“Maybe.” She wasn’t ready to invite him home to the farm and the prying eyes of her father.
TJ’s expression remained neutral, so he didn’t appear to be bothered by her non-committal response. “Let me pay the check so I can get you back to your car.”
When they reached the parking lot of the motel, he pulled up beside her vehicle, shutting off the truck’s engine. He didn’t make a move to get out, instead turning toward her and cupping her cheek. “I had a good time this weekend.”
She leaned into his touch. “Me too. I’m sorry it has to come to an end.”
He captured her mouth in a sweet kiss, gently nibbling on her lower lip and whispering words of endearment. In Spanish. Just as he’d done last night.Oh my. He’s making it really hard for me to leave.
“Mi querida…muy bonita…” She wasn’t sure about exactly what he was saying, but the sexy-sounding words warmed her insides. She was certain this man would continue to be the object of her dreams tonight.
She broke their contact with a sigh. “If I don’t get in my car right now, I won’t make it home.”
He chuckled, the low rumble of his laughter affecting herdown there,causing her to squirm in the seat.
“Would that be a bad thing?”
“Yes. Very bad,” she joked. Giving him a quick peck on the cheek, she slid back over to the right and opened the truck door, grateful that he didn’t try to tempt her further. Once she was in her car, she started the engine, but waited to leave so she could admire his backside as he stepped toward his front door. He turned to wave before entering his room, the grin on his face telling her that he knew exactly what she’d been doing.
Once she reached the farm, she managed to get home and change into her barn clothes without running into her father or Angela. She was still on a high from the weekend, humming along as she tended to the horses. As she washed up at the utility sink in the corner of the barn, Sean walked in.
“Hey, Peanut! Haven’t seen you all weekend.”
She turned away from the sink to face him, but was reluctant to look him in the eyes. She wasn’t ready to tell him she’d met someone. She didn’t want to jinx it, and besides, she really didn’t know where it was going yet. Plus, there was another issue still standing between them, and she wasn’t ready to have that discussion, either. “I’ve been hanging out with friends all weekend.”
“Oh. With Barbara Jeanne?”
“Yes,” she fudged. “Mostly.”
“That’s nice. Sounds like you’ve been enjoying yourself.”
A vision of TJ wrapped in tangled sheets popped into her head. “Oh, yes. I had a good time. I’m finished with the horses, so I’m gonna head up to the house. See ya, Dad.”
Later that night, she was lying on her bed, catching up on her favorite binge show on the entertainment television channel about ninety-day romances. Would she become a fiancée in ninety days? She’d always thought the prospect was silly, that you could meet a person and be ready to marry him in a month and a half. But now? It certainly seemed possible.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the jingle of an incoming text. Excitement zinged through her veins at the thought of hearing from the man who she’d love to call her ninety-day fiancé. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment when she found a message from Barbara Jeanne instead.
Barbara Jeanne:Hey girl! Where u been?
Morgan:Busy lol
Barbara Jeanne:With tall dark & yummy????
Morgan:His name is TJ!
Barbara Jeanne:Tell me everything!
Morgan:We went to The Jailhouse last night & had breakfast this morning…
Barbara Jeanne:and…
Morgan:Come by the salon this week so we can talk!
Barbara Jeanne:K :)
After returning her phone to the charger, she washed up and changed into her pajamas, then climbed into bed. As she drifted off to sleep, a vision of a Texas cowboy riding a horse along the fence line of their farm flitted through her mind.
6
