“He doesn’t seem to like me much, does he?”

“Not at all.” Lana laughed. “So any kids with your ex?”

Oh no. They were back in forbidden territory, a hard right turn with tires squealing.

“Oh…umm…well…”

“We don’t have to talk about that if you aren’t comfortable,” she said immediately. But an awkward silence fell between them, the first since they’d reached the restaurant.

Rick grimaced. “Can I have a do-over? What I meant to say was no, we didn’t have any kids. I’m sorry, Lana. I’m not very good at this. I haven’t dated since I was in high school, and I read this article…there were cards…I shouldn’t have brought up exes.”

Could he be any more embarrassed? Thankfully, she reached across the table, resting her hand on his.

Lana’s eyes were bright with curiosity and some amusement. “Let me guess. The article said no politics, religion, or past experiences that could cause discomfort or awkward pauses.”

“Pretty much.”

She leaned back in her seat. “You would not believe how many of polite society’s ‘rules’ I’ve had stuffed down my throat since I was born. And you know what? Two drinks and a cigarette and all that crap goes by the wayside. Just know that I’m open to talking about whatever you’d like. I want to know more about you, Rick. That’s why I lured you to the middle of nowhere and surrounded you with holiday-themed taxidermy.”

How could a woman who made his mouth go dry every time he looked at her somehow make him feel so at ease?

The tension in his shoulders relaxed as he said, “No kids, but we both wanted them. It never worked for us. That’s not why we split up, but it was hard to swallow never having a family. We’re divorced now, but it wasn’t Jen’s fault. When her sister died, a lot changed for her, and I was one of the things that changed. I don’t blame her. Life is hard. I don’t hate my ex, and I never could.”

“You’re a really good guy, aren’t you?”

“Not according to Diego,” Rick told her jokingly. “He called me an asshole tonight, and I probably deserved it.”

They shared another moment, this one equally silent but not awkward at all.

“You know what, Rick? I think you and I are going to get along fabulously.” Lana held out her water, and they clinked glasses.

That was exactly what Rick was thinking too.

Chapter 8

Never in a million years would Lana admit to hating the restaurant.

The last thing she wanted to do was make Rick feel bad. If sparing his feelings meant sitting in a room full of increasingly disturbing holiday-themed taxidermy, then that was what she would do. That being said, the place had made her flesh crawl from the moment she stepped inside.

Funny how all it took was looking at Rick’s horrified expression and none of it seemed so bad. Not when she got to spend an evening with him.

The meal was far more appetizing than she had expected, and now that Rick was starting to relax around her, Lana was starting to relax around him too. The longer she looked at him, the more handsome she found him. Rick cleaned up even better than good, and he was an utter dear to talk to. Except for Carl standing in the corner, gloomily staring out the window, the entire thing might have been perfect.

For a blessed ten minutes, Carl disappeared into the back, then he stumped his way to the table, dropping their check on the edge.

“The snow’s getting bad.” Carl pointed out the window. “Ma says you might want to stay the night.”

“We’re fine.” Rick reached for the check, but Lana snagged it first.

“I asked you out,” she told her date, handing both the check and her debit card to Carl. For once, their waiter headed across the room with a more jovial step, as if perked up at the idea of getting rid of them.

Hazel eyes amused, he said, “So if I ask you out for a second date, I get to pay?”

“Hmm, that’s to be decided.” She flushed, then added quickly, “The paying, not the second date. I mean, not that I expect you to ask me out again. Or a first time, since I asked you out this time. I’m babbling, aren’t I?”

“It’s cute. And if my choice in restaurants didn’t scare you off, I’d love to ask you out for a second date.”

He’d called her cute. Which was much better than if he’d called her beautiful. Lana was used to being judged for her surface, and cute was more than skin deep. Cute felt like maybe he saw her for her.

“Rick, at the risk of ruining this, I feel like we need to talk about the elephant in the room.”

“They dressed one up like an elephant?” He shuddered, twisting around to look at the decor.

Laughing softly, Lana shook her head. “No, although I wouldn’t be surprised if one is hiding somewhere. I just…I feel like I should be clear about my intentions here.”

Rick’s eyes sparkled in the low restaurant lighting. “Is this where you promise those intentions are honorable?”

