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Reed held the front door for her and escorted her across the porch and down the stairs. He helped her into his truck as she wondered what kind of dim-witted woman could ditch a man like Reed. She’d always thought of herself as smart. Her teachers, her parents, other family members, church leaders, and work associates confirmed that. Right now, she didn’t feel very smart. Her head was cloudy and full of only Reed.
The cab of the truck was charged with tension as they drove to Summit Valley and the restaurant. A good kind of tension. The kind that made her stomach dance and her fingers tingle. She clutched her fingers together to stop them from tingling and cast a sidelong glance at Reed. Was it just how good he looked that affected her so strongly? It couldn’t be. She’d seen him in a suit. At church. Thankfully, she’d been able to control her thoughts at church. She wasn’t doing so great with her thoughts tonight. She wanted to skip dinner and practice kissing him just in case Garret came around and they needed to look convincing.
Her face flushed. She and Reed would probably look convincing to anyone who saw them kissing.
“You all right?” he asked into the silence.
“Sure. You?”
He nodded. “Just … nervous.”
“You? Nervous?” She gave an unsteady laugh. “The tough sheriff never has any reason to be nervous.”
He reached over and took her hand. A pleasant shiver traced through her. “No matter how tough I am, any man would be nervous taking the woman of his dreams to dinner.”
Esther flushed with pleasure at his words, but then wariness crept in. Was he just being his charming self, or did he mean it? How could she keep her distance emotionally if he kept being so sweet and irresistible? What had she gotten herself into?
Before she could dredge up the strength to burst the beautiful bubble they seemed to be cocooned in, he pulled up to the restaurant. He squeezed her hand once and released it. “Please wait so I can get your door.”
Esther smiled her agreement and watched as he strode around the front of the truck, looking tough, handsome, and ready to destroy every barrier she’d erected to protect her heart. She’d dated every type of man from courtly gentlemen to “enlightened” men who scoffed at chivalry. She preferred the gentlemen, as that was how her family had been raised.
Reed opened her door and smiled at her. She was in huge trouble. He easily helped her down from the truck and escorted her inside. The hostess was their friend Melene’s youngest sister. Esther couldn’t place her name and wished they wore name tags.
“Hi, Sheriff,” the cute girl purred. All of Melene’s sisters shared her exotic beauty with their full lips and smooth, dark skin.
“Abigail,” Reed greeted kindly, but didn’t encourage her. “Table for two, please.”
“Of course. Right this way.” She walked them to a corner table, handed them menus, then came back and filled their water glasses. She gave Reed a flirtatious wink and as she turned away. Esther saw her mouth to one of the waitresses, “Smoking hot!”
Esther agreed but felt a little too protective, or maybe possessive, of her date. She focused on her menu instead of shooting sparks at the girl. Their waitress, Jenny, came and took their drink orders, then brought Esther a Diet Coke and Reed a raspberry lemonade. She took their food orders and their menus and then Esther had nothing to focus on but Reed’s handsome face.
He gave her a gentle smile. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
Esther blushed and admitted, “Maybe once or twice.”
“Do you think I could tell you again?” His deep-brown gaze was completely focused on her. A bulldozer could rip through the building and he wouldn’t look away. Was there something else he should focus on other than her? There was. But she couldn’t think of it …
Garret. Was he still lurking? He was the reason they were doing this fake relationship. Shouldn’t Reed be on the lookout for him?
“Honey?” she murmured.
“Yes, love?”
Esther’s body flushed. He could not be calling her love, no matter if it was for the fake dating ploy or not. Yet she’d just called him honey. She called everyone honey and sweetie; it had upset more than a few of the men she’d ditched when they assumed they were something special. Reed was something special, but nothersomeone special.
She could suddenly feel someone looking at her. “Shouldn’t we be on the lookout for Garret?”
He nodded, still staring deeply at her. “Of course. Cameron and Isaac followed him from his campsite this afternoon. Garret is currently sitting in his car outside the restaurant. Pulled up right after us.”
Esther shuddered and resisted the urge to look outside.Keep it calm and under control. So Garret hadn’t given up and was following her. How had he known where they were going?
“We don’t know how he found you here.” His gaze slowly went over her. “You don’t have your purse, phone, or anything on you he could’ve put a tracking device on?”
She shook her head. She hadn’t brought anything with her, and the dress and shoes were Maddie’s. “He’s pretty good at keeping a bead on me.” She thought about it. “He could’ve waited by our canyon and watched for me.”
“True. We’ll figure it out. Cameron is watching Garret from outside and Isaac is at the table at your ten o’clock to make sure you are safe.”
Esther was impressed, and Cameron’s position made sense as to why she’d felt somebody staring at her.
