The next day at work I cannot keep the smile off my face. I spent the rest of last night playing with Poe and cuddling on the couch with him. It also felt wonderful to sleep next to a warm body. I don’t give two shits that it was a dog because it was my dog and the best cuddle buddy I could ever ask for.

Besides practically stealing my dog back, Easton managed to stop at a pet store and buy food, bowls, toys, treats, and a bed. Everything I could need to have Poe back in my life, that man did. And I still can’t figure out why. I don’t understand what is so special about me. I am just some girl who practically ran away from her life because she couldn’t stand up to her husband. Then got stuck in a small town because she didn’t even have money to get herself out. I’m kind of a poor excuse for a human being at this point.

I switch back to thinking about my dog because I thought that was what was keeping the smile on my face. Well and that absolutely dreamy, toe-curling, kiss that still has me wanting more.

“What has got you beamin’ a smile so big you practically need sunglasses to look at you? Seriously your smile can probably be seen from space!” Ivy jolts my thoughts back to reality.

I tone down the smile, barely. “I got Poe back!”

She looks at me and folds her arms across her chest. “How in the world did you get your dog all the way from Chicago? I know you couldn’t have driven there overnight and you were with me all weekend. So spill it, sugar.”

“Easton was in Milwaukee and he stopped in Chicago so—”

“Wait a second,” she interrupts, her hands in the air in front of me. “Easton brought you your dog?”

I nod my head. “He made his sister pretend to be me and she convinced the daycare Poe was at to give Poe to him. He—“

“He stole your dog!” she shouts, once again interrupting me. She shakes her head, a smile blooming on her face. “That man has it bad for you.”

A blush creeps up my cheeks. “Yeah, well…I know that now and—“

“Oh my god, you finally slept with him!” This time she practically screams and the handful of people in the diner turn to look at us. I am just happy the Sergeants left.

“I didn’t sleep with him!” I whisper-shout. “But he kissed me. And—“

“Oh honey, you got it bad too.”

“I do not have it bad,” I defend myself. Although I am not entirely sure that is true.

“Mmm hmm. You just keep tellin’ yourself that. But that smile tells me a lot more than you think.” Someone walks in the diner and she moves to go seat them. Turning her head back to me she says, “I’ll start planning y’all’s weddin’ soon.”

I’m tempted to throw a towel at her because I have no intention of marrying anyone soon, or ever, for that matter. I go back to stacking coffee cups to keep myself busy. The door chimes again but I keep working because I assume Ivy will seat them. I grab a handful of dirty towels and turn around to take them to the hamper and run right into a very hard chest.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“I feel like we’ve done this before.”

“Maybe,” I mutter, suddenly very aware of the fact that his hands have wrapped around my waist and are grabbing my butt.

“This part might be a little different though.”

I look at him in confusion just before his hot mouth lands on mine. I stiffen at first because I am pretty sure everyone in this diner is staring at us. But I relax into his arms as his small hello kiss quickly turns into an “oh my god I want to rip our clothes off kiss.” I forget about the people in the diner and throw the towels on the floor and wrap my arms around his neck, my hands finding their way into his hair, pulling his mouth closer to mine. He emits a small groan that has my whole body turning to mush. But it all ends too soon as he pulls himself away from my mouth.

“Yeah, that was a lot different.” The side of his mouth lifting into a crooked grin.

The sound of a few throats clearing takes over the diner and I now remember exactly where I am. I let my head fall into his chest to hide my embarrassment and he bellows loud, warm laughter moving his arms up my back to comfort me.

“I told you, y’all got it bad.” Ivy laughs as she grabs the towels I threw on the floor and walks away.

I scrunch my face up at her and stick my tongue out even though I know she can’t see me. Easton smiles down at me a look in his eyes I don’t know how to take. One of his hands comes to my face cupping my cheek the other still firmly planted on my back. “So are you okay with going out with me tonight?”

I smile. “Are you actually asking me? I’m surprised you aren’t telling me, ‘I’ll pick you up at eight.’”

