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Authors: Lynn Cahoon
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were going to pass on their way back to Idaho.
“What are you doing?” Taylor closed her eyes. All she wanted to do was to go home. She could open a bottle of wine and sit in the hot tub on her deck. Alone. Without the hunk of a bull rider playing games with her.
“You’re buying me lunch. There’s a great steakhouse here in town. And, since it’s late for lunch, early for dinner, I’ll take one meal for the two you owe me.” Jesse slowed the car to a stop at the light. When it turned green, he pulled onto the main street of town. “And I think we can determine who gets credit for Marvin’s contract at the same time.”
“I still don’t understand.” Taylor’s stomach growled at the thought of food. She wasn’t going to argue. Besides, he was driving.
“You’ll see after we eat.” Jesse grinned. “I just want to warn you, I’m kind of a big thing here.”
“My God. You have such an ego.” Taylor shook her head. She instantly regretted the motion and reached into her purse for the bottle of pain reliever she kept for moments like this. She shook out two pills, then washed them down with the rest of her water. She threw the empty water bottle onto the back seat.
“Just go ahead and make yourself at home,” Jesse said.
Taylor closed her eyes and prayed for the pills to take effect. “I’ll get it when we stop for dinner. I promise I’m not going to trash your pretty car.”
“Better not, or I’ll stop taking you places.” Jesse’s voice sounded far away and Taylor realized she could easily fall asleep if she had half a second.
Chapter 6
The warmth of a hand on her shoulder caused Taylor to turn. Had the car stopped? Jesse stood outside her open door. She wiped her hand over her eyes. “Sorry. Must have fallen asleep.”
“You think? Come on, Sleeping Beauty, let’s get that dinner you promised me.” Jesse pulled her out of the car and they walked into the old building. The outside looked more like the Wild West than a modern steakhouse. She glanced at the pair of rockers sitting on the wooden deck—a checkers game sat forgotten between the oak chairs.
“Where are we?” She stopped in the middle of the porch, glancing at the old metal signs on the wall. The place looked like it hadn’t been open in years. Momentarily, fear flitted through her mind. Was she being stupid? What did she really know about Jesse Sullivan, besides the fact that her mom liked the guy? Her mom didn’t have the best radar for freaks. Had the road trip been a mistake? She felt in her purse for her cell.
“Relax, I’m not leading you astray. Yet.” Somehow the man seemed to know what she was thinking before she opened her mouth. Jesse put a hand on the small of her back and eased her through the black-painted glass doors.
As soon as they entered, the sound of an old song filled her ears and tickled at her memory. Was that Patsy Cline or a newish version of the song by that teenaged wonder kid? “Blue,” that was the song name, and the woman’s voice crooned over the mostly-empty dining room. A wooden bar complete with mirrored shelves and liquor bottles graced the left side of the room. On the right, a dance floor sat next to a small, darkened stage.
“Jesse Sullivan, what are you doing in town? I know there isn’t a rodeo this week,” a rough female voice called out from behind the bar. Jesse turned them toward the voice.
“Maggie, this is Taylor.” Jesse leaned over the bar and kissed the older woman on the cheek. “How have you been? George still giving you a hard time?”
“That ex-husband of mine should be drawn and quartered. But he’s been out of town on a job site the last few months, so it’s easier just to avoid his calls.” Maggie nodded at Taylor. “How’d this rangy old cowboy talk you into being seen with him? You’re a beautiful girl, I’m sure you could do better.”
Jesse put his hand on his chest and faked recoil from the shot. “You’re breaking my heart,
“What are you doing?” Taylor closed her eyes. All she wanted to do was to go home. She could open a bottle of wine and sit in the hot tub on her deck. Alone. Without the hunk of a bull rider playing games with her.
“You’re buying me lunch. There’s a great steakhouse here in town. And, since it’s late for lunch, early for dinner, I’ll take one meal for the two you owe me.” Jesse slowed the car to a stop at the light. When it turned green, he pulled onto the main street of town. “And I think we can determine who gets credit for Marvin’s contract at the same time.”
“I still don’t understand.” Taylor’s stomach growled at the thought of food. She wasn’t going to argue. Besides, he was driving.
“You’ll see after we eat.” Jesse grinned. “I just want to warn you, I’m kind of a big thing here.”
“My God. You have such an ego.” Taylor shook her head. She instantly regretted the motion and reached into her purse for the bottle of pain reliever she kept for moments like this. She shook out two pills, then washed them down with the rest of her water. She threw the empty water bottle onto the back seat.
“Just go ahead and make yourself at home,” Jesse said.
Taylor closed her eyes and prayed for the pills to take effect. “I’ll get it when we stop for dinner. I promise I’m not going to trash your pretty car.”
“Better not, or I’ll stop taking you places.” Jesse’s voice sounded far away and Taylor realized she could easily fall asleep if she had half a second.
Chapter 6
The warmth of a hand on her shoulder caused Taylor to turn. Had the car stopped? Jesse stood outside her open door. She wiped her hand over her eyes. “Sorry. Must have fallen asleep.”
“You think? Come on, Sleeping Beauty, let’s get that dinner you promised me.” Jesse pulled her out of the car and they walked into the old building. The outside looked more like the Wild West than a modern steakhouse. She glanced at the pair of rockers sitting on the wooden deck—a checkers game sat forgotten between the oak chairs.
“Where are we?” She stopped in the middle of the porch, glancing at the old metal signs on the wall. The place looked like it hadn’t been open in years. Momentarily, fear flitted through her mind. Was she being stupid? What did she really know about Jesse Sullivan, besides the fact that her mom liked the guy? Her mom didn’t have the best radar for freaks. Had the road trip been a mistake? She felt in her purse for her cell.
“Relax, I’m not leading you astray. Yet.” Somehow the man seemed to know what she was thinking before she opened her mouth. Jesse put a hand on the small of her back and eased her through the black-painted glass doors.
As soon as they entered, the sound of an old song filled her ears and tickled at her memory. Was that Patsy Cline or a newish version of the song by that teenaged wonder kid? “Blue,” that was the song name, and the woman’s voice crooned over the mostly-empty dining room. A wooden bar complete with mirrored shelves and liquor bottles graced the left side of the room. On the right, a dance floor sat next to a small, darkened stage.
“Jesse Sullivan, what are you doing in town? I know there isn’t a rodeo this week,” a rough female voice called out from behind the bar. Jesse turned them toward the voice.
“Maggie, this is Taylor.” Jesse leaned over the bar and kissed the older woman on the cheek. “How have you been? George still giving you a hard time?”
“That ex-husband of mine should be drawn and quartered. But he’s been out of town on a job site the last few months, so it’s easier just to avoid his calls.” Maggie nodded at Taylor. “How’d this rangy old cowboy talk you into being seen with him? You’re a beautiful girl, I’m sure you could do better.”
Jesse put his hand on his chest and faked recoil from the shot. “You’re breaking my heart,
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