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“My whole life. Grew up on a ranch, a small operation, near the McCray place. Horses and cattle were never my thing though.”
“Let me guess. Cars were your thing.”
“You got it. Give me chrome over cowhide any day.” He laughed as he pulled in front of the coffee shop.
While Annie hated the taste of coffee, its aroma was something else altogether. The robust fragrance wafting out of the small haven intoxicated her. Before Joe could touch the door handle, it opened on its own, and Annie found herself face to face with Dallas McCray.
“Ow!” she exclaimed. Dallas had dropped his cup of coffee and the hot liquid spattered over Annie’s sandaled toes.
“Christ, McCray,” Joe said. He hurried inside the shop.
“I’m sorry,” Dallas mumbled.
Annie sighed. “It’s a good thing I didn’t wear my white sandals today.” She laughed nervously.
“Are you hurt?” He reached toward her, but quickly whisked his hand into his pocket, as though thinking better of touching her. “Thank God it was a mocha. The milk cooled it down. If it had been hot coffee…”
Annie glanced down at her toes, red from the heat. “I doubt it’s life threatening, Dallas. Don’t worry about it.”
Joe returned with a damp cloth. He knelt down and wiped off Annie’s feet. “Your silver toenail polish is very sexy, Annie,” he said.
Annie was still watching Dallas. His forehead wrinkled at Joe’s comment, and his eyes, darker than the coffee in the shop, seared into her. Annie shuddered. A few nights ago, Dallas had kissed every inch of her body, including her toes. He had liked the silver polish also. “You have incredible feet, Doc,” he’d said. “You got a foot fetish, Cowboy?” she had teased him back. “Only for your hot silver toes,” he’d said, and proceeded to pamper them with kisses and an incredible foot massage.
Her heart quickened at the memory.
Joe got to his feet. “All better?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Joe.” She couldn’t take her eyes from Dallas. Her skin was blazing from his heated gaze. She wanted to touch him. To pull him into her body. To kiss him senseless.
“Ready for a coffee?” Joe asked.
“Annie hates coffee,” Dallas said.
“Oh. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I figured I’d have tea,” Annie replied.
“Great. If you’ll excuse us, Dallas.” Joe took Annie’s hand and steered her into the shop, leaving Dallas on the sidewalk, his brow furrowed and lips pursed.
“He could have apologized,” Joe said, holding out a chair for Annie.
“He did. While you were getting the towel.”
“Not much of a talker is he?” Joe sat down across from her. “He never was. Absolutely no sense of humor either.”
No sense of humor? She and Dallas had shared an easy banter that had kept them both in stitches.
“Do you know Dallas well?” she asked.
“Not too well. I went to school with his brother Zach. He was never much of a talker either. He’s loosened up though since he got married.”
“I know his wife. She’s very nice.”
“Yeah, a pretty little thing, too. Their son’s adorable.”
“He is,” Annie agreed.
“Dallas, though, he’s an enigma. He went and married some rich east coast girl right out of la
