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Lainey studies the extensive menu with the same focused intensity I saw her bring to my horses. The small furrow between her eyebrows appears, and she chews the inside of her cheek.

"You're cute when you're serious."

She arches her eyebrows. "I'm serious right now?"

"Yep. You look like you're assessing Two-Step."

"I do?"

"Yeah," I reply, unable to contain my grin.

She glances back at the menu and declares, "This menu is huge."

"Yep."

She puts it down. "You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Staring instead of reading your menu."

"I've got the menu memorized. I called ahead." I settle my hand on her thigh under the table and feel the small jump of surprise run through her before she relaxes into it. "Besides, I'm allowed to look at my date."

"That sounds…"

"What?"

"Weird."

"What's weird?"

She shrugs. "That I'm your date."

Panic creeps into my gut. "Why?"

She hesitates a moment, then admits, "I didn't think I would ever see you again."

"Even though you had my baby?" I blurt out before I can think twice. My pulse ticks up.

She swallows hard and tilts her head. She takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. "I told you why I never looked for you."

"Yes."

She peers closer. "You're mad at me, aren't you?"

I shake my head, forcing out, "No."

"Jagger, don't lie to me."

"I'm not⁠—"

"Stop. Tell the truth," she insists.

My heart races, and I take a sip of my water to buy time, trying to find the right words.

Our server appears. "Hey, Jagger."

"Hi, Matt. This is Lainey."