Curves and the All-American Male (BBW Western Romance - Coldwater Springs 7)

by Jenn Roseton

  “I’ll have the same,” Ty added.

  “Coming right up.” Betty closed her notepad with a snap. She winked at Lori, then bustled over to the kitchen.

  Lori picked up the napkin in front of her and started pleating it. Now she was alone with Ty, and he wasn’t fixing her tire or driving the few blocks to the diner, she didn’t know what to say to him.

  Why did she have to find him so attractive? After Ron’s betrayal, she wanted to make sure the next guy she dated - if there was a next time, because, she had to face facts, men weren’t exactly beating a path to her door - was the right kind of guy for her. Somebody who wouldn’t cheat, for a start. Somebody who was kind and considerate.

  Like Ty.

  Her fingers stilled on the napkin. Yes, he’d been good to her today, but she couldn’t forget her initial impression of him - too good-looking and charming. And from what Sarah had told her, it sounded like he’d sown his fair share of wild oats.

  “What are you thinking?” Ty’s teasing tone snapped her out of her thoughts.

  “Nothing.” She felt her cheeks heat at him catching her out. No way was she going to admit she’d been thinking about him!

  “Coffee and cherry pie.” Betty appeared, placing the cups and plates on the table. “Let me know if you two need anything else.”

  “We will,” Ty promised, giving the waitress an easy smile. “This looks great.”

  “I baked it this morning.” Betty patted her hair. “And it’s nearly sold out.”

  “I can see why.” Ty picked up his fork.

  “He’s all yours, hon,” Betty murmured to Lori, winking at her again before heading off to another table.

  Lori furrowed her brow. Surely anyone could see she and Ty weren’t exactly a couple? Not wanting to think about that right now, she forked up a small piece of pie, looking forward to the sweet-tart taste of the cherries, glad her tummy wasn’t embarrassing her by rumbling.

  Halfway through her pie, she looked across at Ty. He’d finished his piece and was taking a long swallow of coffee. He must have been hungrier than she was.

  “That was good.” He settled back against the cushioned booth back.

  “Yes,” she agreed, finding it hard to concentrate on the purple-red cherries in their flaky pastry when she felt his gaze on her. Putting down her fork, she looked up at him. To her surprise, a faint crimson stained his cheekbones.

  He made a show of looking at his chunky watch with numerous dials. “When we’ve finished here, I’ll take you back to Bob’s so you can pick up your car.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled shyly.

  Lori concentrated on eating the rest of her pie. Although her stomach felt like a jumble of nerves, especially when Ty had finished eating and she hadn’t, she didn’t want to waste the few delicious mouthfuls of pie that remained on her plate. Finally, she pushed away her plate; two tiny morsels remained, the cherry juice staining the white china.

  She picked up her coffee cup, taking a big sip. Although this was just ordinary percolator coffee, not a fancy latte or cappuccino, it still tasted pretty good.

  Lori put down her cup, not bothering to finish the rest of the brew. She just hoped Ty hadn’t noticed her fingers trembling on the handle.

  “Let’s go.” She summoned a bright smile.

  “After you.” He waited until she slid out of the booth before doing the same.

  Lori took out her wallet and reached for the bill lying on the end of the table.

  “I’ve got it.” He picked up the white piece of paper, scanned it, and dug out his wallet.

  “But …” she faltered when she saw him frown. “I thought we were splitting the bill.”

  “I’ve got it,” he repeated, taking out some bills and placing them on the table. “You’ll need your money to pay Bob.”

  Lori inwardly winced at the thought, although she knew she had enough money in her checking account to pay for the new tire. Probably.

  Ty held the door open for her as they stepped out of the diner. Maybe she’d had him pegged all wrong. How many guys would take a friend of their buddy’s wife for coffee after helping her with a flat?

  She instantly knew that Ron wouldn’t do that. Not unless there was something in it for him.

