Page 37 of Ethan

She snickered before she could stop herself.

He raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head.

“That’s twice now,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting. “You must be entertaining yourself over there.”

“Just having a conversation with myself.” She shrugged.

He grinned. “Should I be worried?”

“Probably not.” She picked up her burger. “Probably.”

When Connie set the check on the table Naomi reached for her bag out of habit, then stopped herself. He’d asked her to dinner. She settled back in her seat and let him take it.

He left cash on the table and stood, and she slid out of the booth and followed him toward the door. Connie called goodnight from behind the counter and Ethan touched his hat and Naomi smiled and waved and felt the eyes of half the diner following them out.

The night air was warm and still, the kind of summer evening that made you want to stay outside a little longer. They walked to the truck, and he opened her door without being asked.

She climbed in and he closed it gently, walked around to the driver’s side. She looked out the window at the quiet street and thought that this was a very good town to have landed in.

The drive back to the ranch was short. He didn’t fill the silence with anything unnecessary, and she appreciated that about him, like she’d appreciated it from the beginning.

He pulled up beside the barn and cut the engine.

They sat for a moment.

“I had a really good time,” she said.

“So did I.” He looked at her in the dim of the cab.

She reached for the door handle, but he was already out and coming around the front of the truck before she got it open. He pulled it open and offered his hand to help her down.

She took it.

They walked to the bottom of the stairs and stopped. The ranch was quiet around them, just the sound of horses settling for the night and the distant creek moving in the dark.

She looked up at him.

“Would you like to come inside? It’s early yet. We could catch a movie.”

He looked at her for a moment. “Do you think that’s wise?”

“Hell, no.” She laughed.

“I don’t either.” He stepped closer. “I thought we agreed to take this slow.”

“It’s been slow enough, Ethan,” she whispered.

“I want you, Naomi...” His voice was low.

“But?”

“But we should know each other better before we take that step. It should mean something. Not for just the sake of sex.”

She held his gaze for a moment, then shrugged. “Okay.” She stepped back. “You don’t need to walk me up. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You’re not angry?”