“You’re welcome, ma’am.” A sparkle on the side of her nose drew his attention. A diamond. Kinda cute. He backed toward his chair without removing his stare from hers, and he nearly tripped over his own feet. He flipped the front of his hair back as he dropped into his chair.
She scoured the bar area, but the waitress came over for her order when she delivered Dane’s. “I’ll have a glass of gewürztraminer, please.”
“Add it to my tab,” Dane said to the waitress as he gave her a sideways glance.
The young lady at his table held her hand up. “Oh, no, please—”
“It’s fine. I’d be honored if you’d let me.” The honor was all his. Not that he’d mind talking to an attractive woman a while, either.
“My goodness, thank you again.” She scooted her chair in and slipped her wallet back into her purse. “I never expected a flight delay on such a clear evening.”
“It’s a delay wherever you’re going, I bet. At least, that’s my problem.” Dane gawked around the bar—still busy the first week of January. “Sure, it happens here for different reasons. Dust storms, monsoon thunderstorms in the summer, whatever.” He took a drink of beer and peered at her, yet tried not to stare. It was then he noticed the color of her large, round eyes. More purple than blue. Trying not to be rude by staring, he couldn’t help it. Spectacular as a matter of fact. “Wow,” he muttered without realizing the words slipped out until it was too late.
“Excuse me?” She pulled down the cuff on the red and white pin-striped shirt she wore under a black, short jacket.
“Uh, sorry. It’s your eyes.” She probably got complimented on them all the time. If not, she should’ve. Dane wrapped his fingers around the back of his neck while smoothing down his hair in the process. “They’re…” He held his hand up. “Forgive my boldness. I’ve been known to blurt out what’s on my mind.” Sometimes a damn curse. He hoped this wasn’t one of those times.
It took a minute for her to say anything. Her gaze scanned over his face, lowered to his chest before raising to his lips, then she met his eyes. “You’re from around here?” She smiled at the server who set her glass down.
A cute smile. Indirect, yet enough to let you know it happened. What the heck was the weird name of that wine she had ordered? “I live about fifty-minutes away.”
“This must be awful, being stranded here when you live so close.” She gave the wine a swirl before sniffing it—a pleasurable softness on her face when she took a drink.
He wanted to press his fingertip against that diamond in the side of her nose. “I was home on a two-week leave. I’m heading back a couple days early. At least I have some time to kill.” He swallowed down the Tequila then took another drink of beer as he peered at the menu on the table. “Where are you headed?” That was none of his damn business.
She folded her arms on the table and leaned in. A thick lock of hair fell over her shoulder and she used one finger to push it behind her ear. “As a matter of fact, I’m heading back home. I had a job interview not far from here. A quaint little restaurant—so cute.”
He set his glass down and picked up the menu. “Hope you got the job.” Sneaking a peek at her, he couldn’t quite peg what she’d do at the restaurant. Chef or a waitress? Hmm…
“I did. I’m thrilled. Maybe you know the place. It’s called the Mountain Inn South.”
“I’m familiar with that place. I almost pass it on my way home from Phoenix.” He glanced over at the waitress then back. “Excuse me, but I’m not being myself today,” he said, and stuck his hand out in front of him. “Dane Carlson. As a matter of fact, my family has a horse ranch not far from that place. My brother had a party there a few months back.”
She grasped his outstretched hand. “Gracelyn…Grace Clark. Nice to make your acquaintance.”
“Are you hungry, by chance? I’m about to order dinner. It might be a while before I see food again.” Obviously, he’d see food again, but nothing like home cooked meals…or bar cooked in this case. MREs didn’t match Mom’s home cooking. Either way, lunch happened hours ago.
“Did you say you were home on leave?” She picked up the menu as she paid more attention to customers standing along the crowded bar. “Military.”
“Roger that.” Something about the way she spit out the word military sounded like she wasn’t a fan. “I’m heading back to Ft. Benning. I’ll be there a couple weeks before being deployed to the Middle East again.”
