For Sam: A new-girl small town cowboy romance

Chapter 23 Sam

There’s no way Tommy’s leaving already. I watch him walk to the door, completely curious. I’m still a little ruffled after potentially offending Maybel’s, but his response was so genuine that I believe him. I didn’t realize just how often I assume what I say or do will be a deal-breaker.

Of course he’s bringing me my notebook.

Once again, he knows what I need and doesn’t hesitate to give me that. He’s so natural about everything, so at ease. I can easily lose myself in the possibility of this being life. Of a life shared with him.

Oh boy, I need to slow that train of thought down. He’s sweet, charming, understanding, and completely sexy, but that doesn’t mean this is a ’til-death-do-us-part thing.

Tommy hands me the notebook and reaches into his pocket for a pen. “Go on,” he says.

I enthusiastically uncap the pen, which is dark green, and start jotting down the basics. We’re going to need someone qualified, of course, and they’ll ideally live around here already. Someone both the farmers and ranchers feel they can trust.

“The buy-in could be per-acre for farmers and per-head for ranchers,” Tommy says, rubbing his chin. His knee touches mine and a wave of heat washes over me from simply thinking about what it felt like to make out with him. His hands, his weight, his lips.

Focus on getting the list down and out of your head, Samantha.

Although I sure wouldn’t mind if he kissed me breathless again before he leaves tonight.

We talk through a few more details that I jot down and transition into easy conversation while we eat our soup. Before long, he gathers the dishes and insists on handling them before we have dessert.

“I’ve already shown that I’m capable of handling dishes here, remember?”

“Yes, but I can stand now,” I say, fairly confident in the statement.

He leans over to kiss me. “Excellent. I’m still doing the cleanup.”

“Am I allowed to empty the hot water bottle?”

“Of course,” he replies, balancing the tray so he can offer me his hand. “I just get the kitchen tonight.”

“Deal,” I say, my fingers running over his palm before he helps me stand. He gives me a concerned look. “It’s not like I’m going for a run, I can handle this mission.”

This really is perfect. Any pressure on tonight was purely in my head. Tommy doesn’t have expectations, and there’s nothing to stress about. I don’t feel like I have to placate anyone when I’m with him.

This is definitely a new feeling. But it’s freeing to be fully seen just as I am, and I could get used to it.

By the time I freshened up, Tommy is closing the dishwasher. Even the pots are clean and put away. Who is this man?

“Are you ready for dessert?” he asks.

“There’s dessert?”

“Of course. Do you usually not get dessert on a date?”

“No I do. I’m just surprised since we’re just, you know, here.”

“This is our first date. We’re doing this right.” He winks at me. “Back to the couch with you, I’ll be right in.”

He moves around the kitchen, like he knows where everything is, which I guess he does by now. A warm feeling settles over me. Instead of the tray this time, Tommy walks over with two bowls in one hand and spoons in the other.

“More soup?” I ask.

“No,” Tommy says. “Chocolate oat milk ice cream.”

“Thank you,” I say, taking a bowl from him. “What are you having then?”

“The same.” He shrugs.

“You’re having non-dairy ice cream for your dessert on our first date.”

“Yeah,” he says like it’s normal.

“You are something else.”

“So I’ve been told.” He flashes me a smile, making my heart flutter. “Eat up.”

“You picked my favorite flavor,” I say, staring at my dessert.

“I hope so.”

“How did you know?”

“You had the one with brownies in your freezer last time, too.”

Looking up, I can see that he has already eaten half of his. “You remembered?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

I just stare at him.

Tommy chuckles.

“What’s so funny?”

“Whoever your exes were made what I consider to be the bare minimum look extravagant.”

He’s not wrong there. But now I want to know what he thinks extravagant might look like.

“Truth or dare,” I say.

“We should keep things tame tonight, truth.”

“What’s something that you’d like to do but aren’t sure about?” I ask, twisting my fingers in my lap.

“So much for keeping things tame.” He winks at me and my face is on fire.

“Oh, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay. I’m going to assume you did.”

My eyes must betray how mortified I am because his fingers weave through mine, stilling their movements.

“We’re both adults who are going to be fully consenting to anything we decide to do, and we might as well talk about things so we know who’s comfortable with what.”

Well, he has my full attention.

“As long as neither of us is getting injured, if it’s something you’d like to try, I’d be open to it.” He pauses. “I’d like to keep things with just you and me, if you’re okay with that?”

Did he just ask me if I’m comfortable with a monogamous relationship? And why does he look worried?

“Um, I’m good with that. Just the two of us,” I manage. He nods, the wrinkles on his brow relaxing and a slow breath leaving him. I’ve heard that he had a nasty ex and I’ve never remembered her name, but I wonder if she’s the reason he was clearly stressed about it.

“That was a terrible response for your truth, you know. There wasn’t a single thing you actually noted.” Trying to get him to relax has me feeling more confident in pushing him in a playful way.

He smirks, his eyes locking with mine. “I suppose I can get specific, for the sake of truth or dare, of course.”

Something tells me I’m about to get more than I bargained for.