As he drove back to the ranch Sam wondered if he should make a detour and get Amanda a present. After about ten seconds he decided against it. Not ’cause he didn’t want to spoil her, but he was trying to listen. He was trying to pay attention. He’d taken care of her whole weekend at the ranch. The spa package included. She was hesitant to take him up on it and she’d been overwhelmed by their invitation to brunch. A gift on their first date might be a little much. He glanced at the envelope beside him in the passenger seat. It would have to be enough, even if it wasn’t from him.
He pulled up to the front of the lodge and parked his car just beyond the valet stand. He grabbed the envelope and stepped back out into the cool night. A sudden thrill rushed through him and settled in his chest as he greeted Naomi at the desk and made his way through the lobby. It had been so long since he’d started something new. Even longer since he’d been excited about someone new.
He’d enjoyed his time with Natalie, but looking back most of that attraction had been based on Natalie’s sensuality. It was intoxicating and Sam mistook that for a real connection. It wasn’t until she’d dropped the idea of getting married—in front of her parents—before they’d even had a real conversation about their own futures, let alone their future together. Sam knew then that it wasn’t in the cards for them.
Things were different with Amanda. There was something about her and it wasn’t that she’d somehow won Majesty over with no effort at all. Well, not just that.
Sam arrived at her door, smoothing his shirt and tie before he knocked.
“One second,” Amanda called out. A moment later the door swung open and Amanda stepped forward, a bright smile spreading across her gorgeous face. She was wearing a simple white T-shirt that hugged her large breasts under an open camel-colored cardigan that almost went to the floor. She finished off the look with skintight jeans stretched across her ample thighs and those ice blue Converse. She had on some gloss that made him want to kiss the hell out of her, and her braids were twisted up in a bun on top of her head. She looked great.
“Shit. You look so nice,” she said, beaming. Sam’s own smile already matched hers. He figured out then exactly what it was. Not just her humor or her sex appeal or the Disney princess way animals gravitated toward her. Or how she didn’t realize how rare any of that was. Even some of the kindest, funniest people he’d ever met didn’t have that bright energy. Sam couldn’t get enough of it and more than that, he wanted to be the one to help refill that well of happiness, whenever she needed him.
He wasn’t gonna tell her that shit though. Not yet. He’d learned his lesson and knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of too much, way too soon. He settled for pulling her into a hug.
“So do you. You look gorgeous.”
“Nah,” Amanda said as she stepped out of his embrace, looking him up and down again. “I mean I look retail supervisor adorable, but I wish I’d packed something nice nice. I’m feeling the bolo tie.”
“Thanks. It was a gift. Oh, speaking of gifts.” Sam handed her the large envelope. “It’s from my grandmother.” Amanda wasted no time reaching inside. She pulled out two signed headshots from Miss Leona.
“Seriously. My mom is gonna die. I might die too, but I’ll do it privately this time. I’ve embarrassed myself enough. Let me just put these up and we can go.” Sam stepped into her room and she set the pictures on top of her duffel bag on the love seat. She grabbed her purse, then grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hallway.
“Excited?” Sam laughed as he hurried after her.
“Yeah, actually. You were right. I needed this. Also. Oh my God.” Amanda stopped and spun around just as they stepped back into the lobby. “That massage was amazing.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes.” She spun around and kept walking. Sam sped up so he was right by her side. They both waved goodbye to Naomi, then stepped back out into the night.
“Oh, friggity fuck. Should I get my coat?” Amanda said.
“I can keep you warm. If you’ll let me.”
“Oh, I’ll let you, Tex,” she said, winking at him as he opened the passenger-side door for her.
“It’ll be plenty warm inside the bar and we don’t have to spend any time outside unless you want to.”
“I don’t want to. Show me this bar.”
“Let’s do it.” Sam slowly pulled to the end of the drive before turning around and driving Amanda into the night.
* * *
Sam pushed his way back from the bar with two Dos Equis. Claim Jumpers wasn’t packed, but there were plenty of people there for a night made for lovers. Coach Fortner was there too, playing darts at the far end of the bar. Sam skipped that hello. They’d said what’s up to Evie and Zach and he’d introduced Amanda to Britany and Delfi, the ranch’s executive chef, general manager, and Evie’s childhood best friends. They’d offered to pull another table over to turn their double date into a party of six, but he’d shared Amanda with his family all day. He wanted some time alone before she had to go back to Los Angeles and the stress of her job.
They found a two-top opposite the dance floor. Amanda held the table while Sam waited at the bar, accepting a few congratulations on his Oscar win from Brett the bartender and two older white women at the bar he’d never seen before. When he came back Amanda was shimmying her shoulders to the Carrie Underwood blasting through the speakers.
“Ah, thank you,” she said, taking the ice-cold beer from his hand.
“You’re welcome.”
“Let me get a
