Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(58)

The work. The planning. The whole ball of wax. This had been done for her.

“This is amazing,” she whispered. “It’s a perfect first date.”

Bless his heart.

His face clearly showed relief, which meant he not only went to a lot of work, he was worried that she would think it was silly or stupid. She took a step forward, put both hands on his chest, and rolled up on her toes. His lips met hers in a soft, sweet kiss that told her how vulnerable he really was. The brass and show of the hottest cowboy in Texas was only surface. The real Toby Dawson was holding her in a clearing with a blanket on the ground.

“Hungry?” he asked when the kiss broke.

“Starving. I hope there’s food in that basket.”

He smiled and the stars dimmed. “Yes, ma’am. Fried chicken, potato salad, dinner rolls, and fried okra, and over there by the well in a cooler, there is a six-pack of beer iced down.”

“I really do feel like Cinderella,” she said as her eyes met his.

The flicker of a dozen jar candles reflected his happiness. “I’m so glad that you like it. I wanted to spend time with you, not with the families, not in a café or a bar. Deke bought the candles for me but he doesn’t have any idea about this.” He picked up her hands and led her to the blanket. “I was afraid it would look like a redneck harem.”

“Oh, no! It is an enchanted fairy tale.” She kicked off her boots and walked to the middle of the quilt in her bare feet.

He carried the cooler to the edge of the quilt, removed his boots, and sat down beside the basket. “Come and sit in front of me.”

She eased down and crossed her legs Indian-style, her knees touching his. He opened the basket, drawing out two china plates, flatware, and blue bandannas to use for napkins. Next he took out an aluminum pan full of fried chicken, a bowl of potato salad, and one of fried okra. He leaned forward, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her on the tip of her nose.

“I’ve said it before but you really are an amazing woman, Lizzy.”

“Right now I’m a hungry woman, Toby.”

“And a very honest one.”

He brought out two bottles of beer, twisted the cap off the first one, and handed it to her. She took a sip and propped it in the corner of the empty basket. He did the same, setting his right beside hers.

“You like legs?” she asked.

“On you, yes. On a chicken, I prefer wings and breasts.”

She picked up both legs with her fingers. “Then we are going to get along just fine.”

“Potato salad?” He held the bowl out to her. “I have to admit, this all came from Nadine’s. I didn’t have time to build an enchanted forest and cook, too. I told her the truth, though.”

Lizzy was glad she hadn’t taken a bite of food because she would have choked on it. “You didn’t?” she gasped.

“Yes, I did. I told her that Allie and Blake were going north for the weekend and that I didn’t want to cook. She laughed and said that if Deke was coming over for supper I might not have enough, and she talked me into buying an apple pie for dessert. It wouldn’t fit into the basket so it’s setting on the top of the well.”

“Apple pie is my favorite.” Lizzy bit into the fried chicken leg.

In spite of the vow she’d made not to think about Mitch or the times they’d had together, a memory popped into her head. The whole family was gathered around the table and Katy had made a cherry and an apple pie. Lizzy had looked forward to having a piece of that apple pie all morning but then when it was time for dessert, Mitch had said that the pie was too fattening and that they’d both have to watch their desserts or they’d be big as circus clowns. Then he’d thrown an arm around her and had led to the living room to set up a Monopoly game. Looking back it had not been an arm of love but a controlling one.

And here was a man who told her that she was amazing, beautiful, and bought a whole apple pie for them to share. How could she not compare?

“You are pretty quiet. What are you thinking about?” Toby asked her.

It was on the tip of her tongue to say something about apple pie, but in a real relationship, two people had to build a foundation and the first stone in it was honesty. “Do you really want to know or should we talk about our favorite desserts?”

“I want to know,” he answered.

She told him, keeping the story straight and the emotion out of her voice. “And I did what my mama says I’m never to do and that’s compare two people.”

“And?” Toby raised a dark eyebrow.

“And I’m real glad I’m sitting in this wonderful place with you and that I can eat all of that apple pie I want.” She smiled and it felt good.

The whole atmosphere, even the howling coyotes and the screeching locusts, had the ring of right to it that evening.

“Me, too,” he said. “Ten-question time while we eat. I’ll ask one, then you can and we have to answer honestly. I’ll go first. What is your favorite food, other than apple pie for dessert?”

“Steak, medium rare. And apple is just my favorite pie. My favorite dessert is Mama’s chocolate sheet cake when it’s still warm with a scoop of ice cream on the top,” she said.

“You can’t ask me the same question because my answer will be the same as yours. I love a good beefsteak cooked the same way you do. And I’d never had that chocolate sheet cake until Allie made it, and it’s my new favorite dessert.”