Too Close For Comfort (Sweetrock Cowboy Romance Book 2) by Leighann Dobbs Page A

he couldn’t wait to see her again at dinner—a dinner that he intended to make the most romantic one she’d ever experienced.
    He detoured from driving to his ranch to stop at Dickinson’s and pick a few things up. Salmon, asparagus, and Tessa’s favorite dessert from their bakery—coconut cream pie. He was making his way down the paper goods aisle when he spotted the candles.
    Candles would be very romantic.
    Images of the Riley dining room started flashing in his mind, the table set with a crisp white linen tablecloth and the lights down low. Music softly playing in the background. Mrs. Riley’s good china plates—the ones with the silver edges—sparkling silverware and Waterford crystal glasses all accented by the flickering golden light of the candles on the table. Tessa seated across from him as they ate. It sounded like bliss.
    He reached for the candles, picking up a long, white tapered pair. He had them just about in his basket when a voice boomed from behind him.
    “Cash? Cash Campbell?”
    The voice brought up unpleasant feelings and Cash whirled around.
    The candles clattered to the floor as he recognized whom that voice belonged to.
    Derek Masters.
    Tessa’s old flame—the one she’d never forgotten, the one she’d pined after for years—was back in town.

13
    T essa arrived home to find the dining room lit with a romantic glow of candles and flowers. The table had been set with her mother’s good china on top of grandma’s white linen tablecloth. In the center, a large bouquet of white roses stuck up from a crystal vase. The house was spiced with the mouth-watering smell of lemon butter and herbs.
    She stood in the doorway to the kitchen, tentatively eyeing Cash. “Hi.”
    He turned around, a smile spreading on his face. “Hi. Dinner is almost ready. As I remember, salmon is one of your favorites, right?”
    She was warmed by the fact he’d thought enough to cook one of her favorites. “It is. Everything looks and smells amazing.”
    She started into the kitchen to peek into the oven and he caught her in his arms.
    “You look and smell amazing,” he said.
    Tessa looked down at herself. She was wearing ratty horse-barn clothes. Cash, on the other hand was dressed in a white button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his tanned muscular forearms and black slacks. He looked delicious.
    “I smell like horse manure,” she said.
    Cash nuzzled her ear, sniffing her hair and her neck while tickling her and making her giggle.
    “I like horse manure.” He cupped her face in his hands and she looked into his eyes, wondering if he’d made this meal for dozens of women. Wondering if she was special. The intensity of his gaze told her this wasn’t something he was taking lightly and when his lips crashed down on hers, it didn’t feel like it either.
    Cash broke the kiss, his palm skating down her arm to clasp her hand and pull her into the kitchen where he had a glass of wine already poured.
    She took a sip, starting to relax. “Can I help?”
    “No. I’m almost done.”
    “Well, then, I feel like I’m underdressed. A nice meal like this deserves more than smelly barn clothes. I’ll go get changed.” She put her wine down and proceeded to her bedroom.
    All her worries about Cash’s intentions seemed ridiculous now. He’d gone to a lot of trouble with the meal. One didn’t do that for a casual fling. Not to mention that she knew he wasn’t the type of guy that had flings. Well, okay, he was but that was just with random women. He wouldn’t do that with her, would he?
    She could trust Cash to not screw around with her feelings.
    She took a quick shower and changed into her favorite lavender dress. The one that clung to her curves in just the right way. Cash’s lingering look when she appeared in the dining room told her she’d made the right choice.
    He cleared his throat. “You look stunning.”
    “Thanks.”
    He’d put the food out while she’d changed.