Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
GEORGIA
“Hi. Sorry I’m late.”
I slide into the booth across from Grant, a smile fixed firmly in place.
“It’s okay. I figured you were busy.”
“I know, but I don’t like keeping you waiting.”
“Cowgirl, I’d wait forever for you if I had to.”
I grab the menu to hide the flush creeping up my cheeks. He doesn’t need to know the effect his words have on me.
“The rides ran long this afternoon,” I tell him.
“And you rode? You felt okay?” he asks, pulling the menu out of my hands.
“I did. I took it easy just like the doctor said and no issues. I don’t know how much longer I’ll keep doing them.”
“Will you be able to keep teaching your students?”
“Yes.” I nod. “I can do that without riding, so they’ll be in good hands. Sam is already talking about hiring more people, so they can fill in for me while I’m gone.”
“Good.”
I reach across the table and drop my hand on his arm. His hand closes over mine and the contact settles every single emotion swimming inside of me. I can’t tear my eyes away from where his thumb is rubbing soothing circles on my wrist.
“I promise, I’m being safe. I’m not taking any unnecessary risks.”
“I know. I trust you.”
Amy approaches to take our order, and I slide my hands back across the table.
“I heard the good news. Congrats,” Amy says, turning her attention to Grant. “Assuming you’re the dad?”
“I am.” He smiles at her. “I’m Grant.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Amy. Pancakes are on the house tonight.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Grant says.
“Please. It’s the least we can do for our Georgia. Banana and Nutella?”
“I’m going to mix it up tonight and go with the banana and walnut,” I answer.
“Then I’ll do the banana and Nutella,” Grant says, “and a Coke to drink. I’ll also need a to-go order for chocolate chip pancakes.”
“Got it. Lemonade for you?” Amy asks me.
“Please.”
“I’ll be back. I can’t wait for your little one. They are going to be adorable.”
She smiles to herself as she goes to place our order.
“You know, I’m surprised no one has commented before now,” I say.
“Really?”
“I’ve been pretty busy at the barn, and they know since I work there.”
“Just wait until you go to the grocery store.” Grant laughs.
“Does that mean you want to come with me?”
“As long as we don’t go crashing into any beans. Do you know how gross those were to clean out of my shoes?” He shudders. “Not something I want a repeat of.”
“Duly noted. I’m sure you could help me tackle the list of what we need for the baby.”
“You’re already making a list?”
“What?” I shrug a shoulder as our drinks are dropped off. “I want to be prepared.”
“Tell me what’s on it.”
“Are you going to make fun of me?” I ask.
“No. But I want to know what’s already worrying you so I can try and help,” he says.
I eye him warily before pulling the list out of my pocket and smoothing it out on the table and passing it over to him.
“You know we’re going to have to decide on what kind of diapers we want. And formula.”
“We do?” I ask, sipping my lemonade. The blend of tart and sweet is exactly what I’ve been craving.
“There’s cloth diapers, organic, regular.” He ticks each kind off on his fingers. “You could go any direction.”
“Are the cloth kind the ones you always have to wash?”
He nods. “Yes. I don’t recommend them.”
“Eww, no. What’d you use for Luke? Or should I just search online?”
“The Internet is going to have a million opinions on what you should do. I say maybe don’t go down that rabbit hole yet.”
“Fine. I promise not to search the Internet for opinions on diapers.”
“Or formula,” Grant points out. “Or bottles or the best kind of fabric for kids. No searching, Georgia. I mean it.”
“I won’t.” It’s weak, but I’m hoping he won’t notice.
He snorts. “That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Is this a super spidey parent sense I don’t have?”
Resting my elbow on the table, I drop my cheek to my fist and stare at him. At the easy smile that sits on his face.
Damn, he really is sexy. No matter how many times we come here—we’ve been doing these get to know you dates for a few weeks now—he really is delicious to look at.
“That and it’s easy to tell when you’re lying.”
“You shouldn’t be able to know that so soon.”
“I can’t help it if you’re an open book, Cowgirl.”
“Really? No one has ever said that about me.”
Grant studies me in a way that makes me want to shift in my seat.
I play things close to the vest. I don’t want to tell my sad story to everyone.
