Page 56 of Spurred On

Sidney smiled at her sister, allowing all of her joy to shine through. This family was wonderful, perfect for Hanna, and she was delighted they would be her family too. Of course, they didn’t need to know how delighted she was just yet. Her grin became wicked. “I don’t know, Hanna,” she said. “The jury is still out on this one.”

“What?” Ben squawked.

She smiled at him and patted his knee. “Let’s just see how good you are at kissing up first.”

Sam Wilder’s laugh echoed off the walls. “Oh, Sidney,” he hooted. “You’re going to fit in here just fine.”

And she did.

***

To her surprise, Ben called the next day.

To her even greater surprise, he called to ask her out.

On a date.

An actual date.

She was thrilled to be asked on a date by a handsome man, one she really, really liked. But—though it was tough to admit it—the fevered excitement she’d been looking for was missing. Not that Ben wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous. And charming. And successful. Not that she wouldn’t love to fall in love with him . . .

But it just wasn’t there.

Had Cody ruined her for every man? Because surely, if there ever was a perfect man who was not named Cody Silver, it would be Ben Wilder. It should be.

Still, she agreed to go out with him. For one thing, she really liked him. And for another, maybe this thing with Cody would wear off if she rubbed up against another guy for a while. Maybe if she kissed Ben she would magically forget all about Cody’s sparkling blue eyes and annoying dimples. Maybe.

To her delight, he didn’t take her to a fancy restaurant. He took her to his favorite bar and grill—one the family didn’t own—and they sat at a table in the corner with honky-tonk playing around them, twined with the cracks from the pool table in the next room. It was just the kind of place she liked. Peanut shells on the floor and all.

“What do you think?” he said, slipping the menu toward her. He was so attractive in his chambray shirt, jeans and Stetson. The ultimate cowboy hero. She’d learned the other night that, in addition to running the family restaurant business, all the “boys,” as Diane called them, had their own spreads.

Lots of guys in Dallas posed as cowboys. Few actually were.

Ben Wilder was the real thing. It was a shame she couldn’t just tumble into his arms.

“What do I think?” She had to ask him to clarify, because there were lots of thoughts whipping around in her mind.

“About dinner.”

“Ah.” She gave the menu a cursory glance. Everything looked wonderful. “Why don’t you choose?”

His eyes widened. “Really? I didn’t take you for that sort.”

“What sort?”

“You know, the girly girl who lets the guy order for her.”

She grinned at him. “Good. Because I am not that girl. I’m just starving, and obviously you know what’s good here.”

“I take it you’re also not the girly girl who orders a salad?”

“Not unless it has a hunk of meat on top of it.”

“Excellent.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned. Could he be cuter?

When the waiter came around, he ordered one plate of ribs and one tri-tip and chicken combo. “That way we can share, so you can try everything,” he said.

“I’ve always thought that was the best thing about marriage. Sharing meals.”