Page 84 of Worth the Fall
“Good! Somy family got a great spot so we can go freshen up, and then I’m taking you on a proper Texas date, cowgirl.”
~~~
Colton refused to tell me where he was taking me. He wanted it to feel like a proper first date, including the picking-up part.
SoI was sitting in the horse trailer›s living quarters.
My gosh, once again, I was blown away.
It was like a luxury camper in the back of the already massive trailer. Clean as a whistle and as modern as my apartment in the city, it was blowing my mind.
I had changed out of my sweaty tank top and was now in my favorite dress.
A pale pink dress that swung around my knees as I walked. My hair was loose and curled, something that had become more common since I’d started this tour. I hoped I wasn’t overdressed as I pictured Colton in a t-shirt.
A loud knock on the door, which I had been expecting, brought me to my feet. I tipped my head upside-down and fluffed the blonde curls, trying to get as much volume in them as possible.
I opened the door.
Colton was standing at the bottom of the steps.
My heart stopped. He looked amazing.
I had only seen him about an hour ago, and yet, he tookmy breath away. He was wearing a light green shirt, which made his eyes as bright as I’d ever seen them. He had shaved again, getting rid of the little stubble he had. His chestnut hair was combed under a clean straw cowboy hat. He had his usual Wranglers on, naturally, but had added a shiny silver belt buckle with a cowboy on a bucking horse.
And he was holding a bundle of pale pink roses. He broke out in a grin when he saw me, his cheeks turning as red as a cherry. “Ally, man almighty, you look amazing.”
I took my time walking down the camper steps in my small heels. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
He handed me the flowers that matched my dress perfectly. “I swear I didn’t peek at your suitcase,” he promised as he ran his fingers over the fabric. “Man, Ally, I can’t find a color that doesn’t look incredible on you.”
I felt my own cheeks turn red hot. I thought about deflecting his comment, making another dumb joke, but his words, urging me to accept compliments, came right back. “Thank you.”
“Shall we?” He asked, turning so that I could accept his outstretched hand.
I slid my hand, creamy with vanilla lotion, into his rough, calloused palm. The electric shock was back as soon as we touched. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he whispered. He opened the truck door for me and helped me step inside.
“Where’s your family?” I asked as soon as he climbed into the driver’s seat. When we had made it to the camp, which was an incredible campground, surrounded by pastures for the horses, there was no one to be seen. By the time I was ready, Istill hadn’t seen anyone.
“They got the horses settled and then went to dinner,” he explained, backing out of the campground. “I think they’re relieved I have plans tonight.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it.
We drove into the heart of Amarillo, making my stomach turn. I prayed it would settle before we ate dinner.
Every cowboy hat, every man with midnight black hair, looked exactly like my dad. It was killing me.
Colton pulled his loud red truck in front of an all-too-familiar restaurant.
Oh no.
I peered up at the sign.
The Western Horseman Club.
I knew exactly where we were and why we were here.
Colton was opening my door before I realized he had gotten out of his seat. “Are you ready?” He asked, a smile so wide on his face that his eyes were crinkling.
