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not-quite-but-nearly-a-yankee doing in Walker Creek, Texas on this fine Saturday night ?” he rephrased, but that did n’ t seem to appease the woman.
    She paused for a little too long before answering .“ My rental broke down up the road. I t’ s at the garage. I’ ll be leaving town as soon as i t’ s running again .”
    And was n’ t that a damn shame. Beau had been hoping his little yankee was new in town. H e’ d followed her down the hall and walked into that damn door on purpose. Sh e’ d thrown it open though, and caught him off guard, hitting him in the face instead of the shoulder like h e’ d hoped. All in an effort to get a shot at that hot ass before any of the other cowboys in town set eyes on her.
    “ Yo u’ re breaking my heart, darli n’ . I thought I was falli n’ in love .” He sighed dramatically.
    “ I bet you say that to all the girls .” She giggled and smacked his arm.
    “ No, m a’ am. I have never told a woman I was in love, or falli n’ in that direction .” He smiled, but the truth of the statement struck him .“I’ ve only ever loved one woman. And she raised me, so deserves my unending love and affection . ”
    He held Kesslyn close, and they swayed to the music for another song while they chatted about inconsequential things like the heat in Texas compared to the humidity in Baltimore. Beau could n’ t relate, having never been that far northeast. She steered the conversation away from anything too personal. The excitement of finding such a lovely lady in such an unexpected place turned to regret. Beau was seriously attracted Kesslyn and wished he had the opportunity to know her better. He should have just gone home after the reception.
    Kesslyn yawned widely, covering her mouth. She stepped back out of his arms, and he knew it was time for goodbye.
    “I’ m really sorry I hit you with the door, Beau .” She stroked the little bruise forming on his brow.
    “ I t’ s nothing. Really .” He shrugged it off.
    “ Thank you for the dance .” She was still swaying a bit.
    Dancing with a woman who could reach his face without going up on her toes was a first for him, and he liked it. He liked her a lot, and he hated to see her go.
    “I’ m going to head back to my room. I t’ s been a really long day for me .” She smiled weakly. The woman looked dead on her feet.
    “ Hey, why do n’ t you let me give you a ride? I’ m heading out, too .” It was stupid, but Beau did n’ t want the evening to end just yet.
    She looked a little wary at first, but she agreed with a nod of her sleepy head. Beau wrapped an arm around her, and they made their way through the other couples to the door. He knew everyone was watching them go, and there would be gossip all over town about him and the sexy redhead. He smiled. Life in a small town was like that. If he ordered something different than his usual at the diner everyone would know it.
    Outside Beau opened the driver side door of his Silverado and helped Kesslyn climb in.
    “ I do n’ t think I should drive .” She looked at him with big confused blue eyes.
    “ I know, darli n’ . Scoot over, but do n’ t you scoot too far. I’ d like to keep you close for a little longer .” Christ, was that him being all . . . sweet? What the hell, man?
    Kesslyn smiled sweetly and complied, moving over to the middle of the bench seat. That was what was up, right there. He wanted as many of her smiles as he could get. If he could get a kiss before she disappeared into the night it would be even better. He needed to know if she tasted as sweet as she looked.
     
    ****
     
    Kesslyn sat close to the big Texan with their fingers entwined. Sh e’ d never been a hand holder. Not since she was little and held her mom or da d’ s hand everywhere they went. It was surprisingly intimate to sit that close and hold onto each other that way. She liked the comforting sensation of being palm to palm. Suddenly she was n’ t quite so alone in the