by Liz Isaacson
“Wow,” he finally said after he’d drunk her in several times. “Don’t you clean up nice?”
She smiled, revealing straight white teeth, and nudged him backward as he started to inch toward her. “So do you.”
His chest burned where she’d touched him, even through the cloth of his shirt. She joined him on the porch, which shrank instantly. He took her hand in his and cast her a look to judge her reaction.
Those delicious lips curved up, and she didn’t try to pull her hand away. “So tell me about this veggie lovers pizza in Amarillo,” he said. “I might need to be convinced it’s worth eating.”
“After you tell me about Shania.” She placed the toe of one heel on the running board of his truck. “Deal?”
He put his hands on her waist to brace her. He’d agree to whatever she wanted when she wasn’t wearing men’s work boots and baggy T-shirts with company logos on them. “Sure,” he said. “It’s not that exciting.”
“Well, neither is veggie pizza.” Camila gave him a sultry smile, pushed off, and slid into his truck like she’d made that exact move dozens of times before.
As Dylan hurried around to get behind the wheel, he hoped she would do exactly that dozens of times again.
Chapter Four
Dylan started talking when he turned onto the highway that led out of town. “I was sixteen when I kissed Shania. There wasn’t a sixteen-year-old boy in the county that hadn’t dreamt about it. A lot of us did it, too.”
Cami just listened, the way Kacey had advised her to. Her best friend had grown up with Dylan, married a local boy right out of high school, and worked at the daycare now that she had two kids of her own.
“She was pretty, and when she invited me to go with her behind the bleachers, I didn’t ask why. I knew why. Everyone knew why.”
“Was she a good kisser?” Cami asked.
“My sixteen-year-old self thought so.”
“And now?”
“Now?” Dylan glanced at Cami and back to the road. He drove with one hand draped over the steering wheel and the other with his elbow resting on the console that he’d pulled down between them.
He shrugged. “Now, I’ve kissed more women. Women, not girls.”
“A lot, I’ve heard.”
“Who are you talkin’ to?” he asked with an easy smile. She wondered what it would take to ruffle him. “I haven’t been out with anyone in eight months, and before that I dated a teacher for four months. Yes, we kissed. We were dating. But it’s not like I have a new woman every other week.”
Cami crossed her arms, her head bobbling a little bit like a toy. “Are we dating?”
“I picked you up, right? We’re going to dinner. I’m counting this as a date.” He spoke slowly, like he might spook her with the words.
And he did. She wasn’t sure why, only that she hadn’t dated anyone in a lot longer than eight months. She didn’t want to tell him about Wade, though, so she pressed her lips together and got the disgusting taste of her lip-enhancing lip gloss. It made her lips fuller and the label called it Ripe Raspberry. Dylan had liked it. His gaze had lingered on her mouth for several long seconds.
Satisfaction sang through her that she could still get a man to look at her like she was a woman.
She frowned at herself. Every man she met looked at her like she was a woman. Some just wore more of a sneer when she was in her plumbing clothes. And she’d never gotten quite as dolled up for a date before.
But it was Dylan Walker, and there had been that singeing spark…. So yes, Cami had pulled out the Ripe Raspberry and her sister-in-law’s birthday present from last year. Suzie would be excited Cami had finally worn the crimson tank top.
“Are we done with fact or false?” he asked.
“Unless you want to ask me something,” she said, instantly regretting the words.
He lifted one shoulder. “I’m good.”
The tension inside her drained away, leaving only a calm silence between them.
“Brothers or sisters?” he asked.
“One brother. Oscar. He’s married and works as a hospital administrator in Amarillo.”
“Are you from Amarillo?”
“Yep. My parents still live there.”
“Why’d you come to Three Rivers?”
His questions were harmless, just general things one would reveal about themselves on a first date. And that was exactly why Cami hadn’t gone on any first dates in four years.