Her brows furrowed. “That’s too bad. I’m sorry to hear about anyone going there.” A fluttering of her eyelashes led to her bottom lip kind of curling downward as if saddened.
“That’s my job. I’m a soldier.” A guy could sink all the way to the bottom in those gem-filled eyes. Dane glanced around for the waitress then asked again, “Did you want to eat with me?”
Even though it took a moment, she returned his smile. “Yes, sure. Like you said. This could take a while. Besides, they already changed my flight.”
“I went ahead and rescheduled mine, too. Guess I’m not as eager to get back to base as I figured. Seemed like a long time home. Hard to leave this time.” The server came and pulled out her pen to take their order. He ordered a cheeseburger and Gracelyn ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with one order of fries to share.
A text came in and he took a minute to read it while she pulled her phone from her purse. Mom. Her flight tracker showed his flight had been delayed then cancelled, and she asked if he wanted to come back home, so he called her. “Hey, nah, I’m getting a room for tonight. My flight’s been changed to mid-morning. This is why I always go back a couple days early.” The last thing he needed was to go through another good-bye. The knot still twisted his gut.
“Try to call before you leave, okay? I love you, honey.”
Dane heard his mom’s voice, but Gracelyn was what he stared at across the table. “Give everyone a hug.” When he hit End he peered at her again. She wrote a text or email. Her dark lashes covered her lowered eyes. He tried to guess her age, but he couldn’t be sure. Early thirties like him, maybe a bit younger.
“Your wife must be sad you aren’t coming back home since your flight got cancelled.” She glanced up from her phone, her gaze going to his left hand. “Military life is hard on families.”
“Heck, that was my mom. I’m not married.” He waited until their food was set on the table and the waitress left. “As many times as I’ve been deployed, I’d rather not have anyone waiting for me. It’s bad enough for my family.” He already went through the relationship and waiting thing. Ended up with a lot of sadness for a while after some of them fell apart due to long distances.
“Hmm, I can understand. My brother was deployed to Afghanistan, but he’s out now. How many times have you been deployed?” She ordered another glass of wine when the waitress came back to check on them.
“This is my fourth for an extended tour. I’m always being deployed to do a job—no notice, jump on it, get ready, go… Multiple tours oversees, I guess you can say.” Dane took a bite of his burger. Mustard and Ketchup squirted out all over his mouth, so he grabbed a napkin to avoid slopping himself up and looking like a pig.
“You hardly look old enough to be deployed that many times…” Gracelyn grinned. “Especially with food all over your mouth.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin while her gaze veered off to the side. “I’m sorry, that must’ve sounded awful.”
Dane gave a quiet laugh. “I’m older than I look, but I’ve heard that before. I enlisted right out of high school…well, to keep me out of trouble, really, and I got into Ranger School as soon as I could.” He lifted his chin with pride. “Now, 75th Ranger Regiment.” Not that he let that out on a regular basis. In fact, he probably never mentioned it to anyone who wasn’t a close friend or family.
“Ah ha, Ft. Benning. No wonder. I get it now. Third Battalion?”
What did she know about 3rd Battalion? “Uh huh.” He took a bite of his cheeseburger more carefully this time, contempl
ating on the type of Army background she might’ve had. An Army brat? He almost laughed since she didn’t seem to like military life.
“I heard you say you had a room. Could I ask where, so I can make a reservation before it gets any later?” She flipped long hair over her right shoulder again and picked up her phone. “I don’t know what would be the best choice or area in a strange city. A recommendation from a local sounds good.”
“Phoenix isn’t so strange.” He stared at her as she spoke, liking the sound of her voice. Kind of low and deep, an easy voice to listen to.
“I’d hate to sleep in the airport and my flight doesn’t leave until two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Actually, I could have had an earlier…” She hesitated, her head cocked a little. “Dane Carlson?”
“Huh? Oh, right.” Damn! He wiped his hands before taking out his phone, and he scrolled to the number before handing it across the table. Pay attention and quit staring at her.
