He raised his glass and took a slow sip of wine, a pensive expression on his face. “I left school three months after my father’s death. I was my mother’s best hope of finding a way through her grief. After moving home, I took charge of her medications and worked with her doctor to wean her off the drugs. I transferred to a Texas university and visited Mother regularly. We’re very close now.”
Dallas frowned. “Ethan, I’m so sorry. That must have been awful for you. What a wonderful thing you did for her. I’m glad your mother’s better now.” There was that smile of his again. It swept through her like a warm wave. She hadn’t realized there was such a giving side to him. It never surfaced at work. He was always suave perfection. This new Ethan drew her like never before.
He nodded and thanked her. As if needing a change of subject, he held up two sandwiches. “California Chicken Club or Chicken Salad. Your choice.”
She tapped the latter. “It sounds scrumptious.”
While they ate, she answered his questions about her family. He already knew some of the reasons why she worked at the firm, and she gave him a few more details. A new warmth blossomed between them, mirrored in the colors of the sky as the sun sat low in the distance.
Ethan gathered the trash and refilled their wine glasses. He settled back down beside her, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his chest.
She leaned her head into him and sipped her wine. True to Ethan’s promise, the sunset was spectacular. Her eyes drooped, and she relaxed into him, enjoying the sensation of his body wrapped around hers. Sarah was right. This was what she had been missing.
Caressing her arm, he leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead.
A thrill rippled up her torso. Fire burned across the path of his fingertips. She’d never reacted to him this way. Tonight, everything was different.
Ethan set his wine glass aside and pulled hers from her grasp, setting it beside the other. Supporting her, he eased her down on the blanket.
Her tummy fluttered. Her pulse beat loud in her ears. That glorious smile of his lowered until his lips brushed hers. She closed her eyes as the kiss deepened. Heat rushed through her and she ran her hands up his back. Returning his kiss, she wondered why she never realized what a wonderful man he was.
Ethan pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “I knew I’d love kissing you. I’ve wanted to do that for so long, Dallas.”
She smiled, at a loss. Until recently, she hadn’t much thought of him in this way. Pushing gently against him, she sat up. “What a perfect sunset. You were right about this area. It’s an amazing place for an evening picnic. I’m so glad we came.”
He handed over her wine and sipped his. “I want to ask you something before we go. You’ll probably have to think about it. We’ll exhaust the date possibilities in Wichita Falls pretty fast, and I was hoping you might consider branching out. I understand your work at the dancehall funds your school. What if I were to contribute what you’d earn in a weekend to your education account if you took time off once in a while to do something special with me? We have the nanny service now, and maybe your parents can keep your daughter overnight. It wouldn’t be often.”
His look pleading, he continued. “We could go to the symphony in Dallas, to plays in New York, and to Cowboys’ games. We could stay in a hotel, separate rooms, no strings. Will you consider it?”
It sounded exciting. But immediate red flags popped into her mind. How would Piper handle that much time with a nanny? Her daughter had never been away from Dallas for any length of time. What if there were an emergency? She was Piper’s only parent. Weekends were always hectic at the club. The few times she’d needed coverage, it had been hard to come by. Of course, in this instance, with advance notice, it might not be so difficult to get someone to fill in.
She bit her bottom lip and nodded. “I’ll think about it. It sounds like so much fun. Thanks for asking, Ethan.”
When there was just enough light to make it to the car, they folded the blanket and headed back.
A COUPLE OF EVENINGS later, Dallas opened a second bottle of wine in the kitchen. Sarah had just arrived and Kate was due any second. Thank goodness Piper had been asleep since eight o’clock.
As she poured a glass of wine, Kate knocked at the door. Dallas answered and gave her friend a hug. “Come in, come in. Sarah’s in the back. I’ll get another glass and meet you out there.”
Dallas exited the back door and walked to the area lit by candles. Her yard had no covered porch, no patio. But it had trees, and she had three inexpensive lawn chairs with a side table for each. This was a favorite spot for the three of them to sip wine and catch up on gossip. However, this time, she needed advice.
As Dallas sat down, Sarah said, “Remember Acacia from Howelton? We were best friends with her at Midwestern State? She’s been engaged to a cowboy named Johnny for quite a while now, and she’s getting married in a couple of months.”
“How wonderful. Give her my congratulations, will you?”
Kate settled into her chair and took a drink of wine, nodding at Dallas. “So, what’s up, sister? Let’s hear the skinny.”
She twirled her glass, searching for clarity in her thoughts. “I ... well, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m dating for the first time in years, and what the heck happens? Of course, I’m seeing two men at once! It’s so confusing. I
