crossed her arms. “We’ll see who’s ‘boss’ when it comes to shooting then, won’t we?”
“So we shall. And to be perfectly honest, I’d enjoy competing with you just to have what you Americans call bragging rights.”
“We’ll see who’s bragging when it’s all said and done, Sir Jensen.”
He flashed her a handsome grin, then proceeded to fire again, nailing the next two targets.
Amber’s pulse rate soared. She’d always enjoyed the adrenaline rush of competition—friendly or otherwise. But this was different. Each time Jensen cast a glance her way, his brow lifted, his lips quirked in a boyish grin, a glimmer in his eyes, her heart did all kinds of loop-de-loops.
Talk about a rush...
As Jensen took aim at the last target and drew back on the trigger, he pulled his right shoulder back a bit too much, and his round veered into the fence post.
“Whoop-dee-doo!” Elmer shouted. “We won!” He lifted Amber into the air and twirled her around in his stocky arms.
While she appreciated Elmer’s support and enthusiasm, she didn’t want to rub Jensen’s loss in his face. She might be a born competitor, but she was also a good sport.
So was Jensen, it seemed, because losing didn’t seem to bother him at all. In fact, a smile tugged at his lips, and a glimmer lit his eyes. Surely he hadn’t missed his last shot on purpose...?
When Jensen set down the rifle, and Elmer set her down to hurry over to Gram, Amber held out her right hand.
“Good game,” she said.
Jensen accepted her offer of sportsmanship with grace and class, although he held her hand a bit longer than necessary, and his smile deepened. “Make sure you wear those jeans when we go to dinner.”
With that, he released her, but his gaze held her steady and tight—so much so that she had to will herself to take a breath. Finally she glanced down at her Wrangler jeans. “Why do you want me to wear these?”
“They’re a nice fit.”
She’d been thinking about wearing a dress, but maybe he hadn’t meant their dinner date to be a...date.
“All right. It’s a da...deal.”
Jensen glanced toward the back porch, where Gram was sitting, smiling with Elmer, and winked.
Amber was more surprised to see that it was Gram who actually returned Jensen’s wink.
* * *
Amber walked into Smokey Joe’s, her favorite barbecue joint and honky-tonk in Lubbock. Normally the place was bright and loud during the dinner rush, then the staff moved the tables and dimmed the lights. That’s when the drinkers and line dancers showed up.
She wore new boots—and the jeans Jensen hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off that morning. She also found a black, ruffled halter top in the back of her closet and threw a short suede jacket over it. She doubted Jensen would be up for any dancing afterward, but she dressed in layers, just in case.
It may be cool outside, but when the crowds settled in and the music got going, small places like Smokey Joe’s could heat up quickly.
She was met by the hostess, a peppy college-age girl with a vivacious smile, a low-cut blouse and a pair of Daisy Duke–style shorts.
“I’m meeting someone,” Amber said.
The young woman, whose name tag read Maddie and whose legs looked as if they could use a lot more covering than what the skimpy denim provided, smiled. “A tall, formal, good-looking dude?”
At Smokey Joe’s? That description couldn’t possibly describe anyone else. Amber nodded, then followed the hostess.
For the eighth time that night, she wondered if she’d put on too much makeup or if she’d overdressed. She ran a hand through her long and loose hair, wishing she’d clipped it back or pinned it up.
This wasn’t a date. And she didn’t want Jensen getting the idea that she was trying to dress to impress him. But it was too late to change course now, so she continued on, past the makeshift seating on the dance floor and then the bar itself. They even passed the kitchen with its open window letting out scents of smoked meat and tangy sauce.
She’d eaten here plenty of times, but she had no idea there was more seating this far back. Where the heck was Maddie the hostess taking her?
Maybe she’d misunderstood. Maybe there were two tall, handsome, formal dudes in this neck of the woods.
Dang, maybe there was some private party going on, and Amber was about to crash it. But just as they rounded a corner, Jensen, who’d been seated at a small table in a hidden alcove, stood to greet her. “Hello, Amber.”
She looked around, still curious about this secluded corner. “Well, what do you know? I had no idea they had a room back here.”
“I thought it would be quieter than out front.”
And a lot more private. Did he do this sort of thing with all his dates?
Not a date! she reminded herself—and with a mental scolding.
He pulled out a chair for her and she took a seat. “I took the liberty of ordering a margarita with the tequila shot in it for you. You seemed to enjoy them when Mr. Murdock ordered them for you at the cantina.”
Great. Just what she needed—the possibility of losing all her inhibitions with the man. She should advise him not to take dating cues from Elmer Murdock.
Instead, she smiled and thanked him for his thoughtfulness.
Maddie handed them the menus. “Your waiter will be with you shortly. I’ll let him know where you are.”
You’d better. Something told her they could be left to die back here until closing time.
She scanned the area, where they were the only diners. “I wonder why they put us way out to pasture.”
“Oh, that was at my request. I asked them for something more private, where there would be less risk of being bothered by others.”
“You know, part of the barbecue experience is the communal tables and environment. I mean, I know this place isn’t swanky, but it has good food.”
“I can ask the hostess to reseat us, if you’d rather be in the dining hall area. I just assumed you would want to be away from the prying eyes of the public, and I didn’t want any more cameras catching us doing something as innocuous as sharing a meal.”
She hated to sound ungrateful. Besides, she didn’t want him to be uncomfortable if he preferred their out-of-the-way table. “No, this is fine.”
Although, it was much warmer back here. They must be sitting on the other side of the kitchen with its hot smoking pits. She took off her jacket and hung it on the back of her chair before turning and catching the surprised look on his face.
He
