Page 45 of Falling for the Maverick

Lucas nodded. “It happens to be my favorite barbecue restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, I’d like to take you to another favorite of mine here in Bronco Heights. It’s a lot fancier than DJ’s.”

“You mean dress-up fancy?”

“Yes. Suit-and-tie fancy. It’s called the Coeur de l’Ouest.”

“Oo la la!”

Lucas tilted his head back and laughed. “Yes, that’s it exactly. Would you like to go there with me?”

Michelle wanted to ask him if he was kidding. Aside from wearing a formal gown at the wedding, it had been years since she’d dressed up for a date. The last one had been her high school senior prom. “Yes, I would.”

“Good. Then I’ll make a reservation for next Friday night. They only have two seatings, so I’ll make it for the early one, so we don’t get back to Tenacity after midnight.”

Michelle wondered what she had to wear for dinner at an elegant restaurant. She recalled one dress, but it exposed a lot of skin. Like her boots, it, too, had been an impulse purchase when she saw it in the window at a Missoula boutique.

Well, it would have do. She had no intention of driving to a high-end Bronco boutique to shop for a dress she would probably only wear one time. Although she loved fashion, Michelle did not consider herself to be high maintenance. She was as comfortable in boots and jeans as she was wearing a little black dress…which Lucas would get to see when he picked her up next Friday.

* * *

“I’m as full as tick on a dog’s back,” she admitted to Lucas as they headed back to Tenacity.

Lucas shook his head. “Careful with the dog jokes, bae. I don’t believe Flash would appreciate it.”

“I really like your dog.”

“That’s because Flash likes you. When I had the family over before the wedding, he refused to come into the house, preferring to sleep in his bed on the porch.”

“It probably was because there were too many people,” Michelle said.

“You’re right. As soon as everyone left, he was his old self again.” He made a right turn, then held out his hand to her. “Give me your phone, so we continue our Name That Tune game.”

Michelle handed him her phone. “Do you really think you’re going to win?”

“If I identified four out of five, then I’m confident that I’ll come out the winner.”

“We’ll see,” she countered.

Lucas synced her phone and the music from one of her favorite action films filled the entire of the car. “What about this one?”

“That’s an easy one, dollface. It’s the theme from Top Gun: Maverick.” He took his eyes off the road for a brief second. “I forgot to tell you I love action movies, so if you’ve downloaded any others, you’re going to lose.”

Michelle swallowed a groan. Many of the soundtracks were from action movies, so it was obvious Lucas would be familiar with them. They continued to play the game, and Lucas couldn’t identify Lincoln. He also missed out on The Duchess, but he correctly named the one from The Imitation Game.

“It looks like you’re winning,” she said.

“You’re damn skippy I am.”

“There’s no need for you to gloat, Lucas.”

“I’m not gloating, Michelle. I’ve watched a lot of movies, and I have a gift for remembering things.”

She laughed. “I’m certain that helped you get into an Ivy League college.”

“That and countless hours of study. I thought I was smart until I met some of the other students who were truly geniuses. Einstein and Oppenheimer types.”

Michelle wanted to tell Lucas he shouldn’t be so modest when it came to his intelligence. But then she recalled him being just as self-deprecating about his looks. Though she hadn’t missed the admiring glances from women when they’d passed their table, it seemed as if he hadn’t noticed even when a few sent smiles his way.

“Which of the soundtracks do you like best?” she asked.