She knew he was a flirt, that nothing he said or did could be taken seriously, but she couldn’t deny her body’s reaction to Becket Weston.There, she’d acknowledge it.It was obviously only a temporary state of affairs; this reckless behavior would disappear soon enough.Maybe she should just enjoy the feeling.She was, after all, twenty-seven, on her way to becoming a spinster.
What if this would be the last time she felt like this?What if Becket was the last man to find her attractive?
Oh, my goodness, she didn’t need a man to think she was pretty to feel validated.Where did these thoughts come from?She couldn’t do anything about her past, but she was quite happy to be alone.
A dress in one of the windows caught her eye.She had money to burn and a whole afternoon to do some much-needed shopping.Dreaming about Becket Weston was a futile exercise.
A few minutes before five, she walked into the restaurant with about ten bags in her hands and a much lighter heart.She was tired and hungry, but she’d had a wonderful time.In the past she’d always had to consider what Marcus would and wouldn’t like.Today, she didn’t need to please anyone but herself.
She was wearing one of her new purchases.She refused to dwell on just why she’d felt the urge to change.The yellow dress was fine for the day, but when she’d tried on these white pants and frilly blue top that left her shoulders bare, she’d known she wasn’t taking it off again.The nude-colored high-heeled sandals she’d found in another shop were perfect with the outfit.
There had also been time to slip into a pet store.Even though she wouldn’t have a cat until she moved into her house, she couldn’t resist the cat tree scratching post with activity center she’d seen.It was too big for her to carry, but they’d promised to ship it to her.
A warm hand touched her elbow.Becket.And just like that, the mushy feeling was back.How on earth could she sit at a table across from him and talk about mundane things when just a touch of his hand could leave her breathless?What would they talk about?Would he even be interested in talking about the usual things or were his corny lines the extent of his conversation?She really hoped he wasn’t going to try and flirt with her all night.
A smiling waiter approached them.“Becket Weston!”he greeted.“We haven’t seen you in a while.Welcome back.”
“Hello, Jim, how are you?”Becket asked, taking the bags from Ellie.“Those two little girls keeping you busy?”
As they followed the waiter to their table, Becket kept up a friendly banter.
Becket turned toward her.“I’m not having wine, because I’m driving, but what about you?”
Sexyandconsiderate.“Just water, thanks.”Around this guy she needed a clear head.
As they sat down, Becket put the bags under the table.“It looks as if you’ve had a successful shopping trip.May I also say you look…” As his eyes raked over her, they darkened, “…beautiful.
“Thank you.I can’t remember when last I went shopping.Most of my things are still back in Phoenix in storage and I haven’t brought enough for the warmer weather.Did you get what you wanted?”
“Yes, thanks.”Leaning back, Becket looked at her.“You’re so easy to be with, thanks for agreeing to come with me.”
She rolled her eyes.“Stop flirting!”
“It’s not a line, I promise you.You do feel the way we connect, don’t you?”Fortunately, the waiter returned to take their order and she didn’t have to answer.They ordered food and when the waiter left Becket talked about the ranch.
Any concern Ellie had that things would be awkward, that Becket would keep trying to flirt with her, was soon gone.To her surprise, he’d stopped trying his lines on her was easy to talk to.By the time the waiter returned with their order, they’d covered topics from the ranch to her shop and even books.Becket Weston was a reader—who would’ve thought?
“So, what is your role on the ranch?”she asked when the waiter left.
Becket put down his glass.“You should eat before the food gets cold.There’s always a lot to do on a ranch, even during winter.Hayden is the rancher in the family, though.I follow his lead.He just looks at everything differently, sees possibilities where others don’t.It’s also becoming more of a scientific enterprise lately, with the focus on managing the ranch in a responsible, sustainable way so that soil, water and other resources are protected for present and future generations.”
Putting down her knife and fork, she stared at him.What he was telling her was interesting, but he hadn’t really answered her question.“So, what are you saying?Ranching isn’t what you really want to do?”
He chuckled.“You see way too much for my peace of mind.Enough about me.You mentioned you grew up with your grandma.Tell me about her?”
“Becket,” she sighed.“You can’t really be interested in my grandma.”
“But I am.She raised you and you’re a remarkable human being, so yeah, I really want to know about her.”
Marcus had never been interested in anything about her, she realized.She couldn’t remember a single time he’d asked her about her life, her day, her dreams.She should keep in mind that this one here was a charmer, she shouldn’t read too much into this.He’d probably been beguiling women since he’d been in diapers; of course he would know all the right things to say.
“She was strict, but fair.I only realized as I grew older how very hard it must’ve been for her to take in a five-year-old at her age.”
“Your parents?”
“Really?What’s up with all the questions?”
“I want to know about you.”
