Free Roping the Rancher (Harlequin American Romance) by Julie Benson Page A

people shot pool or tossed darts in one of the game rooms. The stage and dance floor took up one end of the restaurant. The tantalizing smell of fried food wafted through the air, making her stomach growl. How long had it been since she’d had anything fried?
    Definitely not since she starred in The Kids Run the Place. The producers had been sticklers about her weight. Once her mother found that out she’d instituted daily weigh-ins and kept a log of every bit of food that went into Stacy’s mouth.
    When she asked for a table for two, the perky little cowgirl hostess informed them it would be about an hour before she could get them a table. Stacy turned to her brother. “How about we go home, grab something to eat and come back to hear the band?”
    “I guess so,” Ryan answered, disappointment filling his voice.
    As they turned to leave, someone called his name. “Hey, there’s Jess and her dad.” Without even asking if she minded, he maneuvered his walker around the tables toward them, leaving Stacy no choice but to follow.
    She hadn’t seen Colt since Ryan’s therapy, and wasn’t prepared for how at ease and how handsome he looked. Tomorrow when she met him for her volunteer training she’d be ready, but not now.
    “We just ordered, but you can join us. Can’t they, Dad?” Jess said.
    Colt nodded as he shifted in his chair. “Sure.” His tight tone told Stacy he wasn’t any happier about this than she was.
    “Great,” Ryan said, and plopped his long body into the chair beside Jess.
    “We don’t want to intrude,” Stacy said in a last-ditch attempt to get out of the situation, but her brother and Jess were already in a deep discussion about the merits of tonight’s band.
    “It’s a lost cause. They aren’t listening.” Colt slid the remaining chair away from the table. “If I promise to be good and not to throw you over my shoulder again, will you have a seat?”
    I don’t want you to be good. I want to feel your arms around me again.
    Where had that thought come from?
    Stacy no sooner sat down when Jess and Ryan stood. “We’re going to play darts. Text me when my food comes. I’ll come get it. Ryan can order his food in the game room.” Then the teenagers left before she or Colt could protest.
    Once alone silence settled around her and Colt. She toyed with the plastic menu. Talk about awkward. The last time she had a first date hadn’t been this uncomfortable. That’s the problem. With the teenagers gone this felt like a date. Not good. She needed to get out of here quick.
    Since Ryan had found Jess to hang around with, Stacy could go home and curl up on the couch to watch a movie. That’s what she should do, but somehow the idea sounded much better earlier. Now her plans sounded—pathetic.
    “I’m going to leave. I can pick up Ryan later.”
    Coward.
    Yup.
    Colt’s hand covered hers when she tried to push away from the table. The simple contact sent shivers through her. They both jerked away as if they’d touched a hot stove. When was the last time she felt this kind of excitement with a man?
    Way too long.
    His blue gaze locked on her. “You can’t leave me here to eat alone. First Jess dumps me and now you want to. A man’s ego can only take so much.” He had the most soul searching eyes. They could strip a girl defenseless in seconds. “Stay.”
    Her mouth went dry. Her heart rate skyrocketed.
    “All right. I’ll make the sacrifice so you don’t have to sit here alone.” She picked up the menu, thankful that her hands didn’t shake.
    “Who’s your friend, Colt?”
    The waitress, a curvy blonde in jeans so tight it was a wonder she could walk, strutted up to their table. She eyed Colt as if she was a five-year-old birthday girl and he was one of her presents.
    “Jenna, this is Stacy Michaels. Her brother, Ryan, and Jess are friends from school.”
    “I thought you looked familiar. You were one of the finalists in that dating show Griffin McAlister was on.”
    Here