“I…needed a new job.” Not a lie. She’d been forced to quit hers when things went south with Wade. His father owned the plumbing shop where Cami worked, and she’d have been fired if she hadn’t quit.
Wade Wadsworth, or Double-Double as he wanted to be called, had a mean streak Cami didn’t know about until she was in too deep. With her work and personal life all tangled up, it had taken her several long months before she’d been brave enough to confront Wade Wadsworth on his chauvinistic and inappropriate behavior toward her.
“How long have you been a plumber?” Dylan asked, skimming over why she needed a new job like he didn’t care. Maybe he didn’t.
“Ten years. Well,” she said. “I did all my vocational training during my senior year and right out of high school. Then I started my apprenticeship with Wadsworth Plumbing in Amarillo. It was three years before I could take my exams, so I guess it’s more like six years since I got the license.”
“You don’t seem that old to me,” he said, cutting her a flirtatious look. “You can’t be thirty yet.”
“I will be on Christmas Eve,” she said.
He nodded and the much larger town of Amarillo came into view. “So where am I going?” he asked.
“How familiar with Amarillo are you?”
“Very.”
“So there’s a little joint over on the east side of town.”
“Tower of Pizza,” they said together.
“I know it,” Dylan said. “Never had the veggie lovers though.”
“It’s fantastic, with pesto instead of marinara sauce, artichoke hearts, Greek olives, mushrooms, and these caramelized onions….” She moaned. “It’s so good.”
“I’ve had their cheesesteak pizza. It’s great.”
“We can get half-and-half, if you want.”
“Oh, I’ll try the veggie lovers,” he said. “I don’t mind.”
And Cami really didn’t think he did.
The atmosphere inside the pizzeria was exactly as Cami remembered: vibrant, trendy, and filled with the scent of garlic and tomato sauce. She took a deep breath, a little bit of her soul reviving at being back here.
“I used to think I was so cool in high school when we came here.” Cami smiled at Dylan and reached for his hand.
“It’s a pretty cool place,” Dylan said, glancing around.
“Two tonight?” A hostess grabbed two menus and led them through the dining room to a booth against the window. A romantic yellow light hung above the table, and the tinted windows made it seem darker and later than it actually was.
“We know what we want,” Dylan said when the hostess handed him the menu.
“Great, your server will be right over.”
“You really don’t have to get the veggie lovers pizza,” Cami said, a zing of worry shooting through her.
“I don’t mind. I want to try it.” Dylan leaned into the table, his turquoise eyes shining with the light. “So we won the bids. Can you believe it?”
Cami laughed, tipping her head back slightly. “I actually can’t believe it. Dana couldn’t believe it either.” She leaned closer too. “She started crying.” The moment between them sobered, and Cami dropped her gaze to the tabletop.
“What are they going to do?” Dylan asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Their daughters are all older than me,” he said. “They’ve got to be close to retirement.”
“I’m not sure,” Cami said.
“Would they sell you the shop?”
“Who says
I want the shop?” Cami couldn’t help challenging him. But he spoke like he knew her, like he knew all the thoughts that had been tumbling through her head these past few months.
Dylan’s eyebrows went up. “I guess you could start your own shop.” He glanced up as the waiter arrived. They ordered sodas and the pizza they wanted, and the waiter whisked their menus away.
“Unless you’re planning to leave Three Rivers.” He reached across the table and took her hand in both of his. “Are you planning to leave Three Rivers?”
Cami met his eyes, suddenly wanting to be closer to him than the table between them allowed. “No,” she said. “I like Three Rivers.”
“So maybe you need to figure out what they’re going to do with their shop.” Dylan shrugged and leaned back, taking his warm hands with him.
The waiter arrived with their drinks, and he unwrapped his straw and downed half the glass before she even moved.
“Tell me about your family,” Cami said, though she’d heard some things from her friends around town.
“I have three older sisters,” he said. “All married. They all have kids. They all live nearby.” The light in his eyes dimmed a little, and Cami wondered what that was about. She knew his oldest sister, Alecia, lived on the west side of town, near the orchards, and worked at the library.