“Oh goodness no. Where would be the fun in that?”

They shared a grin. When hers started to slip, Rick squeezed her fingers gently.

“You travel. A lot.” He sounded resigned.

“It’s part of the job. I want a home…I always have. I want that home to be in Moose Springs. But right now, a suitcase is the closest to that as I’ll get. And right now…”

“Could last a long time?”

“Pretty much.”

Lana chewed her lower lip, knowing it was probably messing up her lipstick but unable to stop herself.

“So my options are a short-term fling or—?”

“We could always be friends.”

He visibly flinched at her suggestion, and despite herself, Lana giggled. “I’m guessing that’s not your first choice.”

“Sweetheart, I’m not used to having a choice, first or last or in between. But if I did get to choose…” Rick drifted off, glancing out the window next to them, dark as it was outside. “I think that I’ve had more fun with you these last few days than I’ve had in years. So if I can get a little more of that, I’m willing to accept this is just for now.”

“A holiday fling?”

“Fling?” Rick grimaced at the wording. “That sounds…temporary. And kind of cliché.”

“We can’t do much about the longevity, but I love a good cliché.” They shared a smile before Lana added, “So I’m thinking you really should ask me out again. At the risk of not playing coy, you’ll probably get a yes.”

The man had no idea how sexy he was when he leaned in like that, his voice lowering a little. “Probably or definitely?”

“Definitely,” Lana heard herself murmur, a thrill of anticipation running up her spine as he took her hand.

“Good to know.”

She leaned in too because he had this look on his face as if he were about to ask her. Only the expected request never came. When she realized he was teasing her by making her wait, Lana said, “Or I could remind you that I’m perfectly capable of asking you out a second time, which is becoming less likely by the moment.”

Rick’s lips curved. “Changing your mind about me so fast?”

“Never. I know a good thing when I see one.”

He blinked as if surprised at the compliment. Then his hazel eyes grew greener, the way he was looking at her making Lana’s pulse race. Carl brought back the bill, and after Lana had waved off Rick’s offer to leave the tip, she signed the check and stood. The combination of Rick’s manners and appreciation of her capabilities was sexy beyond belief. She’d spent an evening in his company and had not felt like she had to prove herself, defend herself, or keep her defenses up once.

Taxidermy aside, it might have been the best dinner date she’d ever had.

“What are you doing tonight?” Rick asked her huskily. “Because I’d love to take you out again, someplace better. Dessert and drinks at the resort? I can call ahead, see if Hannah would score us one of those outdoor fireplaces on the balcony, the ones with the couches.”

“Are we talking ice cream and Kahlúa?”

“I was thinking red wine and chocolate cake.”

Sighing contentedly, Lana all but purred at the thought of snuggling next to this man by a warm winter fire. “You’re reading my mind.”

Rick’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “And this time, I’ll be lucid enough to enjoy a couch with you.”

“I was wondering if I was going to manage to get through tonight without that being brought up. You tranquilize a guy one time…”

Chuckling, Rick moved behind Lana as she started to put on her jacket, holding it for her so slipping her arms inside the sleeves was easier. Even though she was more than capable of putting on a jacket all by herself, Lana appreciated the gesture. It was as if every small kindness was innate to his personality, subconsciously done.

One meal together and Lana was ready to kiss Rick senseless. Unfortunately, a twitchy Carl was determined to ruin the mood.

“Hey, guys, it’s actually coming down really bad,” he said at them. “You two shouldn’t try to drive anywhere in this.”

The darkness outside the windows made it hard to see what Carl was talking about, so they went out to the parking lot. Sure enough, the light flurry they’d driven through on the way to dinner—the kind of snow so often encountered in this area—had turned into a heavy fall. The wind had picked up, making the visibility dangerously lowered.

“I didn’t think it was supposed to be this bad.” Lana frowned out at where the road should have been.

Rick scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well, back home, it’s probably not as thick. We’re in a bit of a bad area, weather wise.”

“It will let up eventually though. Right?”

Hope tinged her tone, but Rick gave her a pained look. “Maybe. I’d hate to start out and get stuck in this. I don’t think freezing to death would be a great way to spend the evening.”