“It’s an honor,” I say, giving him back a joking smile.
From my eyes, it’s nothing but total sincerity pouring out.
Several hours later, Grace and I arrive in town.
Convincing Nelson this plan will work was like eating candy compared to her. I had to mention Nelson name-dropped Clay Grendal and the Old Town Boys before she’d even listen.
She’d gone as white as a sheet.
Swore her father hardly ever spoke their names, even to her, almost like he believes it’s inviting a curse.
I confessed I’d done more homework with Faulk. I know how slippery Grendal is, how cutthroat, and how he believes he’ll never lose.
I watched her walk off to the cabin after telling her to ask her old man himself if she doesn’t believe he agreed to the plan.
She returned to the house with tension and hope dancing in her eyes.
“I still don’t think this is the best idea,” she says, as if reading my mind. “I mean, just driving into town like this and making sure everyone knows what’s up?”
“Just wait. You’ll see how fast word spreads on the gossip vine in this little town.”
She’s staring at the ring on her finger. The one I’d pulled out of the safe in my bedroom.
It’s the same engagement ring my father gave to my mom. A blue diamond wrapped in an ornate silvery frame. Supposedly, it once belonged to a Russian royal before revolution scattered the Tsar’s jewels to the winds.
They were only married long enough to have me, but my mother kept that ring like it was part of the crown jewels.
It was a relief to find out it fits Grace’s finger just like it was made for her.
She lets out a sigh and glances out the window. “So, what’s the plan here? Run up and down the street, screaming we’re engaged? We should’ve brought Cornelius for that.”
“Less bird poop this way,” I say, holding back a snort.
Her head snaps around so fast her neck pops.
“Oh my God. You’re serious, aren’t you?”
I laugh, park the truck, and turn off the engine.
“Darlin’, I learned three things about North Dakota as soon as I got here. One, there’s always at least one Lutheran church in every town. Two, the residents do not need a reason to fill a bar on Friday or Saturday nights. Three, they eat hotdish like hamburger and tater tots won’t be around next year.”
At least it gets a laugh out of her.
I point out the window. “First we’re going into that diner. We’ll eat and then walk across the street to that bar called Libations for a few beers and a little dancing. Don’t worry, it’s a little more upscale than Grady’s place.”
“I don’t dance.”
“You will tonight, sweetheart.” I open my door and wink at her.
The way her cheeks light up cherry-red wakes up my dick.
Two hours later, I have her on the dance floor.
Turns out, she’s a natural, and watching her sway to the loud country music booming from the speakers ignites my blood.
If it was hell fighting off my hard-on before, it’s excruciating now.
I catch her hand, giving her a twirl, loving how she smiles real sweet at me mid-spin.
After she’s made a flawless pirouette, I grasp her waist, pulling her up flush against me.
These tits are destroyers of men, I swear.
The urge to do shameful acts of fuckery I’ll regret in the morning roars through me like a wind.
“You lied to me, Grace,” I say into her ear. “You know damn well how to dance.”
She laughs and slips out of my hold.
Twisting her shoulders with a saucy little switch of her hips, she does another twirl before stepping closer again. “I didn’t say I can’t dance. I said I don’t dance. Words, mister.”
Little minx.
Her smile, the shimmer in her eyes, the way her gold hair flips and falls back in soft waves around her face, over her shoulders, mesmerizes me for life.
I know how insane that sounds.
I’m the dude living this crazy.
Fact remains, I can’t take my eyes off her, and I wouldn’t be a red-blooded male if I wasn’t thinking about fucking her hard and deep.
There’s no denying it.
She’s had me thinking about that in sweltering flashes ever since I saw her at the Purple Bobcat, hiding her curves behind that puffy white coat.
It’s a trope in every romance film ever made to tug on heartstrings.
Instant attraction.
Turns out, it’s a hell of a lot more interesting when it happens in real life, when you meet a girl who’s such a magnet you wind up fighting yourself tooth and nail to stay sane.
And not giving into pure insanity is getting harder every minute I spend with my eyes glued to those flaming blue eyes, those ample tits, an ass I could hit so hard I’d wake the dead.
Sweet mercy.
I’ve played more than one role where my character was insta-lusting after a woman, and a couple scenes later, we were in bed together.