Page 33 of Taking What Was His

“El Portal Restaurant. It’s not brand new, but it’s excellent. It’s one of Jayden’s favorites.”

“Good to know.”

He held her hand as she gave him instructions on how to get there. He got them into the restaurant and into a booth.

“Hello, my name is Mindy. What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll stay with water,” Roman said.

“Iced tea, please.”

“Coming right up.”

Beth opened the menu and started reading but she felt his eyes on her and looked up to see him staring at her.

“What? Do I smell like a horse?”

He chuckled. “No, baby. First, I need to tell you how amazing it was to watch you. Amazing and terrifying, if I’m being honest.”

She could feel her face heat. “Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“I could have watched you all day long.”

“Look at you, being sweet again,” she said and smirked.

He tried to scowl. “And you’re asking for a spanking.”

She snorted out a laugh and then looked back at her menu.

The waitress came back and set their drinks down, a basket of chips, and a big bowl of salsa. “Are you ready to order?”

Beth nodded. “I’ll take your special.”

“Make that two of them.”

“All right. I’ll get those right out.”

“I’m going to run to the restroom and wash my hands.”

Chapter Eleven

Roman nodded and sat back. He watched her move across the room and then glanced at a few people who also watched her. He knew if he wanted to be in her life, he had better get used to it.

She strolled back, oblivious to the looks.

After she sat, Roman reached across the table and grabbed her hands.

He ran his thumb over the back of her delicate fingers as he tried to figure out how such tiny hands could control a thousand-pound horse.

“How’d you get so good with those giant animals?”

She grinned. “I grew up around them. My aunt Shirley had a small horse ranch where I spent all my time. I started actually working there when I was sixteen, but I had helped her for years. I bought my own horse at eighteen and started to learn show jumping, and that kind of took off. My friend Sandra, whom I’ve known most of my life, and I decided to put my winnings and her savings into our own ranch, and that’s also done well. I’ve been very fortunate.”

“I bet Rick was extremely proud of you.”

“Not really. I think he’d been out to the ranch a few times in all the time we were together. He doesn’t like animals, and the smell made him sick to his stomach.”

He could have kicked himself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”