Single-Dad Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Chapter Ten
“Isay he’s going to ask to drive you home.” Val dried her hands on a paper towel.
“And I say he won’t.” Nell took the towel Val handed her. “You didn’t hear what he said to me during the field trip.”
“No, but I saw the smokin’ hot way he looked at you while you were eating cake. He wants you bad.”
“And he’ll deny himself because he’s convinced getting involved with a woman means short-changing Claire.”
“I’ll bet you a bottle of our favorite cab that he’ll ask to take you home.”
“Okay, sure.” Nell wadded up the paper towel and tossed it in the trash. “It’s a bet I’d love to lose.”
As she and Val returned from the restroom, Zeke separated himself from the crowd surrounding the cake. “Would either of you like another slice? There’s still plenty. I’d be happy to fetch you some.”
Nell shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m on a sugar high from the first piece.”
“Me, too,” Val said, “but that’s never stopped me before. I’ll get my own, though. I happen to know Nell loves the song they just started playing. You two should dance.”
Zeke sent Nell a questioning look.
“It’s one of my favorites.”
“Alrighty, then.” He flashed a smile at Val. “If you’ll excuse us.”
“You bet.” She winked at Nell.
Zeke guided her through the maze of tables as the lead singer crooned the opening lyrics of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s duet I Need You.”
“I didn’t ask if you wanted more cake.”
“I’d rather dance to one of your favorite songs.” He stepped onto the floor and pulled her close, his gaze holding hers.
“Do you like it?”
“I do.” He began a gentle two-step. No complicated moves. No fancy twirls as the words spilled around them, sliding into her heart.
One of the guitar players, a young woman with dark hair, joined the lead singer for the second half of the duet. Nell searched Zeke’s expression and found warmth and caring. Banked passion. But sadness tinged the heat glowing in his dark eyes.
She’d win the bet with Val. He wanted her, and she’d cling to that. Despite her frustration, she admired his selfless dedication to Claire. If only he could expand his image of the future.
The sweet song drew to a soft close. He stopped moving. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Oh?”
“I’m struggling with…”
“I know.”
“I’d like to talk it out with you, if you’d be willing.”
“All right.” She glanced around. “I’m not sure where we—”
“Could I take you home? Not that I plan to stay. I just—”
“You can take me home.” She let out a breath. A talk. “That would be nice.” She wasn’t pinning any hopes on the outcome, but at least they’d be alone for the first time ever. Having him all to herself, even for that ten-minute trip, would be something.
“Can we go now?”
“Absolutely.” A jolt of anticipation made her light-headed, as if she’d chugged a glass of champagne. “I just need to grab my purse and let Val and the Kuhns know I won’t be riding back with them.”
“I’ll go with you.” A hand at her back, he started toward her seat.
“Don’t you want to tell the Buckskin gang you’re leaving? I can meet you at the door.”
“They already know. They’re the ones who suggested this.”
“Oh.” That made her smile. “Interesting.”
“I’ll explain once we’re in the truck.”
“Can’t wait to hear all about it.” Making her announcement to Val and the Kuhns as brief as possible, she avoided looking at Val. Her friend would draw the wrong conclusion, but so what?
Zeke added his goodbyes and they made their escape. When he held the door for her, she stepped into a night meant for lovers.
A slight breeze stirred air that neither warmed nor cooled her skin. Scented with the flowers blooming on the square, it caressed her with the light brush of a cat’s paw. A crescent moon hovered overhead and the old-fashioned street lamps created puddles of light on the sidewalk.
“My truck’s close.” He kept his hand at the small of her back as he guided her away from the Moose.
“What a beautiful night.”
“Sure is. My first summer here.”
“Mine, too.”
He slowed. “Here we are.” He helped her into the truck, walked around the front and climbed behind the wheel.
When he closed the door, cocooning them in this intimate space, her body vibrated with tension. Not that it was a bad thing. She liked being tucked into a private venue with Zeke.
“Better get going.” His voice sounded strained as he put his hat on the dash, shoved the keys in the ignition and started the truck.
It was an odd comment. They had no time constraints. He could drive to her place at five miles an hour and nobody would care. That said, urgency registered in every move he made.
“You have something to get off your chest.”
“Yes, I do.” Taking a cursory glance over his shoulder, he backed the truck out of the diagonal parking space and drove at a good clip toward the end of the block.
He didn’t speak again until he made the right turn that would take him to the town’s residential section. “Garrett pointed out that I haven’t been fair to you, and he’s right.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” Not quite true. But she wanted more than vague generalizations.
“I’ve told you I wouldn’t date because of my obligations to Claire. Tonight I… sent a different signal.”
“Yes.”
He cleared his throat and gripped the wheel tighter. “I apologize.”
“For what?”
“Dancing with you so often.”
“I can’t speak for you, but I had fun.”
“So did I. That’s the problem.”
“Why?”
“I think you know why.”
Uh-uh. You’re not dodging that question, buddy. “I’m not sure I do.” A quick glance confirmed his jaw was clenched.
Silence. Then finally, as if forcing them out, he said the words. “Because I want you.”
Okay!She opened her mouth to respond.
“I’ve wanted you for some time.”
Whoa. Let the man talk.
“I’ve done my best to hide it. Until tonight. I got carried away and likely gave you the wrong impression. You probably thought I’d changed my mind but I haven’t.”
“I know that you—”
“Claire is my priority. She comes first and that will never change. I’m a full-time dad, which means I can’t be leaving her with babysitters all the time. That’s—”
“Look, I underst—“
“Jake thinks you might be fine with only getting together one night a week, but I—”
“What?”
“I can’t imagine asking—”
“Are you saying you’d be okay with getting involved if it’s only one night a week?” She was so shocked her voice squeaked.
“See?” He looked over at her. “You’re insulted, right? You think that’s cheesy.”
“No, damn it! I think it’s fabulous!”
“Huh?”
“It’s a brilliant idea! Jake’s a genius, and… you just drove past my house.”
He slammed on the brakes and turned to her, disbelief etched in his face and every line of his taut body. “You’re kidding.”
“No.” She gasped for breath.
“You wouldn’t feel cheated?”
“As opposed to never making love to you?” She put a hand to her chest where her heart was banging so hard it physically hurt. “Are you crazy?”
“Evidently.” He put the truck in reverse, backed down the street and swerved into a spot next to the curb in front of her bungalow. Then he shut off the motor and looked over at her, his chest heaving. “Claire’s at Henri’s for the night.”
She swallowed. “Would you like to come in?”
“I would, and…” He took a shaky breath. “I never expected this to happen.”
“I believe you. And you’re not prepared. Neither am I. But we—”
“Except I am prepared.”
“You are? Why?”
“Turns out Jake brought—”
“Oh, my God.” She clapped a hand to her mouth and started to giggle.
“I told him no, but he insisted so I had to take them before someone noticed. I mean, there we were, with people all around, and he’s pulling condoms out of his pocket. What was I supposed to do?”
“Oh, Zeke.” She gulped and wiped her eyes. “Your brother’s awesome.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled. “Let’s go inside.”
