Free In The Moment by Vallory Vance Page B

and a
‘thanks, ma’am’ thrown around for good measure.
    After having been cooped up in her home
for months mourning her failed engagement with Harold and working
out like a mad woman, the thought of relieving stress with Kevin
instead of her elliptical machine thrilled her. Of course, she knew
that she couldn’t ever live out her fantasy with the real life
cowboy. Kevin was technically her employee for the next several
months and she doubted that cowboys ventured outside of their race
for rolls in the hay.
    Still she had chosen a blouse with a
dangerously low neckline and a fitted black skirt that showed her
curves. She was proud of the body that had emerged during her
self-imposed exile. She had joined a volleyball league, regaining
her passion for the sport and was eating healthier.
    The result was a trim body, smooth skin
and the longest hair that she had ever had in her life. Giving up
cheesecake hadn’t been easy but it was worth it as she noticed a
long glance from a cute guy at the bar.
    “Friend of yours?” A deep voice sounded
behind her.
    She turned and flashed a broad smile,
feeling warmth in her cheeks. Luckily, she was dark enough not to
blush. She shook her head. “No. No. Did you already get a
table?”
    “Right this way.” He placed his hand on
the small of her back and guided her to a table overlooking a
lighted pond. He held her chair out for her and she sat
down.
    Amber flipped her hair back. While it
was easy to maintain as a straight cut, her hair tended to clump on
one side her head and she had to move it at times. “This is
beautiful.” She said pointing toward the pond.
    “Yeah.”
    Amber turned to see that his eyes were
focused on the front of her blouse and not the scenery. She clasped
her hands in front of her chest, bringing his eyes to hers. “So
what’s the problem with the gallery?”
    “Can’t we order first?” He motioned for
someone behind her. “So we won’t be disturbed.” His light brown
eyes twinkled.
    A server appeared before she could
respond to him. “Ummm, I’ll just have water to start. I haven’t
looked at the menu.”
    “It’s a steak place. They have steak.”
He grinned at her.
    “I’m not in the mood for steak. I told
you that.” She looked up at the server. “I’ll need a minute before
I order.”
    “Bring me a bottled beer, your choice.”
The server retreated with a nod.
    Amber perused the menu. When she
glanced up she saw that Kevin was staring at her. “Can I help
you?”
    “Just trying to figure out what you
hope to find at a steak restaurant if you’re not eating steak.” He
chuckled.
    Amber closed the menu and placed it on
the table. “I know what I want.” She tried to keep from smiling at
his handsome features set in an amused expression. She turned her
attention to the pond again.
    Within moments, the server appeared and
she ordered grilled tilapia with broccoli. “Is the broccoli cooked
in butter?”
    “No, ma’am.” The server shook his head
and turned to Kevin.
    “Well, I’ll take her butter and a
porterhouse, medium rare. Give me a baked potato with sour cream,
cheddar cheese and bacon.”
    “I can hear his arteries hardening as
he’s ordering, can’t you?” Amber looked up at the young server with
a grin.
    Kevin laughed and slapped the table
top. The server excused himself and disappeared into the back.
“California?”
    “What?”
    “You have to be from the West Coast. No
accent and your obsession with fish and vegetables. You can’t be
from Texas.”
    “Actually, I was born in Guam and I
have lived almost everywhere as a military brat.”
    “Okay, you got me.” He leaned back and
ran a hand through his short, dark wavy hair. “So what brings you
to Texas?”
    Maybe it was his relaxed nature or his
intense stare as if she was the only person in the room, Amber
found herself readily telling him about growing up in different
states and her college years in Southern California where she
discovered her love of