“They hurt my feet,” he complained about his new cowboy boots.
She rolled her eyes, then laughed. “Don’t be a stick in the mud, William. The more you wear them, the quicker they’ll break in.”
“Hell no, I am not wearing them out of this apartment!”
“Look, babe, you can’t show up at Wild Bill’s without kickers and a hat. Just pretend it’s Halloween.”
“If anyone sees me ...”
“Oh, stop it, you’re such a whining city slicker. Cute, but a whiner. If it makes you feel better, I guarantee you no one you know will be there.” She kissed his cheek.
“Still, country isn’t my scene.”
“That’s not entirely true. I’m country.”
He chuckled. “True, but your music sucks.”
“How do you know, unless you try it? I’ll tell you what. If you wear the boots and promise to dance with me tonight—”
“Oh no! Not in these boots!”
She playfully twisted her lips. “If you do, then I’ll ...” she whispered something entirely naughty and unexpected in his ear. Surprised by her promise, he looked dubiously at her, to which she playfully grinned. “Tonight. Yeehaw,” she whispered, then waggled her eyebrows.
For two months, he’d patiently waited for her go-ahead to consummate their relationship, and truth be told, she was finally ready to leave virginity in the rearview mirror.
William wrapped her up in his embrace, then bent, whispering into her ear. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“Yes, William Darcy. I’ve waited a very long time for you. You make me so hot, it’s torture to wait any longer. Once you put that cowboy hat on, I’ll be a goner for sure.”
He laughed, always music to her ears. The more they were together, the more he loosened up. She knew it would take time to reveal the hidden man inside him, but she was patient.
“Will you stay the weekend with me?” he asked with a hopeful smile.
Biting her lip, she slowly nodded.
He reached for the dresser and the hat she bought him, then he placed it on her head.
“You know there’s a hard and fast rule about cowboy hats,” she said.
“Oh? What’s that?”
“If you wear the hat, you have to ride the cowboy.”
“I like that rule.”
“I thought you might.”
His deep kiss sent her to the moon and back. Just a conversation about the prospect of sex aroused him; she could feel it pressed against her.
Yes, she was more than ready to go to bed with him. He was the one; she knew it the first time she laid eyes on him in anatomy drawing class.
The usual crowd and honky tonk music filled Wild Bill’s (WB) dive bar, and she felt right at home in the small place. Several of her acquaintances playing pool in the corner waved and called her over but she was in the mood for a chocolate martini and a dance. She looked William over, admiring his tall, athletic physique draped in black jeans and a button-down shirt. His black cowboy hat accentuated his dreamy blue eyes. Although he looked like a deer in headlights, female heads turned at his entrance. She giggled knowing that tonight, she’d be the one to go home with him.
She searched his expression for signs of discomfort because WB was not his style at all, but he didn’t appear ready to cut and run, just apprehensive and a little shocked that she’d frequent such a juke joint.
“Well, what do you think?” she asked.
“Crowded, loud, and it smells like stale beer.” He lifted his foot. “And the floor is sticky with God-knows-what.”
