“Ready?”
She smiled. She was more than ready. She’d practically booted out the last of her customers fifteen minutes ago so she could clean up the place and primp herself a little before he arrived.
“All set.” She grabbed her purse and coat from the counter then followed him out of the door, locking up on her way out.
“You look lovely.” His face shone in the dim light as he beamed at her, and she felt a warmth in her stomach she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“So do you.” She blushed, not sure if that was the correct thing to say to a man, although it was the truth. She was a bit out of practice with this sort of thing.
He chuckled and led her over to his truck, which had clearly been washed for the occasion.
“Have you eaten?” He was holding open the door and offered her a hand to climb up into the seat.
“No, but—”
“Good. I thought we might grab a bar meal while we’re out. I’m starving.” Aiden pulled her seatbelt out, and she grabbed it quickly before he could reach over and slot it into place.
“Thanks,” she said, fastening it herself. She was a rather large girl and very conscious of her weight. The last thing she wanted was for him to have to heave the belt over her fat tummy. “A meal sounds great.”
She watched him close the door and walk around the front of the truck. “Did you have a good afternoon?” he asked as the engine purred into life.
She nodded. The vehicle screamed quality. The leather upholstery was immaculate and the whole vehicle still smelled new. The walnut dashboard was highly polished and the seat felt soft and comfy. “How about you?”
“Great.” He smiled. “Remember I said we’re hoping to buy more land to expand the ranch a little? Some just came up for sale on the ranch that backs onto our south field.”
“That’s good.” She was happy for him, although it was yet another reminder that the gorgeous guy was way out of her league.
“Yeah, only big bro has got his own ideas how to use it.” He shook his head with a sigh. “He wants to get more thoroughbreds in, while I just want more quarter horses. I’m thinking of setting up a riding school over there, and the quarters will come in useful.”
“Makes sense. Why does he want thoroughbreds?” she asked, intrigued.
“Same reason he wants everything,” Aiden grumbled. “For show.”
“Oh.”
Aiden looked over at her. “He only cares about how things look from the outside,” he explained. “I’d rather spend our money on stuff we need and can use. I suppose I can see that thoroughbreds are an investment, but right now we need to think about keeping up the revenue, you know? There’ll be plenty of time to think about appearances once we’ve got the money rolling in.” He sighed, tipping his hat a little farther back on his head. His fair, wavy hair fell forward onto his face.
“I’m with you on that one,” she told him thoughtfully. “Go for the practicalities first. The rest can wait.”
He grinned over at her. “I’m glad you can see it my way.”
She watched as he drove out onto the main road and toward town. He looked real competent as he handled the large truck, and everything about him shouted class. Although he was casually dressed, he looked neat and smart. He smelled of that gorgeous cologne that she just knew was expensive. Something in his manner told her he was a guy who was used to an easy life, not having to graft for every penny. She was happy for him. She just felt sorry for herself—a trait that she hated and silently admonished herself for.
He pulled up outside a rather swanky-looking restaurant and bar.
“Am I under-dressed for this place?” She balked at the sight of it.
He grinned, leaning over the steering wheel. “Don’t you know? Casual is the new smart?”
She smiled. He oozed confidence, and she couldn’t help letting a little of it rub off on her. “Well, if you’re sure?”
“Come on.” He winked as he quickly climbed out then came around to open her door just as she unfastened her seatbelt.
She loved the feel of her hand inside his when he helped her down. “Have you been here before?” She noticed the maître d’ nodding and smiling at him as he walked in.
“A few times.” He grinned.
“Mr. Fielding, how nice to see you, sir. Would you like your usual table by the window?”
“That would be great, Enriqué.” Aiden put his hand in the small of Maggie’s back when they followed the waiter over to their table.
She waited while the maître d’ pulled out her chair, then she allowed him to place her napkin on her lap.
He clicked his fingers to a waitress who brought over their menus and a wine list.
“I will leave you to study the food,” he told them. “Perhaps an aperitif while you decide?”
“I’ll take a sweet sherry, please, Enriqué. Whatever you’ve got. Maggie?” Aiden looked over at her, his eyebrows raised.
“Um, I’ll have the same, thanks.” She managed a smile, and the waitress and her boss disappeared.
Maggie shuffled uncomfortably. Although some of the other diners were in jeans, theirs looked a lot more expensive than hers, and the women wore designer tops with sparkling jewelry, which she guessed wasn’t fake.
“Are you sure I’m not out of place?” she whispered over to Aiden.
He frowned in astonishment. “Of course not. You look beautiful, Maggie. I haven’t seen you with your hair down before. It looks lovely.” He smiled, and she felt a glow inside her.
She turned back to the menu in her hand. “What are you going to have?” She had already noticed the cost of the food and it left her feeling a bit sick.
“I thought I’d dive straight in with the steak,” he said, a little sheepishly. “You can have a starter if you prefer, though?”
