by Cat Johnson
“The food better be as good as the view or all of you guys are never going to hear the end of this from me.”
“It’s good. I swear.” What else could he say to Annie? Certainly not the truth, which was that he would—and had—passed up every waitress in the place for a shot at something more with her.
They sat in a tight booth built barely big enough for two, but Luke figured the place was so crowded they were lucky to get a table at all on a Saturday night. Apparently it was very popular with both locals and visitors. He had no doubt the staff’s attire had a lot to do with it, but he hadn’t totally lied. The beer was cold and the food good.
The waitress handed them menus. “Can I get y’all something to drink?”
Luke wanted to answer, but he waited for Annie to order first.
Her gaze met his. “What are you having?”
Maybe she was waiting to see if he was going to drink or not. “They’ve got a local beer on tap. That’s what I had last night. I wouldn’t mind having that again.”
“Okay, I’ll have the same.” She glanced at the waitress who nodded and was off to fill their beer needs. Annie looked down at the menu in her hand, almost like she was avoiding looking directly at Luke. “Hmm. I’m not sure what I want.”
“Their sampler is real good. It’s for two though…” Why did ordering a meal for two feel suddenly too intimate? Mustang and Slade had shared it the night before. It was really no big deal. Why should it feel so presumptuous to suggest he and Annie share it now?
She shifted in her seat. “That sounds good. I mean, if you want that. If not I’ll order something else.”
“No, the sampler’s fine with me.” Luke swallowed and found his mouth dry. Jeez, this shouldn’t be so hard. Why was it so hard?
Annie flipped her menu shut and Luke did the same. The waitress was as efficient as she was endowed, thankfully, and she was back with their two glasses of blessed brew by the time they’d decided on their order. She took their menus and, with a promise that their food would be right out, was gone again.
Okay, with the beer before him and the food on the way, it might not be so awkward. They’d talked about the beer on tap and then about the menu for a bit. Now maybe they’d talk about some bull riding. Then… Well, he’d have to figure something out. Maybe by then their meal would have arrived and they could talk about that some more.
Luke took a giant swallow of beer, as much to fill the silence as to give himself time to think of what to say. He would love to know more about Annie. Where exactly she lived when she wasn’t following the tour? If there was someone waiting there for her?
How the hell did he ask a personal question like that though? Did men ask women things like that?
“So, um, I haven’t seen Lilly around lately. Is she, uh, busy at home?” Beer glass in hand, Annie dropped that bombshell on Luke and then took a big swallow.
Meanwhile, Luke nearly choked on his own mouthful of beer. Apparently a person just came right out and asked a personal question like that. At least Annie did. And now it was his turn to answer her. Maybe this was a good thing. Just dive right in. Let Annie know he was both available and interested.
Again words seemed harder than they should to form, so he decided to keep it short. “We broke up.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” Annie looked suitably saddened by the news, and he wondered what that meant exactly. She looked like she wanted to ask more but no question came. Instead, she took another gulp of beer.
Luke needed another brace of alcohol himself for this conversation. “So what about you? Anyone important in your life?”
To his surprise, she let out a short laugh. “No.”
He bit his lip and then waded in deeper. “Why not?”
“With all the traveling and strange hours, a job on the pro circuit doesn’t leave a lot of time for dating.” She was concentrating so hard on playing with the condensation on her glass that he had to wait for her to look up.
“You could always date one of us pros.” He forced himself to hold her gaze and not look away after that crazy suggestion.
Something that looked like surprise crossed her face before something else replaced it. What he couldn’t quite name. Interest maybe? He could only hope.
Finally she answered. “Maybe I should. Any suggestions who?”
Luke’s heart sped. “Yeah, I might have an idea.”
The waitress chose that moment to arrive with their giant platter full of mixed barbecue and sides, just when things were really starting to roll.
Annie straightened and leaned back in her seat to give the waitress room, which also took her farther from Luke.
Man, things could change in an instant, but Luke knew that from bull riding. He knew during a ride one small move could entirely shift the rider’s balance—either for good or for bad. His gut told him during that brief conversation things had shifted between him and Annie, and for the better. He just hoped they stayed that way in spite of the interruption.
“Another round?” the waitress asked, eyeing their nearly empty glasses.
“Yes,” they answered at the same time.
Luke’s and Annie’s gazes collided. As his pulse pounded in his ears, Luke realized things were definitely different for him. He found he had no appetite whatsoever for the food in front of him, but a huge desire for the woman across the table. Now all he needed to figure out was how exactly to go about getting her.
Chapter Three
Annie glanced sideways at Luke from her position in the driver’s seat. “Thanks for dinner.”
“You’re very welcome.”
He flashed her that gorgeous smile that never failed to make her heart race—unless of course he was delivering that smile to another woman, such as the waitress. In that case, it had the acid backing up into Annie’s throat until she was ready to spew fire wondering what else, if anything, Luke had shared with the boob-baring server.
