiating a great deal. There's nothing like it." He grew quiet for a moment, and looked thoughtful.
"You know, a candidate for mayor would be taken more seriously if he had a wife and was settling down to start a family." He looked at her expectantly, anticipating that she would like that idea, no doubt. Instead, it made Colleen question his intentions. Was he really interested in her? Or would anyone do?
"When is the election?" she asked coolly.
"Not for almost a year. I just like to think ahead. Planning has been one of my keys to success so far," he said proudly. Colleen set her fork down. She was no longer hungry. The steak had been delicious, but she was completely full.
Billy came by a few minutes later and cleared their plates away.
"Can I interest you in dessert? We have a six-layer chocolate cake. It's really
Similar Books
