delicious shiver swept through her. “I’ll wear my hat. She’ll never notice. As for me, I won’t have to fight that braid any longer. I don’t want any distractions during competition.”
He put his hat away and walked into the kitchen. “I could hear you laughing. For a moment I thought you must be entertaining someone.”
“Only myself. Hyacinth, the woman on the show, is absolutely hysterical.”
Connor smiled. “You have that amazing quality of being able to enjoy yourself no matter the circumstances. No wonder my grandfather loves having you around.”
“You’re full of compliments, but I sense you’re a little down. Dr. Henson is in the office if there’s anything you’d like to talk over.”
“The fact that you’re here is good enough. Let’s not waste that new hairdo. How would you like to go line dancing with me tonight? I don’t know about you, but it’ll help me unwind.”
His ex-wife’s appearance had done damage. How much damage wouldn’t be known until the rounds of competition started.
Liz’s comment to her mom before this trip came back to bite her. I’m thinking this will be my one and only chance to see who he really is and get over what has prevented me from moving on with another man.
“I’d love to. Since I’ve already showered, I’ll change out of my pajamas while you clean up.”
“I guess I’d better do that if you’re going to let me get close to you.” A quick smile broke out before he disappeared.
Yup. That was the killer smile that had blown her away in her teens. But she was a woman now, and she’d been given glimpses of the troubled man inside his skin. Liz couldn’t find the words to describe the feelings growing within her. But already she knew there was pure gold lurking inside him, shinier than all the gold buckles he’d accumulated during his life’s journey this far.
She dressed in another Western shirt and jeans before putting on her suede jacket. He emerged from the bathroom wearing a new black shirt she hadn’t seen. Talk about trying to catch your breath.
Her hat came last as they left the trailer for the truck. Once inside the cab he said, “This bar is in the north end. They have a great band and I like the kind of crowd it attracts. Do you mind?”
“I’ve been on the Strip before. Surely by now you know I trust your judgment to pick someplace different.”
His gaze played over her features for a pulse-pounding moment before he started the engine and they drove out to the main street. The traffic was heavy but typical for Las Vegas. Before long, they turned off and wound around to Tiny’s Bar and Grill. Though there was a crowd, they didn’t have to wait to get inside.
Connor had been right about the band. It rocked. As they walked in, the people on the dance floor were doing the Watermelon Crawl. Liz found her senses throbbing to the music.
After being shown to a table where he helped remove her jacket, he ordered soda for both of them. The band was getting ready for another number. “I’m in the mood to dance.”
“Me, too.”
They got up and walked out to the floor. The next song turned out to be the Cowboy Boogie. The moment they started, Liz glanced sideways and saw her escort could boogie with the best of them. Many of the females in the room recognized the king of the steer wrestlers and glommed onto him in a big hurry.
Someone in the band announced that the famous Connor Bannock was in the grill. Everyone cheered. Liz loved it. He was electrifying when caught in the right mood, and he was definitely in the right mood. His eyes lit up when he realized she was well into it herself.
Liz danced her head off. She’d never had so much fun in her life. The whole crowd was living it up. Pretty soon they turned to the Sleazy Slide, and they must have danced to half a dozen songs before the band took a break.
After he cupped her elbow and led her back to their table, he leaned toward her, his eyes full of flattering male
He put his hat away and walked into the kitchen. “I could hear you laughing. For a moment I thought you must be entertaining someone.”
“Only myself. Hyacinth, the woman on the show, is absolutely hysterical.”
Connor smiled. “You have that amazing quality of being able to enjoy yourself no matter the circumstances. No wonder my grandfather loves having you around.”
“You’re full of compliments, but I sense you’re a little down. Dr. Henson is in the office if there’s anything you’d like to talk over.”
“The fact that you’re here is good enough. Let’s not waste that new hairdo. How would you like to go line dancing with me tonight? I don’t know about you, but it’ll help me unwind.”
His ex-wife’s appearance had done damage. How much damage wouldn’t be known until the rounds of competition started.
Liz’s comment to her mom before this trip came back to bite her. I’m thinking this will be my one and only chance to see who he really is and get over what has prevented me from moving on with another man.
“I’d love to. Since I’ve already showered, I’ll change out of my pajamas while you clean up.”
“I guess I’d better do that if you’re going to let me get close to you.” A quick smile broke out before he disappeared.
Yup. That was the killer smile that had blown her away in her teens. But she was a woman now, and she’d been given glimpses of the troubled man inside his skin. Liz couldn’t find the words to describe the feelings growing within her. But already she knew there was pure gold lurking inside him, shinier than all the gold buckles he’d accumulated during his life’s journey this far.
She dressed in another Western shirt and jeans before putting on her suede jacket. He emerged from the bathroom wearing a new black shirt she hadn’t seen. Talk about trying to catch your breath.
Her hat came last as they left the trailer for the truck. Once inside the cab he said, “This bar is in the north end. They have a great band and I like the kind of crowd it attracts. Do you mind?”
“I’ve been on the Strip before. Surely by now you know I trust your judgment to pick someplace different.”
His gaze played over her features for a pulse-pounding moment before he started the engine and they drove out to the main street. The traffic was heavy but typical for Las Vegas. Before long, they turned off and wound around to Tiny’s Bar and Grill. Though there was a crowd, they didn’t have to wait to get inside.
Connor had been right about the band. It rocked. As they walked in, the people on the dance floor were doing the Watermelon Crawl. Liz found her senses throbbing to the music.
After being shown to a table where he helped remove her jacket, he ordered soda for both of them. The band was getting ready for another number. “I’m in the mood to dance.”
“Me, too.”
They got up and walked out to the floor. The next song turned out to be the Cowboy Boogie. The moment they started, Liz glanced sideways and saw her escort could boogie with the best of them. Many of the females in the room recognized the king of the steer wrestlers and glommed onto him in a big hurry.
Someone in the band announced that the famous Connor Bannock was in the grill. Everyone cheered. Liz loved it. He was electrifying when caught in the right mood, and he was definitely in the right mood. His eyes lit up when he realized she was well into it herself.
Liz danced her head off. She’d never had so much fun in her life. The whole crowd was living it up. Pretty soon they turned to the Sleazy Slide, and they must have danced to half a dozen songs before the band took a break.
After he cupped her elbow and led her back to their table, he leaned toward her, his eyes full of flattering male
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