“Thanks. I seemed to have thanked you a lot tonight.” Gracelyn laid her napkin down. Reaching for his phone, she punched in the number for the hotel into her phone.
“There’s a shuttle to take us to the hotel when you’re ready.” That didn’t come out right. “I mean, if you don’t have a rental car it comes in handy in a strange area.” His tongue wanted to twist around in his mouth.
“I appreciate that. Now, for your kindness, please let me pay for your dinner.” She took a sip of wine, the rim of the glass lingering against her bottom lip. “Please?”
Those long nails could scrape his back anytime. That was something he surely didn’t need to think about. He checked out the fine structure of her jaw that gave her a gentle profile. As soft as her skin appeared, he wouldn’t mind brushing his knuckles along her cheek.
His throat needed to be cleared before he could speak. This woman rattled him. “I can’t do that…Gracelyn, let you pay, I mean.” Dane got the server’s attention to order another beer. “Another glass of wine for you?”
She indicated no to the wine but drew her attention back to him. “Call me Grace. Everyone does.” She sipped what little wine she had left.
He hesitated a few seconds, thinking about her full name. “Do you have anything against Gracelyn? It’s nice.” The sound of it reminded him of innocence, even though her persona kind of spoke the opposite.
She fingered a silver chain necklace. “No, not really. Most don’t use my full name.”
With a tilt to his head, he gave a cocky grin. “Maybe I’m not like most.”
She eyed him across the table but didn’t say anything, just studied his face. A small smile appeared on her lips and grew bigger. One slim, manicured finger lifted. “I better call that hotel.”
It wasn’t a problem the way she checked him out, and he watched her face as she dialed. For sure he wouldn’t push her away if she sank into his arms. Deployment waited—there was no time for this kind of bullshit.
After hanging up, she raised her eyes. “I feel much better with that off my mind. Thank you again for giving me the number.” She tapped her fingernails against the side of her empty glass.
“No worries.” Her sweetness melted his heart like a sugar cube would in his mouth. He took the last bite of his burger after she dropped a fry back to her plate. “Finished already?”
She smiled. “Yes, I’ll save room for dessert, but I have to buy.”
“Maybe, but after this, I don’t need dessert…yet.” He shoved his plate aside and rested his elbows on the table, his chin against his hands. “So tell me about you. You’re all alone in a new city, looking for work.”
Her plate got moved aside, too, and she nodded for the waitress. When she arrived, Gracelyn ordered a glass of Syrah.
Dane observed her actions when she reached into her purse, and he ordered another beer while the waitress stood by. This time he chose a different kind—a pale ale. Standing, he slid his chair to the side of the table, and touched her forearm once he sat down. “Remember, this is going on my tab.”
“Well, goodness, you’re not buying this one.” She hesitated but continued to stare as if weighing her words. “Sometimes, I…” She waited while the server brought her wine and his beer and she dropped money onto the tray. “Thanks,” she said to the server.
Dane spoke confidently, “On my tab, please.” He scooted his beer glass closer when the server stood there, confused over who would pay.
Gracelyn removed more money from her wallet and handed it to the waitress. “This beer and wine on my tab, please.”
When she left, Gracelyn lowered her eyes to his hand on her arm. “You don’t take no for an answer?”
Observing a tightening in her throat, he removed his hand against his will and laid twenty dollars on the table. With a nonchalant half shrug, he replied, “That all depends. Sometimes I have to take no for an answer. I’m in the Army.” Noise still radiated from the bar area. Checking his watch, he couldn’t believe the time. Nearly three hours here? “What was it you were about to say earlier… Sometimes?”
“So you know, I prefer expensive wine at times that I pay for myself.” She held up her glass. “Like this Syrah is quite expensive.” Her eyes narrowed into a defiant, yet, playful glare. “Would you like a taste?”
Would I like a taste? His gaze went to her lips, but he couldn’t stop there, continuing over as much of her body as he could see. Again, he cleared his throat and took another gander around the bar. Gulping, he forced out, “Why not? I wouldn’t mind a taste.” He took the glass, his fingers brushing hers as she handed it over. Still observing her, he took a drink. “Okay, so this is red wine. What’s special about it? How expensive?” Maybe her idea of expensive wasn’t the same as his.
