His body tensed when the next song started. “Hey, who’s stiff now?” I said.
“Sorry, I’m still thinking about that cook-off.” His furrowed brow didn’t match the upbeat song the band had started playing.
“You don’t have anything to worry about, you know. Your food is awesome.”
“Thanks.” He still looked uneasy as lines began forming around us for the next round of dancing. “You wanna get out of here? I’ve collected more than my fair share of dancing.”
Part of me was disappointed that our time on the dance floor was over. But I supposed I should’ve been happy that he was a man of his word and wasn’t trying to con me into giving him a dance that I hadn’t promised—especially since I’d already tipped him half a song. I nodded, still wishing he’d offered at least one more line dancing lesson. To be fair though, his toes might have still been sore from when I stepped on them during our first go-round.
“Let’s go somewhere quieter,” he said, leading us away from the dancing.
I blinked up at the side of his head like a deer in the headlights. I’d been on plenty of dates before and knew exactly what an invitation to a “quieter place” meant. This thing between Cash and I was supposed to be casual, nothing more. If we were going to be dating all summer long, we couldn’t afford for things to get too serious after our first date.
Although I could imagine any number of women would jump at the chance to sneak off and kiss Cash, I wasn’t all that eager. I mean, there was no doubt that he’d be an amazing kisser with those full lips and big hot hands, but…
Gahhhh!Why did thoughts of kissing enter my mind every five minutes whenever I was around him?
“Don’t worry,” he said. “If one of us gets handsy, it’s not going to be me. There’s something I need to tell you about the contest, that’s all.” He either had the mystical ability to read my mind, or he’d noticed the panic-stricken look that was most definitely on my face.
“I wasn’t worried,” I lied.
“You sure about that? Because your bulging eyes told a different story.”
I bumped him with my shoulder. “Just hush and lead the way. Honestly, you seem to be the one who’s worried. You’re going to do great in that competition.”
“I know my food is good, but that’s not what has me on edge.”
We made our way through the crowd and found ourselves strolling back toward home just as the streetlights came on. The muscles along his jaw flexed. “You really are worked up about something, aren’t you?” I said.
He ran his fingers through his hair and tugged on a handful of it at the crown of his head. “I wanted to ask you to come to the cookoff, but…”
“But you don’t know if I want to come? Of course I’ll be there. There’s nothing I love better than free food,” I teased.
“What makes you think the food will be free?” The familiar twinkle returned to his gaze as he looked at me from the corner of his eyes.
I threw my fists to my hips. “What kind of a boyfriend charges his girlfriend for grub?” We shared a laugh that seemed to ease the tension he’d been carrying. It was a good feeling, knowing I’d brought that smile to his face. I didn’t like seeing him without it. It wasn’t natural.
“And for the record, you’re pretty okay, Cash Walker. I want to be there to support you.”
“Well, in that case I’ll make sure to prepare a free all-you-can-eat buffet at my station just for you. But I need to warn you that things could get a little… awkward.”
“Just make sure there are plenty of napkins and everything will be fine. I’m not going to eatthatmuch.”
He belly-laughed. “No, that’s not what I meant. It’s a complicated situation. I have a personal connection with one of the judges.”
“I don’t care if your mother is a judge, you deserve to win.”
He shook his head and chuckled softly, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes. “No, it’s not my mother. It’s my old best friend. We were going to go into the restaurant business together.”
“And you’re worried that I’ll think you cheated when you win?”
“When I win?”
“Yes,when.I stand by what I said before. Your food deserves to win. You won’t get any weird vibes from me when they hand you the keys to that truck.”
“You’re great for my confidence, you know that?”
“As if you needed help in that department.” I reached out and rubbed a small circle on his upper back before I had a chance to think better of it. But once I made contact, I finished the rubdown. We were dating, after all. A comforting touch was totally innocent and perfectly within the boundaries I was still trying to figure out.
