Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(69)

They pulled off I-90 at the Trident and Three Forks exit and then headed toward town. “Three Forks?” Janice asked. “What’s in Three Forks?”

“You’ll see,” he answered her cryptically.

A few minutes later he pulled up in front of an elegant white clapboard building. “The old Sacajawea?” she declared in surprise. “I thought it closed years ago.”

“It did. But then a new owner bought it and completely restored the place while you were away,” Dirk explained. “It’s now on the register of historical hotels, and the food is top-notch. Good as anything you had out in Vegas.”

He handed her down from the truck and then led her through an elegant foyer to the entrance to Pompey’s Grill. Greeting Dirk by name, the ma?tre d’ guided them to a cozy booth near the massive stone hearth where a welcoming fire blazed. The hotel restaurant was dark-paneled, candlelit, and intimate, the perfect setting for a romantic dinner.

The ma?tre d’ smiled. “Your server will be with you momentarily with a wine list.”

“I’m not much for wine myself,” Dirk remarked to Janice, “but they have a respectable selection if you’d care for a bottle.”

“Not for me, thanks.” Janice gave an embarrassed smile. “I admit I’m more of a beer girl.”

Their waiter arrived almost instantaneously to present the wine menu and take their drink orders.

“A Blue Moon for the lady and I’ll take a Bud,” Dirk said.

“Very good. Would you care to hear tonight’s dinner specials?” the waiter asked.

“Sure.” Janice nodded.

“For starters, we have a crab harumaki, which is a Japanese-style spring roll with red crab, fresh cilantro, napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, and fresh ginger, served with a spicy ponzu. Our entrée this evening would be the USDA Prime dry-aged American Kobe tenderloin, locally supplied from the Flying K Ranch.” He presented the full menus. “I’ll be back in just a moment with your drinks.”

“The beef is from the Flying K?” Janice cocked her head in surprise.

“Yup.” Dirk nodded with pride. “Been doing a bit of test marketing in some local places. I hear it’s become one of their most popular entrées.”

“That’s fantastic!” Janice exclaimed.

He beamed back at her. “I admit I’m encouraged. I’m working on something even bigger now. I have some serious interest from a gourmet foods company, but I can’t hope to bid for the contract until I can show that I can meet the demand. That means growing the herd, which will require more investment in breeding stock.”

“That’s the expansion you were talking about.”

“Yes.” He nodded. “They are only interested in organic, grass-fed beef, which means I also need more grazing pastures. Wade and I have gone head-to-head over this for the past couple of years.” Dirk’s brows met in a scowl. “He’s too damned shortsighted to see the new opportunity.”

“Then you can’t give up.”

“I don’t intend to.”

The waiter returned with their drinks. “Do you have any questions?”

“Mind if I order for both of us?” he asked Janice.

“Not at all. Please do.”

Dirk never even opened the menu. “The crab hamaruki to share, two wedge salads, and two of the Wagyu tenderloins.”

“Excellent,” the server replied and disappeared.

The service was exceptional and the entire meal superb, especially the beef. In truth, it was the best she’d ever tasted, which only confirmed in Janice’s mind that Dirk really was onto something. On top of that, Dirk appeared more relaxed than Janice had ever seen him. They lingered over dinner, laughing and talking until they were the only patrons remaining in the restaurant.

“Would you care for coffee or dessert?” the waiter asked.

“Nothing more for me,” Janice groaned, near bursting. “But it was all fabulous.”

Dirk’s blue gaze met hers. “I agree. It’s been the best night I can recall in a very long time.”

It was almost eleven o’clock when they finally left the restaurant. Dirk walked her to the passenger side of his truck and paused before opening her door. “It’s just occurred to me that I’ve gone about all of this completely ass backwards.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I just realized this is our very first date.”

Janice stared at him for a moment and then cracked a smile. “You’re right. It is at that.”

“Mind if I kiss you?”

“You’re asking?” She laughed outright.

He grew suddenly serious. He cupped her face with both hands. “A man should never take a woman for granted.” His lips met hers, gliding over them with a toe-curling and breath-stealing tenderness. He released her slowly and then stepped back to open the truck door.

“I s’pose that goes both ways,” Janice said as he handed her in. “But after that meal, I promise you I’m a sure thing.”

He held her gaze for a long moment. “That so?”

“Yeah.” She licked her lips, tension coiling deep in her belly. “I told you I left the house tonight with a certain optimism.”