Page 20 of The Maverick’s Legacy

She smiled so brightly, his chest tightened at the sight of it.

“Thank you,” she responded.

As she came down her steps, he put his hand on the small of her back, enjoying the heat of her. She smelled so good—like fresh rain and apples. He was half-tempted to bury his face against her neck to see if the scent was coming from there or the fragile-looking curls of her hair.

He guided her to his pale blue truck and opened the door for her. Once she was settled, Jesse hurried around the front of the car and hopped in.

“You look really good yourself,” Carly said as he started the engine.

He gave her a sheepish grin. “Thanks. My son helped me pick out the shirt.”

He ran a hand over the tiny checkered blue-and-gray button-down. He and Oscar had spent a good hour going through his closet. Oscar encouraged him to ditch the usual flannel and cowboy hat so that he could look the part of someone who wanted to “actually date someone who’s a baddie.”

He didn’t know where his son came up with this stuff half the time. Though…he wasn’t wrong. He did want to date Carly. Badly.

Carly gave a light laugh as she buckled herself in. “My sister and cousin came over to help me get ready. I don’t know how I made it so many years in Australia without their help.”

He didn’t miss the wistful sound in her voice. “Do you miss it? Australia?” he asked as he pulled onto the road. His stomach tightened. He’d been wondering if she had any longing to return to that life, and he held his breath as he awaited her answer.

Carly was thoughtful for a moment. “It’s a beautiful country. A gorgeous mix between wilderness and suburbia. I made a lot of good friends while I was there and I miss them, but being on the road all the time gets exhausting. And things were getting a little hectic toward the end of my tour there. I used to live for the rush of performing, but… I’ve been looking forward to taking some time off to enjoy the peace and quiet. Plus, there’s a lot of appeal to staying put instead of endlessly living out of a suitcase.”

She frowned for a second as though a memory popped up that she didn’t like. She turned her head away from him to stare out the window. He wanted to ask her more about what she said. He was curious what had made her life so hectic, but given her body language, he decided not to pursue it.

“I think I understand what you mean,” Jesse finally said, while relief coursed through him. It didn’t sound like she planned on leaving anytime soon. “I grew up on a ranch and missed the lifestyle when I lived in Houston.”

“How long did you live there?” Carly asked.

“Eighteen years,” he answered.

He’d met MaryBeth by chance. He’d been in town for his friend’s engagement party. On his way home, he’d stopped into a coffee shop to get some much-needed caffeine for the road. MaryBeth had been there, sitting by the window, drinking one of those sugary drinks she favored, while reading a book. He’d stopped dead in his tracks when he’d spotted her. He sat down at the table beside her and asked about her book. She’d looked up, irritation on her face at being interrupted, but it quickly dissipated when she met his eyes. They were married six months later.

Carly returned her gaze to his face. “What made you decide to move to Tenacity after being in the city for so long?”

“My son was a big factor. He seemed so unhappy in the school he was in. It’s hard for him to make friends, even though I know he desperately wants them. When we visited Tenacity and we both loved it, I decided it was time for a fresh start. For both of us.”

He didn’t elaborate. It felt weird to bring up MaryBeth or the fact that this was his first real date in ten years. It was still hard for him to talk about what happened to his family that day. Plus how many dating partners wanted to hear about your dead spouse?

Thankfully, they soon reached Castillo’s Mexican Restaurant, which JenniLynn had recommended.

“I hope you like Mexican food,” he said, a little nervous. He was going for a romantic atmosphere tonight, but not overly so. Jesse wanted to be able to talk to this woman, not shout at one another over music like at the Grizzly Bar. But if she wasn’t a fan of the food, he’d have to scramble for another idea.

“I love it,” she replied, much to Jesse’s relief.

They entered the restaurant, and his tension lessened even further. The place was small and cozy, if a little dark, but the candlelight on the tables helped with that. The seating area had small windows that overlooked the street. There were wooden booths placed throughout the space and a small bar in the back took up the remaining dining area.

A woman in her sixties approached. “Welcome. Is it just the two of you tonight?”

“Yes,” Jesse said.

“Wonderful, right this way.” The hostess led them to a corner table. They passed by several patrons who either waved, nodded at them, or started whispering among one another.

“Is this your first time here?” the hostess asked.

“Yes,” Carly replied, while Jesse nodded.

“I’m Yolanda,” the woman said. “My husband and I have proudly owned Castillo’s for over thirty years now, and our sons work here now too.” Yolanda pointed to the table where there were already menus waiting. “I’ll give you a few minutes to look over what we have to offer.”

“Thank you,” Jesse replied.