  What on earth had she seen in Ron in the first place? Ty might have reminded her superficially of her ex-boyfriend in the first place, but now she was seeing another side to him. And she liked it.

  Except … Ty couldn’t possibly be attracted to her. She had curves. And wore clothes that skimmed and draped, instead of clung to every ounce of flesh on her frame, unlike skinny women who seemed to look perfect in tight fitting, clinging clothes. Lori knew she would look awful if she wore something like that.

  Shrugging away her depressing thoughts, she climbed into Ty’s silver pickup. When he switched on the ignition, she turned to him.

  “Thanks for the coffee and pie.”

  “Anytime.” He grinned, his dark brown gaze holding hers for a long second, then he shifted his gaze to the rearview mirror, and maneuvered out of the parking space.

  A couple of minutes later, they arrived at Bob’s. The mechanic had put a new tire on her car, and had returned the donut to the trunk. After she wrote a check for not nearly as much money as she’d expected and handed it to Bob, she turned to Ty.

  “Thank you. You really helped me out today.” Why was her stomach tied up in knots? She just hoped he couldn’t tell how he made her feel when she was around him.

  “You’re welcome.” He smiled at her, and she felt herself melting. Although his earlier smiles seemed genuine, she knew this one definitely was. “But you could help me out.”

  “How?” she asked curiously. She certainly couldn’t refuse, if his request was within reason.

  “Have dinner with me tomorrow night at The Petite Duck, the French restaurant Chase and Sarah went to. I’ve been wanting to try it for a while, and Chase said the food was great.”

  Lori inhaled shakily, not expecting that. She’d wanted to test it out as well, but its reputation as a posh date night restaurant had intimidated her. And she’d had nobody to go with, unless she organized a girls’ night out with Sarah and their friends.

  His gaze was intent on her face. He was expecting an answer. Telling herself to say something, she blurted out, “Okay.”

  “Great.” He grinned, but she told herself there definitely wasn’t a trace of relief in it. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  “I live at 125 Main Street.” Sarah’s cousin Libby had lived in the cute furnished cottage for a while, before she married Jake Morgan, the sheriff of Coldwater Springs. Then Kate had rented the cottage when she’d moved to town. But when she’d gotten engaged to Flynn Winters, she’d moved in with him. And now Lori occupied the cozy two-bedroom house.

  “See you then.” His mouth quirked upwards.

  ***

  Lori twirled in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom. Was her wrap dress too short? Too long? The hem hit just above the knee, and the emerald fabric complemented her auburn hair, pale skin and green eyes.

  While the dress flattered her, it was still obvious she had curves. Would Ty mind? After all, he’d hardly be blind to the fact that she was a curvy woman. Unless he needed glasses. At the thought of him wearing horn-rimmed spectacles, she started to giggle.

  Although … he’d probably be just as attractive to her if he did wear glasses. She sighed. It was annoying to find him so compelling. She didn’t know exactly what it was about him that made her breathless every time she saw him - unless it was simply everything.

  She hadn’t stopped thinking about their date since he’d asked her out yesterday - for a Friday night date.

  Lori brushed her hair one more time, watching her shoulder length locks fall into place. At least her hair was behaving today.

  A knock sounded at the front door. He was here! She’d been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard him pull up outside. Taking a deep brea
th, she picked up her matching purse and headed for the front door.

  “Hi.” She stared up at him, her fingers tightening on her purse. He looked so … so … good in charcoal slacks, a gray linen shirt and a matching charcoal jacket.

  “Hey.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he looked his fill. “You look great.”

  “Thanks.” Her nerve endings sparked at his compliment. She hastily added, “So do you.”

  “Ready? I’m parked out front.”

  Nodding, she stepped outside and locked the door, then followed him to his truck. He held open the passenger door for her and she tried to climb in as elegantly as she could, her heart beating triple time.

  Why had she agreed to go out with him? Maybe this was a bad idea. What on earth would she talk to him about?