She swallowed hard at the thought as a nagging in the back of her mind reminded her he was a free, single man and could do whatever he wanted. And she’d never known him to sleep around. At least not that she knew of. Though right now, she wished he was coming home with her…
“I wish you’d have let me pay for my half—”
“Annie, stop. Seriously. I ate my share and part of yours. Besides, I wanted to buy you dinner.” Luke touched her knee for the briefest of moments.
The move wasn’t at all sexual, but it sent her mind racing. She had to control herself. He’d probably only touched her to reinforce his point. What was that point again? Oh yeah, that he’d wanted to treat her to dinner. Annie couldn’t seem to think when any part of him touched any part of her. Even being in the close confines of the car alone with him made it difficult to breathe.
She probably should have drunk all of that second beer she’d ordered to bolster her courage instead of leaving it unfinished. “Well, thank you again.”
“You’re welcome again.”
He made no move to exit the car. Neither did she. Soon it would become absolutely ridiculous that they were both sitting in her car with the ignition off in the parking lot of their hotel.
Crazy ideas spun through Annie’s head. Picturing his boots and jeans on the floor next to her bed had her blushing. Hopefully he didn’t notice.
She imagined Luke leaning close until their lips met. Perhaps if she’d parked in a less lit area… Then what? Then would he have kissed her goodnight? Doubtful. That one comment during dinner about her dating one of the bull riders had given her hope. Obviously false hope, because the subject hadn’t come up again, and if he had wanted to kiss her, he’d had ample time to do it already.
“So…” Annie fidgeted in her seat. She had no idea how to flirt with a man. No wonder she was woefully alone.
“So…” Luke echoed.
This was ridiculous. Annie pulled the keys out of the ignition and then released her seatbelt. “I guess I should get you inside and to bed.”
>
“Sounds good to me.”
She clearly saw his amused grin even in the darkened vehicle.
Her face heated when she realized how that had sounded. “I meant so you can get your rest. Because you have to ride early tomorrow—”
“I know, Annie. Come on. Let’s get inside.” Still smiling, he released his own seatbelt.
As Luke opened the passenger door and got out, Annie silently cursed herself. That had been a perfect opportunity to say something clever. Why hadn’t she? She was obviously missing whatever female trait all the buckle bunnies seemed to have. The flirting gene or hormone or whatever.
Annie was still beating herself up when Luke opened her door. She hadn’t even realized he’d walked around the car. He extended his hand to her. Thankfully, in light of her extreme ineptitude with him, she managed to both reach up and let him help her out. She even managed to keep herself from saying anything stupid.
“Got everything you need?” He paused before closing the door, and Annie resisted the urge to smack herself in the forehead.
With a grimace, she snatched her bag from behind her seat. “Yeah. Thanks.”
He nodded like he hadn’t noticed she’d nearly forgotten the bag that contained everything important in her life—room key, schedule, cell phone, makeup. Then again, as this hot, sweet man waited for her to lock the car so he could walk her inside, Annie realized maybe she had a messed-up idea of what was most important in life. It certainly wasn’t anything that could be contained in a bag.
She fumbled with the keys and managed to find the correct button to lock the car. She pushed it twice just to make sure. The car beeped in response, as if to tell her to stop procrastinating and get going already.
If Luke noticed her being a nervous, clumsy wreck, he never let on. He simply waited with the patience of a saint until she led the way toward the main lobby entrance. She shot him a sideways glance. “So, uh, this is a nice hotel, huh?”
He laughed next to her. “Yeah, for once. Guess we lucked out.”
“Guess we did.” Annie smothered a groan that she couldn’t come up with something witty to say. She spoke for a living, to countless television viewers every week. Why couldn’t she manage to talk to this one guy without feeling like an idiot?
They’d kept the discourse going during dinner but then there had been food to occupy her mouth and dominate the conversation. If only she hadn’t had to drive she could have had another beer, or three. Then she might be better at this flirting thing.
The front desk personnel greeted them as they walked through the deserted lobby, and before she knew it they were alone inside the elevator.
“Which floor?” Luke paused with his hand above the panel.
“Five.”
He nodded and pushed the button for five.
One glance told Annie he hadn’t pushed any buttons for his own floor. “What floor are you on?”
“Three.” He didn’t push the button for three, even though they would have to pass his floor to get to hers. Instead he shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans as overwhelming silence filled the air.
Her pulse sped. Luke was going to walk her directly to her door. The door that led to the room with not much more than a bed inside.
Luke was a gentleman, she reminded herself. As such he’d wait for her to unlock and open that door to make sure she got inside safely. His being a gentleman also meant he wouldn’t take advantage of the situation and ask her if he could come in.
She couldn’t invite him inside, could she? For what? The warm half of a diet cola she’d left on the dresser from last night? A cup of coffee from the tiny coffee maker plugged in the wall outlet in her bathroom?
Her wildly pumping pulse sounded nearly deafening in her ears. Annie knew exactly what she wanted to invite him to come inside for, but she sure couldn’t admit that to him. She glanced sideways at his chiseled profile with regret. It would be a bad idea for them to be together like that anyway. What if it didn’t work out? Their working relationship would be horribly strained afterwards.