“No, no. The steak’s fine. Rare, please.”
He grinned, closing his menu.
The maître d’ must have been watching, since he swooped down as soon as Aiden had taken her menu and put them together in one hand.
“Have you chosen, Mr. Fielding? Madam?”
“We’ll both have the rump, rare with all the trimmings please, Enriqué. And a good red to go with it. Châteauneuf-du-Pape?” He looked questioningly at Maggie, who nodded. It had been a while since she had drunk anything so expensive.
As soon as Enriqué left them, Aiden stretched his hands over the table to hers. She was surprised to feel his warmth as he tenderly stroked her fingers.
“So, tell me everything. I wanna know all about you,” he said, smiling.
“There’s not much to tell,” she assured him, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
“Where are you from? Have you any family? What other jobs have you had? What are your plans for the future? What’s your favorite color?” He chuckled, taking a sip of his sherry.
“Oh my goodness, that’s a lot of stuff you wanna know,” she told him with a giggle. And nothing I want to tell you, she thought ruefully. “Okay, my favorite color’s red. What’s yours?”
“Green,” he said straight away.
“The color of the grass, that’s nice,” she mused. The color of money, she thought.
He nodded. “You’re a real country girl, aren’t you?” He smiled at her approvingly.
“Yeah.” I am now. With her jeans and cowboy boots, he’d be forgiven for thinking that, but then, looks could be deceptive.
“And you’re a country boy, aren’t you?” It was a safe bet that he’d been brought up on the family ranch, although he must have considered himself the landed gentry, whereas she looked like a common hillbilly.
“Yup. Born and bred on the Fielding Ranch.” He confirmed her suspicions.
“And you still live there? With your family?”
“I have a cottage on the spread. My sister, Josie, and her husband live in the main house. Ben, our older brother, prefers to live just outside of town, but he still works on the ranch.” He took another sip o
f his drink.
“No parents?” She frowned, concerned that she might have hit a raw nerve.
“Not anymore.” He smiled a little sadly, and she knew it was a sore subject.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Not at all. It’s absolutely fine.”
She was surprised to feel his hand tickle the back of hers and realized he must have been worried that he’d upset her. She quickly smiled at him to try to reassure him otherwise. He was really thoughtful, and she appreciated that.
“So, do you live at Bracken Ridge?”
The food arrived just then, and she was grateful for the distraction.
“Not far from the café,” she told him, breathing in the aroma of the delicious meal in front of her.
The sommelier arrived with their wine, and she watched Aiden taste it. He nodded to the waiter who then poured both glasses.
“To us.” Aiden lifted his glass in a toast and she reciprocated, a little surprised.
“To us,” she echoed, wondering just what he meant. He was a lovely guy and she really enjoyed his company, but surely he could see there was no future for them? More’s the pity.
The rich wine coated her throat in flavors of warm spice, herbs and a hint of game. She could tell it was a good year, maybe 2005 or 2007, she surmised, and she licked her lips as a taste sort of like hot tar danced on her tongue. She closed her eyes to savor it and was surprised to see Aiden watching her closely when she opened them again.
“You like?” he asked.
“I love,” she replied, “the wine and Châteauneuf-du-Pape itself.” She licked her lips to enjoy every last drop.
Aiden straightened up in surprise. “You’ve been there?”
She smiled, realizing he wouldn’t have imagined half the things she’d done in her life, assuming as he did that she was just an old-fashioned country girl.
She nodded. “I used to love going to the south of France,” she said, as a memory of long, warm hazy days spent visiting vineyards as though she were some kind of royalty crossed her mind’s eye.
“The weather is beautiful, and the people are so kind and generous.” She recalled how many crates of wine she and her fiancé had been given before they’d left, a sort of thank you for all the business they had sent to the little wineries.
Aiden looked impressed. “When was this? How did you come to be there? On holiday?”
“Something like that.” She took a mouthful of her succulent steak and actually groaned at the taste. It had been a long time since she’d eaten anything so delicious.
“A woman of mystery,” Aiden remarked.
“Not really,” she said with a smile. “I’ve just seen a bit more of life than you and traveled farther.”
His head snapped up in surprise. “You’re no older than me,” he protested. “Although I get that you may have done a little more with your life. I’ve never moved out of Cavern County.”
She was pleased he was too much of a gentleman to ask a lady her age, and she just smiled. She’d guessed he lived a sheltered life of luxury.
“Does it bother you?” He looked incredulous.
“That depends,” she replied, narrowing her eyes a little, “on what you’ve got in mind.”
She felt a burn in her stomach as she watched his eyes darken. He really was a gorgeous guy, and she’d love to take things further with him, but—
“I want to see more of you.”
Her pussy clenched at his deep voice, and the look in his eyes told her that he was well aware of the innuendo in his statement. She swallowed hard.
