Read Online Rangers: Silver-Star Seductions: A Two-Book Box Set by Ciana Stone - Free Book Online
Authors: Ciana Stone
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stupid?” Willa stood in front of the old-fashioned dressing mirror that had been her mama’s, turning one way then another. The ferret family was perched on the bed watching. Sassy chirped and bobbed her head in response.
“Is that a yes, you look stupid as all get out?” Willa asked. She didn’t own a lot of dresses and hadn’t worn this one in a good three years. It was a simple peasant dress with smocking that started beneath her breasts and ended just below the waist. A full skirt covered her legs to three inches below her knees and the small capped-sleeves rested on the outer curve of her shoulders.
The color of the desert at sunset, it was a plain affair with no frills or embellishments. She studied her reflection in the mirror. What would Zeb see when he looked at her? A woman in an old dress who should have stuck with jeans?
She blew out an exasperated breath and turned away from the mirror to grab her boots. Okay, so worn cowboy boots didn’t exactly spell class but she didn't own anything else aside from a pair of more worn-out sneakers and flip flops from the local bargain shop.
As she turned to give her appearance one more look, she heard the sound of a car door slam. Willa was just descending the stairs when Zeb opened the front door. He looked up at her and stopped dead in his tracks.
Willa’s heart sank. Did she look that ridiculous in the dress?
Her fear was short lived when he gave her a smile sexy enough to wake a dead person, followed up with “Christ almighty, sugar, maybe we should forget going out and take this party upstairs.”
“It’s okay?” she asked, despite the relief his words provided.
“More than okay. You look incredible.”
“You’re not just being polite?” she asked as she finished descending the stairs.
Zeb laughed. “You do remember who you’re dealing with, right?”
Willa chuckled. Zeb could be the most charming man on the planet, but he tended to be brutally honest. “Then thank you. I was a little nervous. I’m not exactly a dress kinda gal.”
“Well, you make that dress look damn good. So, whadda ya say, beautiful?”
“I say let’s hit the road. I didn’t have time for lunch and I’m so hungry I could eat the south end of a north bound mule.”
Zeb laughed. “Always the romantic.”
She gave his shoulder a shove as she passed him and headed out the door. The drive into town was passed with talk of anything but their troubles or his investigation, which she appreciated. Time passed quickly as they reminisced about times he and her brother Ethan had shared and the trouble they’d gotten into as kids.
Zeb had chosen to have dinner at Bill’s Beef Barn, a local steakhouse. It was a family owned place that had been around as long as Willa could remember. She hadn’t been there in quite some time but the place had not changed. There were still framed photos of local ranchers and rodeo cowboys dating back to the 1920’s on the walls, and the tables were still the same rough hewn wood sealed with years of shellac.
As she discovered during dinner, the steaks were still as good as ever. Having spent her entire life in Calder County she knew darn near everyone in the place, and was well aware of the curious eyes watching her and Zeb.
It didn’t seem to bother him. In fact, he seemed to hitch up his charm and flirtatiousness a few notches, reaching out to touch her hand or offer her a bite from his fork of the buffalo steak he’d ordered. Willa had no doubt that by morning they would be a major topic of gossip.
What surprised her was that she didn’t care. In fact, she liked the idea that people would think of her and Zeb as an item. Hell, she’d been in love with him damn near her whole life. To have him feel something for her was a dream come true. Even if it wasn’t destined to be forever.
That thought put a bit of a damper on her mood. But her mood picked back up when he suggested they mosey down to the local honky-tonk for an after
“Is that a yes, you look stupid as all get out?” Willa asked. She didn’t own a lot of dresses and hadn’t worn this one in a good three years. It was a simple peasant dress with smocking that started beneath her breasts and ended just below the waist. A full skirt covered her legs to three inches below her knees and the small capped-sleeves rested on the outer curve of her shoulders.
The color of the desert at sunset, it was a plain affair with no frills or embellishments. She studied her reflection in the mirror. What would Zeb see when he looked at her? A woman in an old dress who should have stuck with jeans?
She blew out an exasperated breath and turned away from the mirror to grab her boots. Okay, so worn cowboy boots didn’t exactly spell class but she didn't own anything else aside from a pair of more worn-out sneakers and flip flops from the local bargain shop.
As she turned to give her appearance one more look, she heard the sound of a car door slam. Willa was just descending the stairs when Zeb opened the front door. He looked up at her and stopped dead in his tracks.
Willa’s heart sank. Did she look that ridiculous in the dress?
Her fear was short lived when he gave her a smile sexy enough to wake a dead person, followed up with “Christ almighty, sugar, maybe we should forget going out and take this party upstairs.”
“It’s okay?” she asked, despite the relief his words provided.
“More than okay. You look incredible.”
“You’re not just being polite?” she asked as she finished descending the stairs.
Zeb laughed. “You do remember who you’re dealing with, right?”
Willa chuckled. Zeb could be the most charming man on the planet, but he tended to be brutally honest. “Then thank you. I was a little nervous. I’m not exactly a dress kinda gal.”
“Well, you make that dress look damn good. So, whadda ya say, beautiful?”
“I say let’s hit the road. I didn’t have time for lunch and I’m so hungry I could eat the south end of a north bound mule.”
Zeb laughed. “Always the romantic.”
She gave his shoulder a shove as she passed him and headed out the door. The drive into town was passed with talk of anything but their troubles or his investigation, which she appreciated. Time passed quickly as they reminisced about times he and her brother Ethan had shared and the trouble they’d gotten into as kids.
Zeb had chosen to have dinner at Bill’s Beef Barn, a local steakhouse. It was a family owned place that had been around as long as Willa could remember. She hadn’t been there in quite some time but the place had not changed. There were still framed photos of local ranchers and rodeo cowboys dating back to the 1920’s on the walls, and the tables were still the same rough hewn wood sealed with years of shellac.
As she discovered during dinner, the steaks were still as good as ever. Having spent her entire life in Calder County she knew darn near everyone in the place, and was well aware of the curious eyes watching her and Zeb.
It didn’t seem to bother him. In fact, he seemed to hitch up his charm and flirtatiousness a few notches, reaching out to touch her hand or offer her a bite from his fork of the buffalo steak he’d ordered. Willa had no doubt that by morning they would be a major topic of gossip.
What surprised her was that she didn’t care. In fact, she liked the idea that people would think of her and Zeb as an item. Hell, she’d been in love with him damn near her whole life. To have him feel something for her was a dream come true. Even if it wasn’t destined to be forever.
That thought put a bit of a damper on her mood. But her mood picked back up when he suggested they mosey down to the local honky-tonk for an after
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