Page 57 of Spurred On

He nodded. “My parents eat off each other’s plates all the time.”

“It works best with dessert,” she told him solemnly.

“Hmm. We’ll have to try that out tonight.”

“Oh, let’s.”

It didn’t occur to her until later that she’d actually brought up marriage on the first date, which was an absolute no-no. But he hadn’t freaked out the way most men might. He just took the conversational ball and rolled with it.

There was such . . . comfort with him. It made her wonder if all that passion she had with Cody was overrated. When they were together, they mostly fought with each other . . . if they weren’t screwing like bunnies.

She didn’t want a relationship filled with angst. She wanted something like this. Something sweet. Comfortable. And—dare she say it?—safe.

But then she looked at Ben, at his intent, solemn stare, and something in her chest pinged. Because even if she wanted something like that, even if she was willing to forego the blinding passion for emotional safety . . . would that be fair to him?

She could tell he was a passionate soul, and she could tell he was attracted to her. And while she found him appealing and funny and adorable . . . the sizzle just wasn’t there.

“So tell me about yourself,” he asked after the waiter took their order.

She lifted a shoulder. “Not much to tell. I lived in Snake Gully ’til I graduated, then I moved to Dallas.”

“And what do you do?”

Heat crept up her cheeks. Not that she was embarrassed, but she kind of was. “You’ve seen those bikini barista stands?”

He chuckled. “I’ve gone through one or two.”

“Yeah, well, that’s me.”

“Really?” He leaned back and took a sip of his drink. “Doesn’t it get cold?”

“Sometimes.”

“What drew you to bikini . . . barista-ing?”

“Just fell into it, I guess. When I moved to Dallas I needed a job.”

“Why did you leave Snake Gully? It seems like a nice town.”

She laughed. “Have you been there?”

“I’ve heard stories from Logan and Diane.”

“I suppose it is pretty nice. I mean, we have our characters—”

“Yeah, I know all about Zack.”

Sidney wrinkled her nose. “He’s the worst. I’m so happy Hanna’s not marrying him. I was so afraid our plan wouldn’t work.”

Ben narrowed his eyes and leaned in. “What plan?”

Oh. Crap.“Ah . . .” she stalled.

He nudged her with his foot under the table. “You have to spill it now.”

She sighed. “Okay. The idea was to hold the bachelorette party at the Stud Ranch and have Cody invite one of his friends to seduce Hanna.”

Ben’s jaw dropped. “Wait. Cody? Cody Silver?”