Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(41)

And she wasn’t supposed to sleep with him? For two weeks?


Right.


Be interesting to see which one of them broke first.


When he grinned and stalked her, India felt kinship with prey and fought against taking cover. “You’re early.”


“Just anxious.” He grabbed her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, in a gesture both corny and sweet. “Are you ready?”


“Yeah. Where are we going?”


“The Pizza Barn in Moorcroft.”


Why were they going out of Sundance? Was Colt embarrassed to be seen with her?


He must’ve seen the questions in her eyes. “Have you been there?”


“No.”


“Good. I wanted to take you someplace neither one of us have been for our first date.”


“You’re determined we’re really gonna do this dating thing?”


“Yep.”


“Have I mentioned I suck at dating?”


“But, you haven’t dated me.”


“I’ve known you for three years. What’s so different about dating you?”


“I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”


“Then no way do I want to date you, McKay.”


“I’ll be a gentleman for two weeks, then all bets are off.”


“If I refuse?”


“Too late. You already agreed to my terms.”


“I was under duress.”


“Good to know my kisses fluster you that much.” He smooched her nose. “Let’s go.”


The Pizza Barn didn’t exactly drip romance. The square table was standard, covered with a red and white checked tablecloth.


Plastic flowers jammed in a Perrier bottle coated with dripped wax was centered between a shaker of Parmesan cheese and crushed hot peppers.


“Do you know what you want?”


India batted her lashes and cooed, “Guess.”


When the waitress came by, Colt offered India a smug smile and recited their usual pizza order. “A large pepperoni with green olives and two mugs of rootbeer.”


After she’d dropped off their drinks, she’d warned them it’d take at least an hour to get their pizza. India said, “Why do you think the wait is so long? There’s hardly anyone in here.”


“Because they want customers blowing tokens in the arcade.


Which is a great idea.” He scooted out of the booth. “Come on, let’s check out the games.”


Colt dragged her to the arcade and bought twenty bucks worth of tokens. She watched as he played every game from simulated golf to shooting hoops. Damn man made every shot. He was probably a helluva basketball player in his day.


When he hopped into a virtual NASCAR machine, complete with padded seat, steering wheel, goggles and gearshift, she allowed a weary sigh to escape.


“Don’t you wanna play?” Colt indicated the empty machine next to his. “Or are you afraid I’ll beat you?”


“I know you’ll beat me,” she retorted as she slid into the seat.


“I suck at this kind of stuff.”


“Didn’t you play video games in high school?”


“Not really. Unless you count the time my boyfriend dragged me out of the fall festival and down the street so he could challenge the high score on Pac-Man at Burger King.”