Page 5 of Falling for the Maverick

Michelle smiled. It was clear he’d been watching her, and she hoped the cowboy liked what he saw, because it was the same for her. “I was just thinking of something.”

“Good or bad thoughts?” Lucas whispered.

“Both.”

“How is that possible?”

Michelle stared at his left hand resting on the tablecloth. It was beautifully formed with long fingers and groomed nails. “Take someone who is lactose intolerant. They may love ice cream, while knowing if they eat it, they will have to suffer the adverse effects.”

“Are you lactose intolerant?”

“No. But I know a few people who are.” Michelle considered herself fortunate. If she were, then she wouldn’t be able to eat her grandmother’s mac and cheese. Angela Corey’s mac and cheese was touted to be the best in Big Sky Country.

The efficient waitstaff began serving dinner. Michelle had to applaud Brittany, doing double-duty as wedding planner and bridesmaid. She’d managed to hire the best caterer, DJ and waitstaff.

The upbeat music segued to smooth jazz during dinner, with an occasional champagne toast to the newlyweds. Michelle took furtive sips of the excellent wine in between bites of deliciously prepared roast chicken. Drinking champagne without eating made her slightly tipsy.

“How’s your steak?” she asked Lucas.

He touched a napkin to the corners of his mouth. “Excellent. Would you like to taste a piece?” Lucas picked up his knife and cut a piece of the rib eye without waiting for her response and offered her his fork.

Michelle was aware that people were watching her and Lucas as he fed her. “That is delicious,” she said, after chewing and swallowing the tender beef.

“Do you want more?” he questioned.

“No, thank you.”

Lucas pointed to her flute. “You don’t like the champagne?”

“Oh, I do,” Michelle said quickly. “It’s just that I have to eat because it makes me a little lightheaded.”

He smiled, attractive lines fanning out around his luminous eyes. Eyes that appeared even lighter against his dark brown complexion. “Are you saying that you’re a cheap date?”

“Champagne dinners are not considered cheap dates,” she countered. “I suppose it’s different in Bronco, but here in Tenacity we are more apt to order beer than champagne when out on a date.”

* * *

Lucas felt his expression change from an amused smile to a mask of stone. So Michelle still saw him as an outsider. Perhaps she thought that, despite moving to Tenacity, he still held on to the idea that he was superior because he came from Bronco. He’d had the resources to buy land in Bronco, it was true; yet there was something about Tenacity that had beckoned him to come and stay. He’d found the downtown area quaint and charming with the mom-and-pop shops. Despite not having a lot of eating establishments, there were a few on his list he wanted to patronize. And now that his sister was married and he’d settled into ranch life, he planned to get out more.

“Do you have something against Bronco?” he asked her.

“Cool it, cowboy,” she whispered, smiling. “I wasn’t dissing your hometown.”

“Wrong, beautiful. Tenacity happens to be my hometown.”

Calling Michelle beautiful had slipped out unbidden, but it was too late to retract it. She lowered her eyes and appeared so demure that he held his breath for a few seconds. He didn’t know what it was about her. There were times when she was the epitome of sophistication, then without warning she’d morph into an ingenue that aroused his protective instincts.

However, he had to remember that Michelle didn’t need his protection. She had her father and four brothers who were more than willing to handle that task.

One brother in particular had given Lucas the stink-eye. He knew instinctively that Aaron Corey didn’t want him to get close to his sister.

Well, Aaron could put his mind at ease, because Lucas had no intention of getting involved with Michelle.

* * *

Lucas had drunk two glasses of champagne to Michelle’s one when it came time for the bridal party to share a dance. He rose and eased back her chair. Taking her hand, he led her onto the dance floor with the other couples.

The instant his arm went around her waist, he knew he’d lost his battle of restraint. Holding her against his body, inhaling the seductive fragrance on her exposed skin challenged his iron-willed self-control. Lucas knew if he’d been dating Michelle for an appreciable length of time, he would’ve invited her to come with him to the ranch to spend the night under his roof and in his bed.