Emily had baked three kinds of cookies that day, since she was agitated over her attic. She always baked more when she needed favors from someone. “I swear I heard something up there last night. It sounded like footsteps. You didn’t hear it?”
Elise shook her head. “I didn’t hear anything.” She didn’t mention the fact that she’d been drunk and probably would have slept through a tornado.
“I’m going to see if one of the officers can come over and check things out this morning,” Emily told her as she put another pan of treats into the oven. “Hank’s a fan of the peanut butter chocolate cookies.”
Elise hesitated. “Do you want me to go take a look?”
“Nah, you seem busy and my sister said she’d send Hank over anyhow.” Emily pulled off her oven mitts and gave her a scrutinizing look. “You going somewhere tonight?”
She considered telling Emily where she was going; on one hand, she was excited—and okay, a bit proud—that she had a date tonight. On the other hand, Bluebonnet was a small town and if one person found out she was seeing Rome, it’d be all over in a matter of days. “Um.”
“I won’t say anything,” Emily said. “Especially not if it’s Mr. Tall, Pierced, and Tattooed.”
She felt her face flush with color, a sure giveaway, and pretended to concentrate on folding down the top of the paper bag in her hand. “How did you know?”
“He’s the only person I’ve seen around you other than family. Given that he’s sexy and carried you up to bed oh so tenderly the other night? I had a hunch.”
“Have you . . . Does my brother . . .”
“Does your brother know? Why would he? It’s none of my business who you see.” Emily winked at her and put a few extra cookies onto a square of foil and folded them up, then handed it to her. “Tell Rome I said hello, and have a good time.”
“You rock.”
“Hey, someone around here needs to get laid,” Emily said with a cheeky grin. “If it’s not me, I hope it’s you.”
Okay, that was embarrassing. She wanted to correct Emily, to tell her she was only going to have dinner and a movie with Rome. That it wasn’t that kind of date . . . except it was, wasn’t it? He was going to help her get some life experience, and she was going to lose her virginity.
So yeah, it was pretty much exactly that. So why was she so embarrassed at the thought? Elise scooped up the bagged sandwiches and gave Emily an awkward smile. “Thank you for everything. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
“Hey, you’re a customer and a friend. It’s my job to make you happy.” Emily grinned. “I’ll leave the front door unlocked as usual. And I won’t wait up.”
Elise’s phone buzzed with an incoming text, saving her from stammering a few more excuses. She grabbed the bagged sandwiches in one arm and pulled her phone out with her free hand, thumbing on the screen. Sure enough, there was a text from Rome.
I’m out front. Want me to come in and wait?
She smoothed a hand over her hair and rushed for the front door, shoving her phone in her pocket on the way out. She hoped she looked okay tonight. She’d skipped all makeup except for a little lip gloss and a bit of eyeliner and mascara. The remains of her port-wine stain were more visible this way, but she figured if it was going to freak him out, it was better to get it out of the way before someone got too attached. Her hair was in a long, loose braid over one shoulder and she’d pulled out an old cable-knit sweater and her favorite comfy jeans and slip-on sneakers. Definitely not going for sexy tonight. Even her panties were still granny, sadly. If the man said he didn’t care about her appearance, she’d definitely be testing that, wouldn’t she?
Elise slipped out the front door and glanced around. Parked in front of the bed-and-breakfast, his bike parallel and taking up two spaces, was Rome. He held the motorcycle helmet in one hand and grinned at her in the twilight. He wore jeans, too, and heavy, beat-up combat boots and a wifebeater under a plaid shirt. It was very casual clothing, but it only made her notice the tattoos and piercings more, especially when he grinned at her in greeting.
“Howdy, neighbor,” he mock-drawled. “You ready to get your movie on?”
She nodded and held up the oversized brown bag that she’d packed both of their sandwiches in. “Got food.”
“Perfection.” He held the helmet out to her. “Your brother took Brenna out for dinner, so we’ll be able to sneak into my cabin without being seen.”
“Oh good,” she breathed, and stepped closer to take the helmet from him. But he didn’t give it to her. Instead, he fitted it on her head and buckled the strap for her, his fingers brushing under her chin. It was an intimate gesture, and it made her heart pound with excitement and anticipation.
He offered her a hand and she tucked hers into his, holding his fingers as she slid a leg over the back of the bike and then moved to sit behind him. She tucked the bag of food between their bodies and wrapped one arm around him, the other around the food.
“Nu-uh,” he told her. “Both arms around me or we’re not going anywhere. I want you to be safe.”
“But . . . the food.”
“I can eat a flattened sandwich,” he told her. “Just press your body against my back and it’ll trap the bag between us.”
She did, trying not to blush since it meant her br**sts were pushing against his back. The sandwiches were, too, of course, but who cared about those?
Rome slid a hand down her arm, then patted her clasped hands over his front, as if approving. Then he started the bike. “Hold on tight, baby.”
And they were off.
The Daughtry Ranch was about fifteen minutes outside of Bluebonnet, off one of the side roads and in the middle of nowhere, the land heavily treed. Elise knew they’d chosen this location because they needed the rugged land for the business, but fifteen minutes outside of town meant she spent fifteen minutes with her br**sts pressed against Rome’s strong, broad back, playing his words in her head over and over again.
He’d called her “baby.” Was that just a casual endearment? Did he call all women “baby” like some guys called them “doll” or “sweet cheeks”? Or did it mean something else? Was she obsessing?
Probably.
When they exited the highway to the ranch, Elise held her breath and bit her lip, anticipating the worst. What if they pulled into the parking lot just as Brenna and Grant pulled out? What if Miranda and Dane saw them? What if Pop did?