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I take a sip. It’s sweet with just a tang from the tequila. “Wow. Delicious.”
“You want to trade?”
I shake my head. “No. This one’s yours.”
“If you don’t like yours, we’ll get you one of these.” He signals our server.
“Donny, it’s okay…”
“Yes, Mr. Steel,” the server says.
“The lady isn’t crazy about her drink. Could you bring her one of these instead?” He points to his own drink.
“Of course. Right away.” He takes my drink and whisks away.
Embarrassment sweeps through me. “I didn’t mean you had to get me something else.”
“If you don’t love what you order, you shouldn’t have to drink it.”
“I liked it fine. It was just strong. I don’t drink a lot, so I notice strength immediately.”
“No problem. We can get you another—”
I gesture him to stop. “Donny, it’s fine. Please.”
He smiles, and my insides melt.
“I guess I’m just used to going the extra mile to get things perfect,” Donny says. “My dad always says for what we’re willing to pay, we should always get the best.”
I nod. Not a philosophy I’m familiar with, but I’m not going to say that. He already knows.
“Sorry if I embarrassed you,” Donny continues.
“It’s okay. You didn’t.”
He smiles. “Then you’re gloriously pink for some other reason. Whatever the reason, it suits you.”
I look down at my napkin.
Donny Steel has a way of making me forget my troubles.
And that scares me silly.
This is a man who may wine me and dine me, take me to bed, but this isn’t a man who’s going to fall madly in love with me.
I have to be careful.
Really careful.
Because though I never thought I wanted to fall in love, I’m halfway there.
With a man who won’t love me back.
No matter how much I want him to.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Donny
She looks so beautiful.
Her hair is down, all sleek and brown and gorgeous, flowing over her bare shoulders. Her dress is a basic little black dress.
Is there anything sexier than a woman in a little black dress?
Yeah.
Callie Pike in a little black dress.
It’s formfitting, and the thin straps show off her milky shoulders. I love a woman with sexy shoulders.
I plan to give them a lot of attention later, back at the cabin.
I’ve been inside her, but I haven’t had the chance to worship her body the way I crave.
That’ll be remedied tonight.
A nice long night.
We’ll sleep in, tangled in each other’s arms, and then—
Crap.
Why did I tell Brendan I’d be over with Dale on Sunday?
After I promised myself a weekend with Callie to forget this other shit?
I’ll text him later. Tell him it’ll be next weekend.
Better yet, Monday evening, after my first day at work. Maybe I’ll find something in the databases that will clue us in to the lien, the deed, everything.
In fact, I’ll text him now while I’m thinking about it.
“Excuse me just a minute,” I say to Callie as I pull out my phone. “I have to send a quick text.”
“No worries,” she says.
I send Brendan a quick text, and he replies right away.
Got it. But I’m tending bar Monday.
Make it Tuesday. I’m covered.
Okay.
I pocket my phone. “Sorry again.” I smile. “That’s the first and last interruption tonight. Now I’m focused solely on you.”
She blushes. That gorgeous pink that flows over her cheeks and down her neck.
“Tell me,” I say, “about everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yeah. I want to know all about Callie Pike.”
She chuckles nervously. “I think you know it all. We’ve known each other for almost two decades.”
“True, but we’ve never really talked. I know you’re beautiful. I know you’re brilliant. I know you’re disappointed about law school.”
“One out of three isn’t bad.”
Self-deprecating. I find it oddly attractive.
“Three out of three. Tell me more.”
“I guess I’ve wanted a legal career since high school, when I participated in the reenactment of Brown vs. Board of Education in history class. I was on the defense, and it was a real challenge to defend something I didn’t believe in. I realized how powerful knowing all sides of an issue can be.”
I nod. “I get it. I had the same experience doing debate back in high school.”
“You were on debate?”
“Yeah, weren’t you?”
She shakes her head. “I didn’t have a lot of time for extracurriculars. The ranch and all.”
“You guys all helped out?”
“Yup.”
“We did too.”
She widens her eyes.
“That surprises you?”
“No. I mean…I guess. A little. I mean, everyone knows the Steels have this huge work ethic, but since none of you have to…”
“Worry about money?”
“Well…yeah.”
I take another sip of the pomegranate margarita. Suddenly it’s a little two sweet. “We all had to learn the ropes—even Diana and me, who had no interest in staying on and working the family business.”
“How’s Diana doing?” she asks.
“She’s good. Loves her internship.”
“I’m surprised she wasn’t at your party last night.”
“She couldn’t get away this time. Work.”
She smiles. “That Steel work ethic again.”
The server, Mark, brings Callie’s margarita and our order of calamari.
