I shrugged, then turned back and looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a tie. My white cowboy hat sat on my dresser. I planned on taking Vivianne to my mother’s favorite Italian restaurant. Anytime my parents came to visit, Mom always wanted to go there to eat.
“Where are you taking her?”
“Marco’s Italian Restaurant.”
A gasp came from my younger brother, and I glanced at him. He wore a surprised expression.
“What’s wrong?”
He slowly shook his head as he said, “You’re taking her to Mom’s place?”
“No, I’m taking her to Marco’s Italian Restaurant.”
“That’s her place. Mom’s! What in the hell kind of spell did this girl put on you?”
I laughed. “I’m pretty sure our mother doesn’t hold rights to any restaurant. Besides, it’s a nice place and I think she’ll like it.”
David shrugged. “If she doesn’t hate Italian food.”
“Who doesn’t like Italian food?”
“Maybe Vivianne doesn’t.”
I waved my hand to dismiss him. “Everyone likes Italian food.”
David stood. “You look good, by the way. Stop messing with your hair, you’re going to be wearing a cowboy hat.”
“Not in the restaurant.”
His shoulders rose and fell on a sigh. “Ladd, just go get the girl before you’re late.”
Thirty minutes later, I found out that Vivianne Pennington, the girl I was pretty sure I had fallen in love with at first sight, did indeed love Italian food…and Marco’s was her favorite restaurant.
And I just fell in love a lot harder.
Vivianne
The moment I saw Ladd Wilde earlier today, something inside of me came to life. He was beyond handsome, and it was evident from the tight jeans and T-shirt he was wearing that he was physically fit. He didn’t have one of those overly built bodies, but he had just enough muscles to make a girl look twice. When he walked over to me, his blue eyes were made even bluer by the white cowboy hat. I actually felt my heart race in my chest as my friends gasped and shrieked when he headed our way.
“I still can’t believe he just walked over like that and asked you out!” Mollie said, while she twisted my hair up and pinned it in place. “Are you sure you don’t want me and Luke to join you?”
“It’s fine. I know one of the guys he was with. He’s in one of my classes.”
“That doesn’t mean anything, Vivianne.”
I sighed and turned toward her. “Stop worrying. I’ll befine.”
The doorbell rang, and my stomach lurched with excitement. “That’ll be Ladd!”
Mollie rolled her eyes, then smiled. “Heisreally cute.”
“He’s more than cute,” I called over my shoulder. “He’s a handsome cowboy!”
“Hopefully he’s packing a full load!” she shouted back.
I laughed and shushed her, but quickly got myself under control before I opened the front door.
Standing before me was the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on. His hat was in his hands, and his dark hair looked as if he’d run his hand through the strands a dozen times, and I loved that. You could tell he’d styled it, but the hat and the fact that he’d clearly run his fingers through it gave the glossy hair a slightly messy look. Tonight, he was wearing jeans, a white button-down shirt, and even a tie.