She wasn’t sure what else to ask, creating a lull in the conversation. Dylan hadn’t looked away from her, and Cami knew why he’d drank so much of his soda. Her throat felt like it had been made of cotton and sand, so she took a long drink of her cola too.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“You can say no,” he said.
“Oh, boy.” She flashed him a smile, but he didn’t return it, which made her muscles tense again.
“So my sisters are…awesome,” he said, and Cami knew he probably meant something else. “But they’re all married, and they have great husbands, and I love my nieces and nephews. I do.”
“All right.” Cami didn’t know where he was going with this.
“We get together every Sunday. All these big parties and barbecues and family meals.” He gestured with his hands with each event his family did.
“You sound like you don’t like it.”
“It can be a lot,” he said. “The next big event is a Halloween trick-or-treat-slash-barbecue my mother has been planning for two weeks.”
Cami smiled at the edge of agony in his eyes. “You don’t like a barbecue? How very un-Texan of you.”
“I love barbecues,” he said. “But I—I—would you come with me?”
The pizza arrived, saving Cami from answering right away. Halloween was a month away, and there was always loads of fruit and salads at barbecues. She’d be fine.
And surprisingly, she liked Dylan a lot more than she thought she did. Maybe the things she’d heard about him weren’t all true. Maybe none of them are true.
The waiter left, and Dylan looked at her expectantly. “Are you going to take the first slice?” he asked, nudging the tray closer to her.
“I’ll go to the barbecue with you,” she said.
Dylan’s smile was slow, and sexy, and sent a shiver through her stomach. “Thanks, Cami.”
She reached for the pizza and took a slice, the scent of hot pesto meeting her nose and making her mouth water. Or maybe that was the man sitting across from her. She wasn’t entirely sure.
She took a bite of the pizza, and her eyes rolled back in her head. “This is so good,” she said even though her mouth was full.
He chuckled and took a slice too. “What was that? So good?” He took a bite and chewed slowly, thoughtfully. “It’s not bad.” He took another bite. “Would be better with some sausage though.”
Thankfully, she’d just swallowed so that when her laughter burst from her mouth, it was food-free.
Surprise mingled with her happiness. She honestly hadn’t expected to enjoy Dylan Walker’s company as much as she was.
“Fact or false,” she said. “You have pets.”
“False,” he said. “You?”
“Two cats.”
“Of course.”
“What does that mean?”
“If I had pets, they’d be dogs. I babysit Boone’s dogs all the time.”
“Boone, the vet?”
“Yeah.”
“Fact or false,” she said. “We’ll find something we have in common.” She wasn’t sure they had anything in common—and she also wasn’t sure she cared.
“Fact,” he said, leaning closer, his eyes doing that intense burning right into her soul again. “I’ll find something, Cami.”
She appreciated his determination and ducked her head as heat rose into her face. He made her feel stronger than she normally did. Adored in a way she hadn’t been in a long, long time—if ever. He made her feel feminine and beautiful and worthwhile.
“Besides, we already found something,” he said. “This pizza.” He reached over and took another slice with a tantalizing smile, and Cami felt like it was a little piece of her heart.
Chapter Five
“All right there, Henry,” Dylan said, keeping a tight hold on the reins. “You ready to get up?” He beamed at the man in the wheelchair, and Henry, who was a good decade older than Dylan, smiled back.
“Oh, yeah, let me just hop on up.” He kept his smile in place, and the shine in his dark eyes didn’t dim. But Dylan wondered how he could joke about his condition. He’d lost both legs while he was serving in the Army overseas, and he never went anywhere without his dog, Chief.
Even now, Chief panted at his side, his eyes squinted as he gazed at Dylan like maybe he’d get a pat later. Dylan knew he wasn’t supposed to pet the service dogs, but he also couldn’t help himself.
