Free Royal Trouble by Becky McGraw Page A

her smile faltered a little, like his lack of enthusiasm had hurt her feelings. 
    Nice ?  What he meant to say was she looked like a walking wet dream, something he was sure he was going to be very familiar with tonight.  How he was going to keep his hands to himself, Wes didn't know.  "Do you know how to drive a truck?" he asked suddenly, because he was going to need a lot more liquor in his system to get through this.
    "I haven't ever driven one, is it automatic?" she asked looking puzzled.
    "It's automatic."  Just like his response to her.
    "Oh, that's perfect then.  Shouldn't be a problem," she replied with one of those blinding smiles of hers, as she passed him to walk to the front door.
    Perfect.  Just like her in that red dress.  Wes followed her like his shiny black boots were lined with lead, as they walked outside and got into the truck.
    Wes turned the radio to a country station during the drive, so he didn't have to talk.  When they got there, he parked the truck then went around to open the door for her.  Even though this wasn't a date, it was the polite thing to do. 
    Leigh Ann scooted toward him to put her foot on the running board, and the skirt of her dress hiked up to the top of her thighs.  Wes swallowed down the lust that slammed into him, and held his hand up to her, trying to avoid looking at her smooth thighs. 
    But she couldn't find her balance, and he got tired of waiting in the cloud of honeysuckle perfume, so he put his hands at her waist and lifted her down,  As soon as her heels touched the ground, he dropped his hands to his sides and stepped back.
    "Wes, are you okay?" she asked looking a little hurt.
    "Yeah, fine." Wes knew he was being an ass again, so he tried to soften his words by forcing a smile and sticking his arm out to her after he shut the door and locked it.  She slid her arm through his, and her breast brushed his bicep, her heat burning through the sleeve of his shirt.
    This isn't a date , Wes reminded himself yet again as they walked through the front door of the restaurant, and several cowboys eyes swung her way.  And stayed there.
    Automatically, he shot them a back-off glare, but then he looked down at Leigh Ann.  She didn't even seem to notice.  She wasn't pandering to them or flirting to let them know she knew they were looking.  She was looking up at him.  Their eyes connected, and she gave him a warm smile that melted his insides.
    Amazing, and unexpected.  He smiled back then put his arm at her lower back to lead her to the hostess stand.  They followed the hostess across the dining area, and again, Leigh Ann never noticed the attention she received.  People literally stopped talking to stare at her, but Leigh Ann didn't make eye contact with anyone, she stared straight ahead at the back of the waitress guiding them to their table.
    When they reached the table, he quickly pulled out her chair for her and she gracefully floated into it, then smiled up at him.  Wes took a chair across the table from her, because this was not a date .  She frowned, but covered it by flicking her napkin open in front of her face, before settling it in her lap.  Wes did the same, then leaned his forearms on the table to pick up the menu. 
    "What looks good?" he asked flipping it open.  Wes wanted to get this show on the road, and get this dinner over with.  It had been a bad, bad idea and he had no idea why he even suggested it.
    "How about a drink?" the waiter asked with a chuckle.  "Unless you're in a hurry?"
    Leigh Ann's eyes met the waiter's and she winked.  "I'll have a Shirley Temple.  I'm driving."
    "Crown and Coke," Wes said gruffly.  The damned man was standing there flirting with Leigh Ann with him sitting here.  He didn't know this wasn't a date .  "I'm not driving, but I am taking her home, so you better hurry."
    The waiter eyed him, then looked back at Leigh Ann.  "I wouldn't be drinking too much with this pretty lady on your arm, mister.  Some