  But she couldn’t deny the small rush of pleasure at the fact that she was having dinner with Ty at a fancy restaurant. A real date.

  They made small talk on the short drive to the restaurant, a converted farmhouse on the edge of town that now looked like a French country inn, painted in white and gray, the porch decorated with fancy planters filled with pink roses.

  Ty took her elbow as she picked her way across the gravel parking lot to the entrance. Grateful she wore medium heels and nothing higher, she had to admit that his hand on her arm was comforting, even though electricity tingled down her arm at the same time.

  The maitre d’ seated them quickly, and Lori looked around with interest. They hadn’t been given a coveted corner table, but that was fine with her. The table they had was almost as nice. A pale pink tablecloth made of fine linen graced the table, and the chairs had a sumptuously padded seat, also in pale pink fabric.

  The dining room walls were cream and the lighting was provided by elegant crystal chandeliers.

  In a word - worth waiting for. So far.

  Lori opened her menu, scanning each item. Everyone she knew who had eaten here had raved about their meal and the service, and it also gave her something to do, besides gaze at Ty. She peeked up at him through her lashes. He appeared to be deep in thought, studying his menu.

  Returning her gaze to the menu, she realized hers didn’t have prices on it. It really was a fancy restaurant.

  Although Ty had asked her out, she had some cash and her credit card on her, just in case they were splitting the bill. Resolving not to worry about the cost of her meal, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind and told herself to enjoy her meal. And her time with Ty.

  As if she could forget him.

  “Have you decided?” Ty lay down his menu and looked at her.

  “Um …” She’d been so busy thinking about him, that she hadn’t given a lot of thought to the items on the menu. Casting her gaze on the menu once more, she quickly made a decision. “I’ll have the duck a l’Orange and crème brulee for dessert.” She loved duck, but didn’t have it often. Since Sarah had mentioned it the other night, she hadn’t been able to keep it out of her mind.

  “Sounds good.” His lips tilted up in a smile. “I think I’ll have the beef bourguignon and then the chocolate mousse.”

  The black and white attired waiter arrived to take their orders. When he asked them what they’d like to drink, Lori chose a glass of red wine, and Ty did the same.

  The evening flew by. Lori couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying herself, and it wasn’t just because of the food, although she’d relished the crispy skin, rich duck meat, and citrusy sauce of her main course. And the smooth creaminess of the crème brulee with its crunchy caramelized top layer.

  It was because of Ty. He was funny, laid back, and tonight his easy charm charmed her, instead of annoying her. Perhaps her first impression of him had been totally wrong.

  At the end of the night, Ty insisted on paying for both of them, waving away her objections. “I asked you out, remember?”

  She nodded, her heart skipping a beat. This was a real date. But if it was a real date, did that mean … Ty was thinking of kissing her when he took her home?

  An electrifying shiver raced through her as she imagined his lips on hers. His infinitely kissable lips on hers. She tried to shake off the enticing thought, but it persisted, even when they left the restaurant and were back in his pickup.

  “Now I know why Chase was so enthusiastic about this place.” He turned to her in the dimly lit cab, the soft yellow glow of the outside lights in the dark night sky making even the parking lot seem enchanted right now.

  “Yes,” she murmured. It had been one of the best nights of her life. Because of him. “Thank you for asking me.”

  “Thank you for accepting.”

  She scanned his face but couldn’t discern any traces of devilment. His comment seemed sincere.

  Warmth coursed through her at the thought that maybe he’d enjoyed this evening as much as she had. Because of her, as well as the food and service.

  They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, then Ty switched on the ignition and drove out of the parking lot.

  Lori clutched her purse on the ride home, her fingers digging into the faux leather. At this rate she was going to leave permanent half moon marks on the bag from her buffed-to-a-shine nails.

  Would he kiss her?

  Did she really want him to?

  Yes. She did.

  She breathed in slowly, hoping to calm her racing nerves. She’d been kissed before. If Ty kissed her, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Would it?

