His brothers had been after him for the past few years to ask Mariah out, and he would just as soon avoid having to explain that they weren’t dating but she was living with him at the Wild Maverick. The situation was complicated and he wasn’t entirely sure he understood his reasons for offering her a job himself. As for trying to explain it to his brothers, the interrogation that was sure to follow would make a military tribunal look like a walk in the park.
“I didn’t realize they have a live band and dancing,” Mariah said as he held the chair for her to sit down. Her delight was evident and he knew she was going to want to stick around for the dancing after they ate.
Taking his seat on the opposite side of the small table, he shrugged. “What the house band lacks in talent, they make up for in enthusiasm.”
“I can dance to just about anything,” she said happily.
He barely managed to stifle a groan as the sweet sound of her voice wrapped around him. Mariah was without a doubt the most beautiful, exciting woman in the entire restaurant and she was letting him know that she wanted him to dance with her later. Unfortunately, she was with a man who hadn’t been born with the dancing gene, like his foster brother Nate. To say that Jaron had two left feet would be an act of kindness. But as awkward as he felt on a dance floor, he wasn’t about to let some other guy touch Mariah. If he had to, he’d pay the band a week’s pay to play nothing but slow songs, then stand in one spot, hold her close and sway in time to the music the way his brother Ryder had always done.
He wasn’t going to examine his decision too closely. If he did, he would have to admit that the thought of another man holding her close caused him to feel as though someone had punched him in the gut. It wasn’t something he was the least bit comfortable with, nor was he happy about it.
“Did you find a lot of things that need to be repaired while you were out riding the pastures today?” she asked as they looked over the menu.
“More than I would have liked,” he admitted, relieved to focus on something else. “The previous owner was older and lost interest in keeping things in good repair.”
“The house seems to be in good shape,” she said, closing the menu and placing it on the table. “Did you have to make a lot of changes before you moved in?”
Jaron shook his head. “His daughter had the house remodeled before she put the ranch up for sale.” When their server came to take their order, Jaron told him what they wanted, then waited for the man to walk away before he continued, “There are a few things I’d still like to change, but for the most part, I’m pretty happy with the house.”
“The house is beautiful.” She looked puzzled. “I can’t imagine what you’d want to change about it.”
“I’d like to take down the wall between the family room and media room,” he answered, taking a sip of his water. “The house already has a formal living room, but it isn’t big enough for the whole family to get together. I want a room big enough for us to gather and not be crowded.”
Mariah nodded. “I love when your family has a party or dinner.”
He frowned. “You’re part of the family, too.”
“Not really.” She shrugged one slender shoulder. “I’m only included because I’m Bria’s sister and have nowhere else to go for holidays.”
Her statement surprised him, and without thinking, Jaron covered her hand with his where it rested on the pristine tablecloth. “You’re just as much a part of the family as any of us, and I don’t want to hear you say otherwise, Mariah.”
“Th-thank you,” she said, her eyes dewy with unshed tears. “That means a lot.”
He hated seeing the sadness in her eyes, and at that moment he knew he would do anything to make her happy, even if that meant making a fool of himself on the dance floor later. “Why don’t we concentrate on finishing supper and then stick around for the dancing?”
“I’d like that, Jaron. Thank you.”
Her sweet smile sent heat streaking through every vein in his body, and as he stared into her emerald eyes, he suddenly realized that he still held her delicate hand in his. For the life of him, he couldn’t bring himself to let it go, nor did he seem to be able to look away.
What the hell was wrong with him? He didn’t want to lead her on, nor did he want to fuel the need that burned in his gut every time he was close to her. Why couldn’t he stop himself from touching her?