He puts on the pant-dropping grin that I love so much. “Seven.”

“What if I have plans tonight?” I question him.

“I was being nice by asking. And I know you don’t have plans. You didn’t say no. So now I am telling you. Be ready at seven.” His tone turning stern.

I roll my eyes at him. “Whatever you say.”

His hands move back down to my butt, squeezing slightly, his voice turning playful. “Oh sweet cheeks, you are gonna be in for a wild ride tonight.”

I run my finger up the center of his chest. “Is that so?”

He smirks. “I have yet to make you country.”

Then he turns around and walks out. No kiss goodbye. Hell, he didn’t even say goodbye!

“I think you best wear those cowboy boots tonight. Prove to him you found a little country in Nashville,” Ivy says from behind me as I watch him walk across the street. I turn around and grin at her because I think she might be on to something.

“I might need your help. I think you should make me look as country as possible.”

She cackles, and I know she is more than happy to help plot something.

“You sure you don’t like these jeans that much?” Ivy asks me as we go through my closet after work.

I shrug. “I don’t even know the last time I wore them.”

“Good. Bring me some scissors?” She sticks her hand out, opening and closing her palm, waiting.

I walk into the kitchen and grab scissors and bring them back to her.

“What are you going to do with these?” I ask as I hand them to her.

“Magic.”

Really? That’s all she is going to say. I sigh and sit down on the bed. Poe jumps up next to me and rests his head in my lap. I scratch behind his ears and he grunts before rolling onto his back.

“Alright. The magic is done. Now you just need a white t-shirt. A tight one.” Ivy stands up from the floor, hiding whatever “magic” she just worked behind her back.

“Why does it have to be white?” I am pretty sure the only white t-shirt I have might still have a ketchup stain that won’t come out.

Ivy stashes whatever she was hiding and runs to my dresser. “Because.”

She starts throwing clothes out of my drawer left and right. “You are going to pick those up, right?”

“Of course darlin’.” She doesn’t sound very convincing.

I lean back on my elbows on the bed contemplating if I really should have asked her for help. A heather gray V-neck shirt lands on my face and I pull it off. I forgot I had this. And I’m pretty sure it’s from college and probably two sizes too small.

“This is too small. I can’t wear this.”

Ivy places her hands on her hips and stares me down. “Uh-huh, honey. You are puttin’ that on and these.” She throws the denim and me. At least what’s left of the denim. I don’t even think they could pass as shorts, maybe underwear.

“No way. I am not leaving the house in these,” I say while shaking my head. “I’m sure I have a dress I can wear.”

Ivy grabs my arm and pushes me into the bathroom. “You said you wanted my help and I’m giving it. Now humor me and put it on. I wanna see. Then we can decide what color boots to wear.”

I reluctantly change into the damn shorts and t-shirt. I don’t even look in the mirror because I know I look like a hooker. Ivy holds her hands out halting me in place then hands me the brown cowboy boots I had picked up in Nashville. I slip them on and she pulls me in front of the mirror, a smile plastered on her face.

Maybe I was wrong. Even though these shorts feel like my ass is hanging out they fit me perfectly. They show off my semi-muscular legs that I developed from running. I know that if I slightly bend over my ass cheeks will show. The top is a little tight, spilling my cleavage out the top but somehow the whole outfit comes together. I feel sexy for the first time in a long time.

“You definitely look like a country girl now. You ready to go line dancing?”

“Line dancing?!” I shriek. Hell no. I am not going line dancing. I might secretly like some country music, but line dancing is where I draw the line.

Ivy looks at me like I just screamed fire. “Oops. Did I spill the beans? Easton said he was going to take you on a country date. Ain’t nothin’ more country than goin’ to The County Line.”

I look at her with unease. I can pull off the country look but being around all those people is going to give me anxiety. It is a Tuesday, but for some reason, I don’t think days of the week matter here when it comes to drinking.

