The Patriot A Small Town Romance - Jennifer Millikin Page 0,58

checked and goes back to his book. The next time I catch him watching, I keep the teasing to myself.

We order a pizza, and Wes runs down to the front desk when it arrives. We eat the entire thing. The Bachelorette ends and we move on to Wheel of Fortune. I’m good at the game, but Wes is expert-level. He guesses the word long before any of the contestants.

I throw my last piece of crust in the open pizza box. “So far tonight I’ve learned you read novels, and should be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. I feel our relationship is really progressing. We’ll be married in no time.”

Wes grabs my crust and takes a bite. “Roping and riding aren’t my only talents.”

“Don’t I know it,” I say, then realize how sexual that sounded. “I mean… well, I didn’t mean to make it sound like…”

Wes laughs at my awkwardness. “I know what you meant.”

The show ends and Wes stands, glancing at the digital clock on my nightstand. “It’s late enough to go home now.”

There’s a tug on my heart, like I don’t want him to go. I push it away. “Right.” I get off the bed and bend over, brushing crumbs from the bedspread.

“Thanks for having me over.” He’s swiping at the bed too, brushing off crumbs I’m not sure are really there.

I straighten and find he’s only a foot away from me. It’s the closest he’s been to me all night other than when he walked in, and I’m once again hit with the mouthwatering smell coming off him.

“No prob.” I dart around him, my voice at least two octaves higher than it should be. “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

I huff a sound of playful exasperation. “I suppose so. There’s a concert in Desert Oasis park. The one downtown,” I add, in case he needs me to explain.

“I know of Desert Oasis Park,” he responds with a twinge of agitation in his tone, but he’s pretty much saying I grew up here, remember?

“Great. Spares me the chore of having to send you directions.” I flip him a sassy smile. “Anyway, I’ve heard it’s a big deal. I’ll be there, and I’d like you to join me.”

He nods once, in that slow cowboy way. “Then I’ll be there.” The words are as slow as his nod, and a flush warms the back of my neck.

“Great,” I say brightly, attempting to cover up his effect on me. “I’ll be the one in the red dress.”

Wes heads for the door. I follow him.

He pauses in the open doorway. Looks back at me. Brushes a kiss on my cheek. The heat on my neck burns hotter. I feel branded, like one of his cattle. “Thanks for tonight. You’re the best almost-fiancée a guy could ask for.”

“No prob,” I say in my best unaffected voice, but to my ears, it sounds like I’m choking on something.

He leaves, going right instead of left toward the elevator and main staircase. Curious, I watch him disappear through the stairwell door. I’ve only been that way once, because I didn’t want to chat with the front desk person and those stairs empty out to a side door with very little foot traffic.

I close my door and hurry to my bed, grab a pillow, and scream into it. The agreement seemed like a good idea at the time, but five days into it and I’m wondering if I was wrong. I think I might have real feelings for Wes, and that’s going to make all this far more complicated.

I contemplate calling my sister, but I don’t want to have that conversation. I promised her I’m fine.

Instead, I pull out my phone and start looking for local clothing stores. I need to buy a red dress.

20

Wes

I don’t particularly care for how I’m feeling right now.

Dry mouth.

Tightness in my chest.

Stomach that may or may not send my lunch back into the world.

Nerves.

A feeling that was beat out of me in the military. Nerves were a problem. Nerves could derail my job. Nerves could be the difference between safely deactivating a bomb or being blown into a puzzle nobody could ever put back together.

I’m not supposed to worry about that anymore though. Passing through the military exit door and into civilian life should just take it all away, right? As if changing your surroundings should magically erase years of experience.

I have to drive through town four times before I find a parking spot,