People in town know because I’ve lived here my whole life, but it’s not like I go telling everyone.
I’ve made a good life for myself here. I’ve made it so I’ve never had to rely on anyone.
But Grant is looking at me like he knows what I’m thinking and feeling. It’s unnerving that a man I’ve only known—truly known—for a few weeks is sizing me up like this.
“There’s a lot more to you than meets the eye, Georgia. I know you don’t want to tell me, but eventually you’ll have to.” He sips his drink. “You know, in the interest of the baby.”
“Right. The baby.”
“I mean, I should probably tell you I used to love dropping things on the floor while eating as a toddler because it got attention. My parents loved to remind me of that growing up.”
I smile at him. “Oh, good. We’ll have a kid that will be an attention hog.”
“Our kid is going to be really fucking cute,” Grant says. “I mean, how could they not be?”
“They will be.”
Damn. He really is good at reading me. It’s like he knew I needed the out and steered the conversation back to safer grounds.
“Let’s hope Luke doesn’t teach him bad habits.”
“Isn’t that what siblings are for? To gang up on the parents together?”
Amy drops off our pancakes and my stomach growls. Now that I’m in my second trimester, my hunger seems to have no end.
“I was an only child,” Grant says.
“Me too. At least this kid will have Luke looking out for him,” I say.
“I have to tell you,” Grant starts, “that Luke had a great time out at the ranch. He’s not always the easiest kid, but he really liked riding with you.”
“It was fun to have him out there. It’ll be a great way for the two of us to get to know each other.”
“He’s already talking about getting me out riding.”
“Do you want to try?” I ask.
I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but I’d love to get Grant on a horse. Change out his baseball cap for a cowboy hat? Oh God, that image is too sexy for my own good. Him in either is enough to make a nun want to sin.
I shake those thoughts from my head.
Friends, Georgia. Friends.
“I might be terrible.”
“I doubt that.”
“I don’t think baseball skills transfer to riding.”
“I’ll be the judge.”
The rest of dinner goes by too quickly. But when Grant points out what time it is, the Emporium is empty and we’re the only two people in here.
“Did we really close this place down?” I ask.
Grant fishes three twenties out of his wallet and drops them on the table.
“Thanks, Amy,” he calls out. “Sorry to keep you so long.”
She winks at him. “Anything for my favorite customer.”
“She’s a good one.” Grant wraps an arm around my shoulders and steers me out into the summer night. It’s already dark out. “Hopefully Luke won’t be too upset his pancakes might be cold.”
“Tell him it was my fault,” I say.
“That will definitely get me out of it.” He laughs.
Crickets are chirping as the town is quiet around us. The only place with people milling around outside is The Dusty Spur.
A cool breeze blows down Main Street as Grant walks me to my car. I want to burrow closer into his side. His warmth engulfs me in a way I’ve never felt. Like I’m safe with him.
Will this feeling last?
I want it to, desperately, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. My past tells me otherwise.
Fishing my keys out of my purse, I spin to face Grant.
Before I can thank him for tonight, he’s moving in closer.
“Hey, Georgia.”
“Yeah?”
Even under the harsh light in the parking lot, Grant looks as sexy as ever.
“Want to go out with me?”
“What do you call this?” I smile.
Grant closes the distance between us, resting a hand above my head on my truck. The way he surrounds me is overwhelming in the best way.
Like I’m safe and protected in his arms.
“A real date. Not one where we’re only doing it for the baby.”
His eyes are dark, but there’s wanton need there. For me.
Joey’s words from earlier crash through my mind.
Grant is going to be the person to give you what you never had.
I could play this safe. Say no to him and stay his friend. Stay inside the neatly carved lines of my life. But would I be happy with that?
Grant makes me feel more than any other person ever has before.
“Yes.”
The word slips out before I can stop it. But I don’t want to stop it. I want to do this with him.
“Okay. Why don’t I text you the details? I’ll pick you up.”
A smile creeps across my face. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Grant bends down, dropping a kiss on my cheek. Heat floods my skin where he touches me. It’s like every cell in my body is racing to be in contact with him.
“I’ll see you later, Cowgirl.”
“Count on it.”