“D-do you?” She felt herself go hot and knew she was blushing. Hopefully it was too dark for him to notice, although, she remembered with a cringe, she had certainly seen him flush earlier. His expression told her that he had noticed all right.
“Is that a problem?” He stretched his hand back over the table and placed it lightly on her arm.
She bit her lip anxiously. How do you answer that?
She shook her head slowly, knowing darn well she’d love to see more of the handsome hunk—in more ways than one.
“Good.” He stroked her arm before removing his hand to take a sip of his wine.
She felt almost bereft at the loss of contact.
Quickly she took another sip of her own drink, gaining strength from its warm richness.
“So you know quite a bit about wine?” He continued with his meal, studying her intently.
“I know a bit,” she replied nonchalantly.
“And is that something you’re interested in?”
“Not especially. It’s just something I’ve learned about over the years. When you go out there to the vineyards, they’re only too keen to tell you all about it. For instance, did you know that this wine is made primarily from three types of grapes—the granache noir, the syrah and Mourvedre?”
He was about to take a sip of his drink when he put the glass back down in surprise.
“No, I didn’t know that.”
“The more Mourvedre they use, the more tannin you can taste in it, like in a younger wine,” she went on, taking another sip.
“Well, that’s fascinating,” he said, his jaw looking a little slack.
She grinned, pleased that she’d impressed him.
“I’d love to travel over there,” he said after a few minutes’ eating.
“You should.” She took another sip just before he took the bottle and refilled her glass. “I think everyone should travel.”
“I might need to take a guide with me,” he teased.
“I’m your man…er…woman,” she pounced.
He laughed. “Yeah, I’ll bear that in mind.”
Her head was going a little muzzy, and she knew she’d probably drank too much wine on an empty stomach, so she tucked into her meal. The last thing she wanted was to get tipsy tonight. She’d told him way too much already…
Chapter Three
It hadn’t occurred to Maggie that Aiden would want to take her all the way back to her apartment after their evening out. Of course, it should have, but she hadn’t really thought that far ahead. She had only expected to pop to a local bar, have a couple of drinks and probably shell out for a cab home while he met up with some other friends, or something.
“It’s just up here.” She cringed. Her place was far from salubrious, and she knew he’d be shocked by it.
“Aren’t there any street lights around here?” He frowned, switching his headlamps to full beam.
“No.” She felt a little embarrassed. It didn’t usually bother her, although there had been one or two nights lately when she’d felt that she was being followed. It was probably just her imagination, she knew, and had consoled herself that with her build she should be able to hold her own against any would-be attacker. It wasn’t as if she ever carried much money—she didn’t have any—so any thief would be sorely disappointed if they grabbed her purse.
“Do you drive?” Aiden asked.
“Nope.” Not anymore.
“So you walk down here alone every night after work?”
She sighed. “Yes, I do.”
He shook his head, and she watched him purse his lips as though annoyed.
“It’s just this one here.” She was glad to change the subject by pointing out the small apartment block on the far corner.
He looked over at the building as he pulled up outside.
“Well, thanks for a great evening.” She quickly unfastened her seatbelt, hoping to get out of the truck before him.
“I’ll walk you to your door.” He was frowning, and she thought it best not to argue.
She sighed, a little despondently. She really liked the guy and had had a fantastic evening with him. He was great fun as well as a perfect gentleman, but she really didn’t want to ruin everything by showing him just how far apart their worlds were.
“Thank you.” She took his hand as he helped her down from her seat. Then she led him toward th
e building while she delved into her purse for her keys.
She felt his hand in the small of her back, even through her coat, and she smiled. It was a nice, protective gesture that she really enjoyed—certainly something that she had never experienced before.
“The elevator doesn’t work,” she quickly informed him when he steered her toward it.
He said nothing but allowed her to lead him up the stairs. She was only a few flights up and regularly lied to herself that she was glad of the exercise.
“Do you want coffee, or…?”
Although she willed him to say no, he nodded.
Maggie took a deep breath and unlocked her front door. She just knew this would be the end of any future they might have had together, even as friends.
“Well, this is it.” She flicked on the light and showed him into the tiny apartment that had been her home for the past couple of years.
He must have noticed the smell of dampness, and when he went through to the living room, the old mismatched furniture covered in musty throws to disguise the state of it must have made him want to turn around and leave right away. She watched him look around, obviously taking in the threadbare carpet, old-fashioned wallpaper peeling from the walls and the draft that whistled through the gaps in the window frames.
“Do you wanna stay for coffee?” she asked slowly, unsure of whether he would have changed his mind, having seen how she lived.
He turned to her with wide eyes. “Yes, please.”
She was surprised but relieved as she went through to the tiny kitchenette to put the pot on. The two rooms were only separated by an ancient pass-through, so she was able to watch him remove his hat and take a good look at her knickknacks.
At least he didn’t turn tail and run. That’s a good sign, right?
Maggie’s Man (The Cowboys of Cavern County Book 2) Page 2