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“Is that code for sneaking off to the hunting cabin on our way back to the ranch for a quickie?” Maisie’s tone came across as joking, but something in the sentiment rang embarrassingly true. They’d been fooling around plenty since the day of the storm, but beyond the four walls of their little Vegas on the prairie, they continued to keep it a secret, even from Drew’s family.
Drew Campbell, you’ve been acting like a complete pig.
“That wasn’t what I had in mind at all, as a matter of fact.” She wasn’t sure what she’d actually had in mind. Her mouth had kind of moved faster than her brain when she’d said it, but now she needed to think of something fast. “How about dinner and dancing?”
“Like a proper date? Or were you figuring you’d have Karen cook something and turn on the radio in the living room?”
“You wound me.” Drew clutched the fabric of the shirt over her heart. “You think I can’t plan a nice date night? Allow me to prove you wrong.”
“I should’ve guessed this would be your form of apology.” Maisie slanted her head, again making it difficult for Drew to determine the meaning: playfulness or war? Either way, it was kind of turning her on.
“What’s that?”
“Proving me wrong.” Maisie definitely sounded playful this time.
It occurred to Drew if she planned it right, maybe they’d have time to go to the cabin before the night was over.
Oink, oink.
“It’s country western night at Boot Hill,” Drew offered, hoping the local nightclub hadn’t updated their offerings since her high school days. “Do you know how to line dance?”
“Didn’t have much of that back in Wisconsin,” Maisie replied, seeming unusually nervous. Was it the prospect of dancing or something more?
“Lucky for you, I’m an excellent teacher.” Drew got to her feet, holding out a hand to lead Maisie to the truck. “I hope you bought something nice to wear today, because I’ll be pulling out all the stops tonight.”
* * *
The music driftedout into the bar’s parking lot as Drew turned off the truck, swiveling her head to Maisie. “Ready?”
“I don’t know.” Maisie stared at the exterior of the club like she expected an executioner to be waiting inside. She rested a hand on Drew’s knee. “The prime rib place was amazing, so you can consider your point proven. We really don’t have to go dancing, too.”
“Are you saying that because you don’t want to dance or because you’re embarrassed to cut the rug in public with me?” Drew wasn’t sure why she asked, but now that she had, she tensed, fearing the answer. A friendly dinner was one thing, but going dancing together was unquestionably a date. Maybe that was something Maisie was having second thoughts about.
“It’s not that. I promise.” Maisie’s voice crackled, and Drew didn’t doubt her sincerity. “These are your people. If anything, you’re the one who’ll have to deal with the consequences of taking me in there, long after the summer’s over.”
Was there ever a time when Maisie didn’t have Drew’s interests at the forefront of her thoughts? She seemed forever thoughtful of Drew’s situation even as she refrained from complaining about her own. It was one more way Maisie was unlike most people Drew had encountered.
“You let me worry about that.” Drew stared deeply into Maisie’s eyes, feeling her insides melt even as she pushed any thoughts of what would happenafter the summerout of her mind. “I feel like dancing, and I’d like you to come with me.”
Maisie took a breath and reached for the door handle, the short sleeve of her yellow dress fluttering merrily. “Let’s go then.”
They tumbled out of the truck and made their way into the bar, where a live band was already giving the locals a good time on Saturday night. It was filled with men in cowboy hats and women in short denim skirts, all talking and laughing without paying much attention to Drew and Maisie as they walked past. The air smelled of fried food and alcohol.
Drew guided them to a table in the corner, her fingertips on the small of Maisie’s back without making full contact with her palm, so as not to draw unwanted attention from any potential troublemakers. “Beer?”
Maisie shook her head. “I’d better not. You know how I get.”
Drew laughed. “Worried you’ll do something foolish like black out and get married to a total stranger?”
“Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.” Maisie’s eyes swept the room. “Although right now, I’ve got that feeling again like I’m wearing a T-shirt that reads,Hey, look at me! Square peg, round hole!”
“They’re just staring because of how good you look in that dress.” At least, that was why Drew had been staring most of the night. “Like a sunshiny day. Is it new?”
“No, I had it already.”
“Didn’t you buy anything for yourself today?” Drew frowned as she recalled all the knickknacks Maisie had unloaded from her bags and scattered throughout the house, brightening every room.
“I’ve got everything I need.” Maisie ended her statement with a shrug, and Drew had to admit she was getting so good at them that pretty soon, people were going to start mistaking Maisie for a real Campbell.
