Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(66)

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “How do you feel about kids, Toby?”

He leaned against the end of the kitchen cabinets. “Love ’em. Plan on spoilin’ Allie and Blake’s. Don’t know how I feel about any of my own because I never figured on settling down until I met you. What about you?”

“I’ve always wanted a houseful or at least three,” she answered honestly.

“Guess we’ll worry with that bridge later on down the road,” he said.

“If we ever get to it.” She smiled again. “One day at a time.”

“Sweet Jesus,” he sang the first words to the old song.



Maybe Toby was right.

They managed to slip into the back pew five minutes before church started, which meant Dora June and her righteous friends were already seated. And since they were on the last pew, when the services ended and Truman delivered a lengthy benediction in which he made sure God knew how much he appreciated the service, the community, and every blade of grass that had sprung up that spring, they were the first ones out of the church.

They’d paid their dues and everything was going to be smooth sailing for them from now on. Lizzy’s confidence mounted even higher when they made it to a steak house in Wichita Falls and didn’t have to wait for a table. That was unheard of on Sunday. The church crowd most usually beat everyone to the best eating places.

Toby threw an arm around Lizzy’s shoulders as the waitress led them to a booth. “I told you our luck had changed.”

“What are y’all havin’ to drink?” The waitress eyed Toby like he was a five-course dinner and she was really, really hungry.

“Sweet tea.” Lizzy didn’t like that blast of jealousy that shot through her body, but he was a good-looking cowboy and he did throw off come-hither vibes.

“Same.” Toby smiled.

“Appetizers?” she asked.

Why don’t you slide in between him and the table and give him a little lap dance. I’ll study the menu while you do your thing? Lizzy said to herself. Why am I letting a waitress get to me? I’m not a jealous person.

“Appetizers, Lizzy?” Toby asked.

“I’m sorry. I was thinking about food not appetizers, but I would like some fried green tomatoes,” she answered quickly.

The waitress’s eyes were on the little scar on Toby’s cheek. “With our special dip or another dressing?”

“I stabbed him,” Lizzy said bluntly. “That’s how he got that scar.”

“Why? I’m sorry. That’s personal. I shouldn’t ask that.” She blushed.

Why not? You’ve been undressing him with your eyes for the past three minutes and needed a drooling bib when you got to his belt buckle.

“It’s okay.” Lizzy laid a hand on the woman’s arm. “I was mad at a woman for flirting with him and he tried to take the knife away from me. It was an accident.”

“I’ll be right back with your drinks and appetizer.” She turned so fast that she ran into a bus boy with a tray of dirty glasses and he had to do some fancy footwork to keep it all from hitting the floor.

“Lying on Sunday?” Toby chuckled. “The preacher will make you deliver the benediction next week as penance.”

She picked up the menu. “It was worth it. And our preacher only calls on a woman to pray at the end of the service on Mother’s Day.”

“Little jealous were you?” he asked.

“Right then I was a whole lot jealous, not a little,” she answered honestly.

He pushed the menu to the side and covered her hands with his, his gaze captivating her eyes. The whole world disappeared and they were the only two people in a tiny space with no sound except the beating of their hearts. “I couldn’t even see that woman because I have blinders on when you are around, and every single thought in my head is about you.” His voice was low, seductive, and mesmerizing. “I’ve never felt like this before and it scares the hell out of me.”

“Me, too, Toby,” she whispered.

“It’s too hot to last, isn’t it?”

“Won’t know until we try,” she answered.

“It didn’t last before.”

A presence at their table disturbed their private world. Whatever it was, skunk, tornado, hailstorm, or the waitress bringing their drinks, Lizzy wished they’d vanish into thin air and leave her and Toby alone. She sighed as she looked up at Dora June’s condescending expression.

“Well, hello, Lizzy. I had no idea that you knew Toby and Blake before they bought the Lucky Penny. My niece, Lacy, works here and she just now told me how Toby got that scar. I bet he’s the real reason you broke up with that dear boy, Mitch, isn’t he?” Dora June asked tersely.

So much for the bad luck finally playing out. Madam Fate had only given them a slight reprieve before the big storm hit full force.

“Good morning, Miz Dora June.” Toby flashed his brightest smile her way. “Wasn’t that church service uplifting this morning? And the hymns were sung with such gusto that I bet the angels in heaven are still smiling. Would you and Truman like to sit with us? I’d be glad to buy your lunch or dinner or whatever you folks call it. In my world, it’s always been dinner and supper but I wouldn’t want to offend you.”