Branded for You(13)

By the time he was finished, the sun hung low in the sky. It had been a long day and he was ready for a night out with Megan. Just thinking about her made him smile.

He wasn’t sure exactly what had captured his attention first. He’d watched her walk to the small arena where the 4-H’ers showed their livestock. The gentle sway of her hips as she walked had been enough to draw him closer. He’d paused to watch her before she looked at him and her cheeks had blushed a pretty pink. Damn, but she was sexy.

Spending the afternoon with her had just proven to him that she was a woman worth getting to know. He loved her smile and laughter. The way she’d giggled on the ride had been adorable.

Yeah, he was sure as hell looking forward to getting to know Megan Wilder a whole lot better.





Chapter 6


The clear Friday night was cooling off as Megan walked from the parking lot and around the back of Maria’s restaurant. Megan wore a flowing denim skirt with boots and a western blouse, and her brown hair was pulled back in a French braid. The ground was rocky and uneven across the parking lot and she was glad for the boots rather than having worn something more delicate.

She had barely managed to slip out of the house without her parents grilling her on who she was meeting. She was thirty-two and her parents treated her like a teenager. As much as she loved them, they embarrassed her with the kinds of remarks they made around the men she met. She was going to have to move out soon if she was going to retain her sanity.

A tall figure emerged from the darkness just feet away from her and her heart stuttered. The man looked intimidating with his powerful build and his features shadowed by his western hat.

She came to a complete stop as the man moved closer.

“Hi, Megan.” Ryan stepped into the light, his lips curved into a smile. He wore a white western shirt with dark blue Wranglers, a big silver and gold belt buckle on his leather belt and polished boots that weren’t scuffed and worn like the ones he’d worn yesterday.

“Ryan.” She held her hand to her heart. “You scared me.”

He reached her and tugged on the end of her braid that was lying over her shoulder. “I wouldn’t want to do that.” His voice was husky as his eyes met hers. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” she said as warmth flooded through her.

“Come on, sweetheart.” He put his hand at the base of her spine and they walked toward the front of the building.

Smells of Mexican food drifted over her as they entered the restaurant that was dim but had brightly painted walls of blue, green, and pink. On the walls were serapes, maracas, sombreros, and other art depicting Hispanic culture. In a painting closest to the entrance, dancers in colorful traditional costume were performing a Mexican hat dance. In another painting, a matador held a red cape while a bull charged, the audience seated around him in a huge arena.

The restaurant’s atmosphere was cozy. The hostess was beautiful with her hair pulled back and wore a white embroidered peasant blouse with a red embroidered fiesta skirt.

“Rosanne,” Ryan said with a smile as he greeted the hostess. “How are you doing?”

Her smile was brilliant as she greeted him. “Very well, Señor McBride.” Roseanne spoke with a strong Hispanic accent. She turned her gaze on Megan, still smiling. “Good evening, Señora.”

Megan replied in kind and Roseanne asked if they were a party of two. Ryan gave a nod and the hostess picked up a couple of menus and indicated that they should follow her.

She showed them to a cozy corner table where Ryan seated Megan before taking his own seat beside her. Megan never realized how nice it was to have a man act like a gentleman. She was used to anything but gentlemen.

Ryan put his menu on the table. “You look beautiful.” He trailed his fingers down her arm and their eyes locked.

Something about his expression made her think of a future with them together, beyond dating.

Warmth spread through her. She couldn’t remove her gaze from his.

A server stopped by with a basket of tortilla chips, breaking the intensity of the moment.

Flushing, Megan reached for one of the chips and put it on her plate and tried to think of something to say. “They’re still warm.”

Now that was lame, Megan, she told herself.

“Do you want something hot to put on them?” He gestured to the salsa and hot sauce.

Ryan’s easygoing manner set her at ease. She didn’t feel like this was a first date, even though it technically was. They’d spent time at the fair together, but it hadn’t been an official date since they’d only just met.

She ate a chip just as the waitress arrived. Like the hostess, the waitress wore a peasant blouse with an embroidered fiesta skirt. “Señor McBride, it is good to see you with us again.”