"Mornin'." Nash is standing there in all his glory, tipping his cowboy hat at me. His smile is breathtaking and all the tingles go straight down south quickly.
I speed walk to the counter and move around it. "You can do this, Tina. You can do this," I whisper.
"Pardon me. What did you say?" He's standing before me, looking a bit confused.
I take a deep breath, place my hands on the low counter, and smile. "I said good morning." There. That wasn't so bad. The corner of his mouth lifts and those sparkling white teeth gleam in the florescent lighting. My legs start shaking as I push them together. My heart lodges in my throat but I shake my head and smile harder. "What can I get you?" Yea! I said it without stuttering. Go me! He leans back and down a bit, looking over into the display case. Please hurry and order so I can fill it and then run to the back room.
He stands back up and looks straight at me. My knees feel weak. "What do you recommend?" He winks! No! No! No! You're supposed to order and let me get the hell outta here!
Shifting my stance, I feel wetness between my legs. Good thing I'm behind the counter. "It, uh...." Don't do this, Tina! I straighten and square my shoulders. "It depends on what you like." My smile has to be engraved by now. It was hard to move my mouth.
I'm mesmerized watching his hand moving up and rubbing across that sexy scruff covered jaw. "I think I'll take one of those delicious cinnamon rolls, a cup of your coffee, black, and...." His eyes start moving across the display case, over the counter, and directly into mine. "And I'd really love to take you out sometime."
And – there it is.
I'm stuck. Frozen. My mouth opens, and my heart is thundering in my chest. My palms are sweaty and now my hands and arms are shaking along with the rest of me. I'm never going to make it through this. How can I go out with him? I can't even move and I'm only taking his order. My eyes focus back on him as his fingers lift my chin. Soft fingers, a little calloused on the tips from hard work. Masculine. Strong. Damn! I feel beads of sweat on my forehead as I look into those glaring green eyes. Definitely going to have to change my panties.
"Stay with me, darlin'. Drinks or supper? Maybe a movie? You choose."
"Me?" I squeak. And – there's my Minnie Mouse voice. "I – I don't think that's such a good idea." Why don't I think it's a good idea?
He chuckles and the sound glides right through me. "Yes, you." I'd swallow but my mouth is so dry I feel like I could drink a gallon of water, and it wouldn't help. "When do you think you could get away?"
Get away.
Interviews.
Dry panties.
Shit!
His hand drops as I start walking to the display case on wobbly legs, picking up a dish and praying I don't drop it. "I – I'm not sure. I'm interviewing today or Sadie's interviewing.... well, somebody's interviewing." I try not to look at him. I really do. But my eyes move on their own. Damn eyes. I look back down and scoop up a roll onto the plate. So far so good. "We need more help in here." Shakily, I close the door, walk back, and set it on the counter then proceed to pick up a coffee mug and start pouring his coffee. Wow! I'm doing really well! Impressed with myself, I relax just a bit and actually smile. "I'm not sure when I'll be able to get away." He smiles, and my heart skips a beat. "OW!" I watch the hot coffee flow over the top of the cup and over my hand. Dropping the cup, I start to pull my hand back when he grabs it gently, then reaches over the counter and picks up the damp cloth sitting on the lower one. He starts patting my now very red hand with it. I'm afraid to glance up at him but my damn eyes do it anyway. I tilt my head, looking at the concentration on his gorgeous face. Damn, he is – F. I. N. E. – fine. It startles me when his eyes quickly gaze into mine.
"Ya know, I'm a bit nervous too." He is? He looks back down as he nurses my burnt hand. "Yeah, I'm really not much of a partier or a people person." He looks up and smiles. "I mean bein' around a lot of people," he clarifies. He looks back down. His brows lower in concentration. "Hell, I'm so busy most of the time, I never really take much time out for myself." He looks up at me with that killer smile. "There." He releases my hand and I cup it with my other one. "You should really put some ointment on there and wrap it." I nod. I think. With my good hand, I pick up his coffee cup and take another cloth and wipe it off then set it on the counter.