“Relax Harper. You are gonna have so much fun.”

I pull on a piece of my hair and bite my lip. “I don’t know how to line dance. Chicago isn’t exactly a prime spot for line dancing.”

Ivy walks up to me and pulls the hair from my hand. She forces me to sit on the bed and then kneels behind me as she starts to put my hair in some sort of updo. “Honey, half the people there don’t know how to line dance. But it’s fun. Trust me. I would tell Trace to take me there tonight, but I think that would just be awkward.”

“Well, what if he doesn’t even take me there and I am dressed like this for no reason.” I plea trying to find some way to maybe get out of this.

“I don’t think he’s gonna care where he takes you once he sees you. You look sexy as sin and he’s gonna have trouble keepin’ it in his pants.”

I let out a laugh as I pick at the hem of my newly made shorts. “You think so?”

She gets up off the bed and I look to the side to see my normally flat hair looking full and thick in a bouncy ponytail. “Easton is head over heels for you. I could tell from that first night we had dinner at my house. He couldn’t take his eyes off you. Whenever you were lookin’ a different way, he was staring at you. I know he’s talked to Trace about you, but I tried to stay out of it.”

I look at her in disbelief. This woman can’t keep out of anything.

She holds her hands up in front of her. “I swear to God. Anytime they bring you up they leave the room or go out. It’s like they don’t trust me.” I laugh, and she smiles. “Well look at the time. It’s almost seven. I should leave before I am caught here telling you secrets about your date.”

I walk her to the door and tell her I’ll see her at work tomorrow. She tells me I don’t need to come in until nine just in case I decide clothes are optional tonight. I push her out the door, shaking my head.

I walk into the kitchen and sit at the breakfast bar. I look down at my outfit. I would not be caught dead in this back in Chicago. I contemplate changing and just as I am about to get up to do it the doorbell rings. I exhale and grab my purse from the counter.

I open the door and see a very sexy cowboy standing in front of me. He has on that damn cowboy hat that makes my knees weak for some reason. Maybe it’s the way I can just see his eyes peeking out from under it or the way his hair curls up more when it’s on. He’s wearing a tight black t-shirt exposing his inked biceps and muscular forearms. His jeans leave little to the imagination. They are skin tight. And I am pretty sure I can see a bulge in the front of them.

“Like what you see?” he says with a shit-eating grin on his face. I would smack him, but I know that I was definitely staring for longer than what is considered appropriate.

“You’ll do,” I say as I shut the door behind me. I breeze right on past his gaping mouth and toward his truck. I open the door to get in when two large hands grab my waist and turn me around.

“What the hell are you wearing, sweet cheeks?” He practically growls in my face. At first, I worry that I did dress wrong but then I look into his eyes where a burning fire is ablaze and I suddenly feel like I don’t even want to go out and maybe all those jokes about truck beds is a better idea.

“I thought we were doing something country. So I dressed the part.” I try to move out of his grip, but he just holds me tighter.

“Every guy in that place is gonna have their eyes all over you.” I can feel his breath on my lips, our noses almost touching.

I take a deep breath and speak the truth. “Good thing I’m only gonna have eyes on one guy.”

His mouth is on mine the second I finish the sentence. His hands slide to my ass and skim my exposed butt cheeks. He pulls me tightly against him as he growls into my mouth. “Right answer.”

I grab his thick biceps as he lifts my legs around his waist slamming me into the side of his truck. His kisses start to move down the side of my neck and down my chest to my overly exposed breasts. I moan as he licks them, a surge of heat dampening my panties. I sure as hell hope this is how every kiss with him will feel. And if this is how kisses feel then how will everything else feel? The thought alone sends chills up my spine.

He makes his way back up my neck and sucks on my ear. “We better get out of here or else we are never leaving.”

He gives me one final kiss before helping me into the passenger seat. As he jumps in the truck on his side, he says, “You might look like a country girl right now, but after tonight I’m gonna make you one.”

I roll my eyes then lean over and give him a kiss.