  Unfortunately, she knew it would be. To her. Although Ron hadn’t been her first boyfriend, he hadn’t been one of many, either. She didn’t give away her heart - or her body - lightly.

  Ty pulled up outside her cottage. Caught up in her thoughts, she realized that they hadn’t spoken at all during the drive to her place.

  “Would … would you like to come in? For coffee?” Her heart pounded as she waited for his answer. The only thing she was offering him tonight was literally coffee, unless he kissed her. And then it would only be a kiss. Nothing more.

  “I’ll walk you to the door, but I won’t come in.” He paused. “Not tonight. I’ve got another herd of cattle arriving early tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” Relief arrowed through her. Because if he had come in, and kissed her, would she really have been able to stop at just one kiss? One kiss could easily become two, then three, then … She marshaled her thoughts before they ran away from her entirely. However tempted she might be to kiss him more than once, she knew it wouldn’t go any further. Kisses were one thing. Making love was another.

  Ty opened her door and helped her out. She curled her fingers around his large hand, exiting the vehicle as elegantly as she could.

  “Got your key?” They walked up the path to her front door in near darkness, the only illumination the glow from the half moon overhead.

  “Yes.” She fished around in her purse, pulling out her keys and holding them up, barely noticing the jingle they made. All her attention was focused on him. And the way her heart thudded, as if it was going to fly out of her chest.

  “Good.” He took the keys from her and inserted the correct one into the front door. Ty frowned. “You didn’t leave a light on inside? Or the porch light?”

  “No.” She shook her head. That had been the last thing on her mind. Because her brain had been filled with thoughts about him.

  “Stay out here, and I’ll check it’s safe.” He strode into the house, and a couple of seconds later, she saw light spilling out from the hall.

  Lori shifted from foot to foot, silently chastising herself for not thinking of leaving a light on inside the house. Although, in her defense, it had still been light out when Ty picked her up, and Coldwater Springs wasn’t exactly crime-ridden.

  A few minutes later, Ty emerged, joining her on the porch. “It’s safe.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled up at him.

  “You’re welcome.” He returned her smile, taking a step closer to her. His body was only a couple of inches from hers, and she could smell his regula
r scent of fresh country air and hay overlaid with a trace of spice.

  “Thank you for dinner.” Her mind had gone blank except for those four words.

  “Thank you.” He took another step toward her.

  The soft fabric of her dress almost touched the woolen weave of his charcoal jacket. Her breathing shredded. Was he going to kiss her?

  “I--” Whatever she’d been about to say next was lost as his lips closed over hers. His mouth was warm and gentle, and she relaxed as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Then his lips seared hers, searching and claiming, until she couldn’t think, only feel.

  When Ty lifted his mouth from hers, she was dazed to find her hands clutching his shoulders. She couldn’t even remember lifting her arms and placing them there.

  “I’ll call you,” he murmured, his lips swooping on hers for a heart-stopping second. “Tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” she whispered, hope and anticipation thrumming through her. Then she thought of the few guys in her past who had promised to call after a first date, and never did. Her shoulders sagged slightly, even though she could feel the warmth of his hands at her waist.

  “Promise.” He kissed her again, a light, fleeting kiss, then bounded down the three steps to his vehicle. “Lock the door behind you.”

  She nodded, her lips still tingling. He stood next to his car, and she realized he was waiting for her to go inside. Lori walked into the house, shut and locked the door, then hurried to the living room window and waved at him.

  Ty lifted a hand in farewell, then got into his pickup. She watched him drive off, suddenly realizing he hadn’t asked for her phone number.

  ***

  Ty called the next morning. When she’d asked him how he’d gotten her number, he’d admitted he’d asked Sarah for it.

  Lori discovered talking to him on the phone was just as much fun as last night had been. Although she couldn’t see him, she could imagine his dark hair and molten brown eyes, and still felt breathless speaking to him on the phone just as she did talking to him in person.