“I’m not in the mood to give a lesson about what makes it special.” She gave a shy but beguiling smile. “I’m teasing about it being expensive. You should think twice before offering to pay for a gal’s drink.”
Not in the mood to give a lesson? He’d like to teach her something. They eyed each other without saying anything, but he had to say it, and if his words sounded flirty, so what. Each passing minute drew him more into her. Like she had a lunge line around his neck, gradually pulling him toward her. “About your expensive wine…I have a feeling you’re worth the cost. I wouldn’t have a problem paying for it…the wine, I mean.” Head to desk. Dammit.
Her head lowered and she stared at her lap where she twisted a ring around her ring finger on her right hand. “Ah, thanks.” She met his gaze—her chin high. “I am worth it.” After a short hesitation, she asked, “Did you like it?”
Okay, so she got the last word. He liked her confidence a lot. “It’s red wine. What am I supposed to say? It tastes red?” He chuckled. “I’m not into wine.”
She gave a hardy laugh while playing her fingers over the top of his hand until she realized what she had done, and she pulled her hand away.
Had the bar become noisier? He grabbed a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, removed one to stick between his lips then sat the pack on the table in front of him. His focus was totally on her in spite of the loud voices around them.
She had watched his movements. “I don’t think you can smoke in here, or is it different in Arizona? I should know these things.”
Bossy? The look on her face was nothing but serious…and too damn gorgeous. “It’s not different here, and for the record I won’t be smoking it. I’m…” He lifted his chin. Confidence took over as he stared at her straight on. “I’m tasting it. Would you like a taste?”
Again she laughed. “Is that a snark toward me?”
Her laugh sounded as nice as her voice. “No, ma’am. Just saying…I like tasting…things.” Dropping his cigarette, it rolled across the table. She stopped it with her fingernail. He stood abruptly. “Please excuse me. I’ll be right back.” He intended to go to the restroom to get away from her for a moment—to collect some composure, but after one step away, he spun around. “Will you be here when I get back?”
<
br /> She casually peered toward the bar in that way of hers before making eye contact. “Um, sure, someone has to watch your pack of cigarettes.” One flick of her finger sent the cigarette rolling until it stopped against his wet glass.
Dane smiled. “Correct. I shall return.” Holy hell almighty, that woman is something else. Now get your ass out of this airport, soldier…alone.
Chapter 3
He washed his hands and brushed his fingers over his hair while trying to get his breathing in check. Sitting beside her sparked a rush of adrenalin. Dane exited and went back to the table. “By the way, the wine was pretty good.” He shoved his half-full beer glass aside then looked away as he reminded himself to get the hell out of there. “You seem to know your wine.”
A yawn caused her to turn away. “You can say that.” She removed her laptop bag from the back of the chair then checked the time. “I should get to the hotel before it gets any later.” She made eye contact with him. “So, Dane Carlson, do you plan on hanging around here long?”
He peered into her spectacular jeweled orbs. How did someone have eyes the color of hers, if they were even real? Maybe she wore contacts. Se-x-y purple contacts. “I’m heading back myself as a matter of fact. Would you have a problem if I rode the same shuttle with you? I still need to check in over there, too.”
“It’d be my pleasure if we shared the shuttle. I’d like if we did.” She lifted the handle on her carry-on bag.
Surveying the bar area, it appeared the crowd somewhat diminished. With the loud chatter you’d never know. Dane eyed the beer in his glass yet he didn’t finish it. “I never asked though it’s none of my business… Don’t slap me, please. Are you married or involved?” He was bold at times, but after all, she knew he was single. He couldn’t tell himself why he cared.
Her teeth pressed against her lip as if she questioned herself. “I’m neither involved nor married. I guess the right person hasn’t come along yet.”
Of The Cowboy's Own Accord (Double Dutch Ranch; Love At First Sight #3) Page 2