It had been a while since he’d seen Leia and Vader, and he just liked pups so much. He should probably get one of his own. Take it running in the morning the way Boone did, or bring it out the ranch and let it run with the horses whenever he came.
The sun was going down fast, so Dylan didn’t waste any time. After chuckling for a moment, he said, “You grab onto me real good this time.” He’d almost dropped the Sergeant last time, and he wasn’t going to do that again.
Henry unbuckled his lap belt and reached up, wrapping his powerful arms around Dylan’s shoulders and back. Dylan lifted him with a grunt and the words, “Holy cow, man, you need to stop working out.”
He got Henry into the saddle on Poppyseed’s back, and the horse barely moved one hoof in the process. Dylan walked around and made sure Henry was belted onto the saddle, though he’d been coming to Courage Reins for over a year and was very good at horseback riding.
The last thing Dylan needed was an accident because he hadn’t checked something. “All right.” He handed the reins to Henry and asked, “What are you doing today?”
The man squeezed Poppyseed with his thighs, and Dylan kept his focus on the man’s face instead of where his legs ended unnaturally.
“Pete said there was a new man coming today,” Henry said. “Said I should partner up with him.” He glanced over his shoulder, but there was no one else in the arena.
“Well, I’ll get your chair out of the way,” Dylan said, already reaching for it. “And go find out. You want to just circle here for a few minutes?”
“Sure.” Henry clicked his tongue at Poppyseed, and the black and white horse started walking. Dylan watched Henry for a moment after he’d gone by him, a sense of something wonderful filling his chest.
This man hadn’t given up. Hadn’t quit just because life gave him something absolutely unfair and difficult. Dylan wanted to be like Henry, and as he moved the wheelchair out of the dirt and onto the cement, he thanked the Lord for all the good things—and bad things—in his life.
He found Pete at the doorway leading to the stables, another man with him. He walked with forearm crutches and didn’t have a single hair on his head.
“Hey, there,” Dylan said w
ith a smile. “Pete, Henry’s all saddled up.”
“Good, great,” Pete said. “See, Carl. And he doesn’t have legs below the knee.”
Carl looked like he’d swallowed poison and had just been told there was no antidote.
“I’ll ride tandem, if you want,” Dylan said, hoping it was a helpful suggestion.
“He’s a bit…nervous around horses.” Pete cut Dylan a glance, trying to communicate something. But Dylan didn’t get the message.
“Oh, well, maybe you’d like…Sabrina to come do it?”
Carl looked at Dylan then. “Sabrina?”
“She’s Cal’s daughter,” Pete said. “She’s here this week, and she loves the horses.”
“How old is she?” Carl asked.
“Oh, what now?” Pete asked with a sigh. “Ten, maybe?”
“She’s real good with horses,” Dylan said with an extra Texas twang in his voice. “They seem to listen to her before she even speaks.”
Several long seconds passed before Carl said, “Well, if a child can do it….”
“I’ll go get her,” Dylan said. “Why don’t you go pick your horse?” He grinned at Pete when he saw the man’s bright green eyes sparkling. Maybe he’d gotten the message after all. “But if I were you, I’d go with Chocolate Kisses. That’s Bri’s favorite.”
He walked away with a chuckle, glad when he heard the door leading to the stable close behind Pete and Carl.
He found Bri on the front porch of her cabin, slicing at a branch with a pocketknife. “Hey, Bri, baby.”
“Dylan!” She launched herself off the steps, barely dropping the knife before he caught her.
They laughed together, and he said, “We got an Army guy who needs help with a horse. Can you go ask your daddy if you can come over to the stables?”
“Yeah, be right back.” She skipped up the steps and came out only seconds later with her cowgirl hat on. “I just need to change my boots.”
Katrina appeared in the doorway and said, “You’ll miss dinner.”
“I’ll make sure she eats,” Dylan said, though he had no idea how he would do that. Maybe Pete’s wife would have something at the homestead near the pastures. “How are you, Trina?”
