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“That’s nice to know,” she said, pleased by the frank tenderness in his casual remark. A playful part of her couldn’t resist adding a teasing, “At least I think it is.”
“It is.” Wade reached out a hand and brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. The brief touch wasn’t that intimate, but it seared her. Cat sensed he was aware of her reaction to it. “Was that over the line for such a public place?”
“Not really,” she said, lifting her head to a proud tilt.
“Sorry.” He looked into her eyes as if he was gauging her mood.
Cat willed her racing pulse to slow down. “Don’t be. I truly didn’t mind.”
The drinks and nachos were coming their way on the tray that Marsha held in one hand as she wove between the tables. “Here ya go.” She set down coasters printed with four-leaf clovers and positioned the beer and soda on them, popping in two straws, added the rest of their order and left in a hurry. A few more customers had arrived.
Cat removed the paper from her straw and took a long sip of icy, refreshing Coke, looking up at Wade, who was turning the nacho plate around to study the cheese-drenched chips. “Yes indeed. They look good and greasy. Dibs on the big ones,” he said. “I might let you have a few, though.”
Cat laughed. “How do you stay in such good shape?”
“I run. Play tennis. Ski. Basically, if it involves moving, I’m your man.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“And you?”
Cat picked up a nacho and nibbled on the corner. “Living on a ranch automatically means being active. I ride a lot. Swim in the summer, fish a little. And I’m always walking.”
He nodded to the dancers, who were stepping to a lively tune. “How about that?”
“Sure. Uh—sometimes. I used to love to go dancing.”
He caught the wistful note in her voice and asked gently, “How long has it been since you did?”
Cat didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know,” she said finally.
Wade took a healthy swallow of beer and set down the frosty mug. “After dinner, we can take a turn on the floor if you like.”
She nodded. “I’d enjoy that.”
“So how long have you lived on the Triple C?” he asked.
> “Almost all my life,” she replied, “minus the time I spent at college.” Cat paused a beat, then added, “I’m including the years Logan and I lived on the Circle Six ranch. It borders the Triple C so it hardly seems to count as living somewhere else.”
“Ever think of moving?”
The question surprised her. “Where?”
“It doesn’t matter. I was just curious.”
She shook her head very slightly. “Moving isn’t something that’s occurred to me. No, that’s not completely true,” Cat corrected. “Since my son Quint took over running the C Bar ranch in Texas, I have toyed with the idea of moving there, so I can see my young grandson a little more often.”
“You have a grandson?” he said.
“His name’s Josh. He will be two years old soon. All three of them will be flying up for Christmas in a few days, so I’ll get to see him then.”
“You Calders are a close-knit clan,” Wade observed.
Cat acknowledged that immutable truth with a rueful nod and smiled. “You know what they say about the ties that bind. Family ties are strongest.”
“And they last the longest, it seems.” Wade was thoughtful. “Chase filled me in on some of the family history. He even showed me that old map of the ranch, which got him started talking about the first cattle drives from Texas to Montana. Fascinating story. More like a saga, really.”
“It must sound like that,” Cat admitted and let her gaze wander over his face. In the dim light of the dining area, he was even more attractive than usual. The touch of silver in his hair suited him, and the sexy twinkle in his eye when he looked at her was making her feel very special.