If they started something, it would probably get out to the other bull riders and, worse, her bosses. She’d be fired and then replaced by that young blond thing they’d just hired at the network for the evening sports wrap up. Then Annie would be unemployed, shamed and alone.
Definitely better to let things remain just as they were. At least now she was employed and respected even if she was alone.
The elevator door opened on her floor and pulled her thoughts from her sad revelations. Luke extended his arm to hold the door and prevent it from closing on her. True to gentlemanly form, he waited for her to exit first.
Annie reminded herself one more time that this man was the epitome of good manners. Only a foolish woman would confuse his politeness with interest in her. All of her wondering and worrying about “what if” was ridiculous. In a way, that made her feel a little better. If he wasn’t interested it was out of her hands. Nothing she could do about it either way. Right?
That thought carried her all the way to her door, where she finally remembered to search in her bag for her keycard as Luke stood by waiting patiently.
He was too perfect. That’s why he would never go for her. She was far from perfect. So she could just stop worrying and get on with her lonely life.
Good, at least that was settled.
With that thought in mind, she slid the card in and waited for the red light to turn green. It didn’t. She slid it again. Again, it didn’t turn green.
She glanced at Luke. “I don’t know what’s wrong with this thing.”
“Let me try.” He reached out to take the card and their hands touched. His was big and warm, and it warmed her heart from just that small contact. Damn, too bad he wasn’t into her because she could sure be into him.
“Sure.” She somehow managed to respond and remember to release her hold on the card.
Stop hoping, silly woman.
Annie was a good ten years older than all the girls who hung around the bull riders. Well, actually women both young and old hung around, but Annie suspected it was mainly the younger ones who got taken back to the hotel for the night. Stupid, youth-oriented society.
While she was busy cursing the world in which they lived, Luke flipped the card around and tried the other end. The light turned green and she heard the locks slide.
“Oh, great. Thanks.” Behind his back, she rolled her eyes at her own stupidity. She couldn’t even manage to stick the card in the lock the correct way. Maybe she needed to get bifocals or something. When did people’s eyes start to fail from old age?
All of her errant self-bashing came to an abrupt halt when she realized that Luke had entered the room, flipped on the light switch and was waiting inside, holding the door open for her to join him.
Wow. That had been easy. He was inside, but would he stay?
Just the thought had her juices flowing. She had to do something and fast, because as she stepped inside the room after him, he held the key card out. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Would he leave now? She really didn’t want him to. “Um, I could make us some coffee, or decaf…” She swung her arm in the general direction of the bathroom where the machine was, as unappetizing as that juxtaposition was.
“Sure. That would be great.” Luke let the door swing shut.
Annie took the keycard he had handed her and dropped it onto the dresser along with her bag. The surface was a little messy but at least housekeeping had made the bed—the big king-sized bed. She yanked her gaze away from that and glanced guiltily at him, and noticed Luke was staring in the same direction she had been, at that big inviting mattress.
He turned to her and she could have sworn he blushed. “Annie…” He took one step closer, until he was directly in front of her, and then he stopped.
“Yes?” Oh God. Don’t get too excited.
“I don’t really want any coffee.” His eyes focused on her intently.
What was he trying to say? He wanted to leave? Then why was he so close she could feel the warmth of his breath? “Oh. That’s fine. I know it’s late—”
He laughed. “No, that’s not it. I meant I didn’t come inside for coffee. I came inside because I wasn’t ready to say goodnight to you yet.”
She swallowed hard and forced herself to bring forth the sultry, smooth-talking woman that had to be somewhere inside her, buried deep. “Good. I’m not ready to say goodnight to you either.”
It wasn’t incredibly clever, but it was sincere, and she had delivered it in her best sexy television announcer voice. The one she used for auditions but rarely remembered to use on air.
“Good. I’m glad.” Perhaps it was her imagination, but she thought his head dipped just a fraction of an inch lower. His gaze broke from hers, and then he shook his head. He let out a short laugh. “I’ve been out of this world too damn long.”
“What world?” Annie had trouble getting that question out since breathing seemed extra hard with Luke so close.
He brought his gaze back to hers. “The dating world.”
“Oh.” Tonight was a date? Her mouth went dry at the revelation. Good thing she hadn’t known that or she would have been even more awkward than she had been.
“You had asked about Lilly. Well, she and I have—had been together for a long time. Since right after she graduated high school.”
The last thing Annie had imagined doing in a hotel room with Luke Carpenter was standing by the door talking about his ex-girlfriend, but she had to admit what he’d just revealed was a fascinating tidbit of information.
“Really? Wow. That’s a long time.” A very long time for a man to date a woman and not get married. She didn’t say that last part out loud. There was obviously something that stopped them from getting married. What was that? His career, maybe?
“Yeah, I guess. What I’m saying is, it’s been a really long time since I’ve had to tell a girl—woman—how I feel. Or, you know, let her know I’m interested in her, um, you know…” He glanced at the bed then back to her.