"That'll – uh, be four dollars and fifty six cents, please." Oh, my God! I wanna smack myself.
He digs in his front pocket. Lucky pocket. And counts out the exact amount, putting it in my outstretched hand. Before I can pull away, he pushes my fingers over my palm, closing my hand and holding onto it. My eyes snap to his. "Tina. I'd really love to get to know you better. Please say you'll go out with me." I nod dumbly. He smiles. I stand there and watch him pick up his coffee and plate, walk over to a table, and sit down on a chair.
What in the hell just happened?
Chapter Three
Nash
YES! Yes! She said yes! Now I just have to wait until she can get a free night and figure out where she wants to go. Shit! That's gonna take a long time. She and Sadie are just now interviewin' for help. Then they have to train them and make sure they'll work out. We'll never go out or at least it'll be a long time from now. I can't wait that long. Prie. I wonder if she'd work one night so I can take out Tina. She'd do it for me. I think. But I shouldn't ask. She has so much on her plate right now. I don't even know if she's told Trevor about the baby yet. Shiloh? No way. She just had her baby. Sigh. I wonder....
After bein' alone in my big house last night, my mind raced with ways to try and help Tina and me find some alone time so we can go out. Then I thought back to when I first moved here, satisfied that I had my men, most who'd worked for Pa for quite some time and a couple news ones I'd picked up after Pa died. They're a pretty good bunch. There's even some weekends that Dallis and Mac come over from Memphis' place. They all get along so well. But last night I could feel the loneliness creep in, the silence in my house almost unbearable. When I decided to buy this land, it was to keep on with Pa's business. It's in my head, in my blood. It's all I've ever known and Pa made sure I knew what I was doin'. Shortly after I got here, I started wonderin' if it was such a good idea. The house so big, the land so much. I was grateful the guys said they'd come with me or I would have had to hire new ones and start over. Just movin' all the horses and cows here took some doin' but all the guys came and helped along the way. Then after meetin' Memphis, Sadie, Colby, Shiloh, Trevor, and Prie, I thought – what in the hell did I move into? There was so much turmoil and danger that they'd gone through. The stories I'd heard would have made some of the strongest men want to leave, not have anythin' to do with them, 'cept I found it intriguin' and what it told me was that they are the best and strongest folks I've ever known. They fought for each other, killed and would have died for each other. I know it's behind them now and that madman who caused it all is dead, but sometimes it still gives me the willies thinkin' about it.
This mornin' I rose with a happiness I can't explain. It was like the new day was filled with hope. I'm not a shy man, and I've dated some, but after my ex-girlfriend of three years in college – let's just say I'm a little gun shy to get out there again. On one hand, I want the kind of love and devotion my friends have. On the other hand, I don't have the time to go out there lookin' for a woman, not that I wouldn't if I had to. I didn't really think I needed a woman, bein' I'm so busy, but now I have an ache in me that I can't quench. Do I believe in fate? Kinda? Or maybe I just believe there's some kind of force out there at work that brings folks together. If that's fate, then I guess I'm beholdin' to it. I think about how Memphis and Sadie got together as well as Colby and Shiloh. But I don't want to place an ad. I don't need the help on my farm unless it's to cook and clean. That would be a great idea though, and I could definitely use that kind of help but really, I've had my eye on Tina since we first met.
"Who the hell is that hot honey?"
I remember that day so clearly. I'd gone over to a table in the coffee shop, waitin' for Prie to join me when I heard Tina say it to Prie. I'd heard that Tina can be a little – let's just say excitable about guys, yet I find her very shy and awkward. I like that. She's about the most beautiful woman I've laid eyes on, her eyes nearly changin' color with what she's wearin', long hair that hits her waist, and those pouty lips. It's beyond me how she has such a slender body when she's always cookin' and works around all those amazin' pastries and sandwiches. I find that I love it when she stammers and stutters when she talks to me. Damn, there I go thinkin' about her again. Seems like she's got me doin' that a lot lately.