But last night had appeared to have accepted her denial, had acted like a perfect gentleman, had driven them all back to the ranch and said good-night almost absentmindedly, as if he'd forgotten they existed at all.
He was doing his duty, entertaining the aunt. That's all it was.
"You put a lot of thought into this," she said, once they were on the main road.
"What do you mean?"
"Finding out what I liked to do. Locating antique shops."
"I lost at poker." Andrew smiled at her before turning his attention back to the road ahead. Rose realized exactly how handsome he was. "So I got you." The statement seemed funny to her. "You got Francisca's Aunt Roro?"
"Yes ma'am. I'm to chaperone the elderly auntie and make sure she has a good time."
"I'm really sorry," She managed to say, but she couldn't help laughing. She even forget for a moment that she was embarrassed about February. And nervous to be alone with him. "You must have had terrible cards."
"Worst hands of my life," he said. "I lost twenty-one dollars, too."
"I should buy you lunch."
He glanced toward her again, but this time his expression was serious. "You also owe me breakfast, Roro."
She was too surprised to pretend she didn't know what he was talking about. Rose stared at the expanse of land that stretched toward the horizon.
There was nothing to see expect distant fences and occasional outbuilding.
"Could we at least get this out in the open?" Andrew asked. "I'm not much for games."
"Neither am I."
"No?" He glanced in the rearview mirror, then slowed the car to park on the side of the road. There wasn't another car in sight as he switched off the engine and turned to face her. "You want to get this over with?"
More than anything, she thought, unless she could continue to pretend it never happened. "This is very embarrassing."
"Why?" He frowned.
"I never thought I see you again," she said, facing him.
"But you have. So?"
"So...I don't know what to say." She knew her face was hot, despite the air-conditioned coolness inside the car. "I don't expect you to believe me, but I've never done anything like that before in my life."
"I don't make a habit of making love with strangers either," he said, a half-smile creasing his tanned face. "But you can't expect me to act like it didn't happen."
"I really wish you would."
He shook his head. "No way, lady. That was one hell of a snowstorm. And one hell of a night."
"WE'RE ALONE," Bobby said, grinning at Francisca Handel.
He really was the cutest thing, she thought once again. And when he took her hand and pulled closer, she didn't resist. Not one bit.
"I hope Aunt Roro has a good time," she said, feeling the tiniest bit guilty about sending her aunt off with that quiet Andrew Johnson. "I don't think she likes Andrew very much."
Bobby tugged her toward the hay barn. "Everybody likes Andrew, once they get to know him."
"Where are we going?"
"The barn."
"Why?" She hurried to match his long strides.
"What about training the horses?"
"They can wait," he said, grinning at her. "I can't."
Francisca giggled, thinking of various wonderful things that could be done in the privacy of a hayloft.
"Is that why you are in such a hurry?"
He stopped and tugged her against him.
He was hard in all the right places, she noted, feeling a thrill at the thought of being alone with him. They'd never actually done it, though they'd come close a few times at her roommate's home.
"Honey," he groaned, tickling her earlobe with his lips. "If Mrs Martin hadn't stopped talking to you about vacuum cleaners, I would have hurt myself."
"Hey!"
Francisca peered around Bobby's shoulder to see Marty coming toward them. "Hi," she said, as Bobby swore under his breath and draped his arm around her shoulder.
"What?" Bobby asked in an irritated tone.
"Andrew said I'm supposed to help you with the horses today." He tipped his hat to Francisca. "Hi, there."
"Later." Bobby tried to insist.
"Hi," Francisca replied, wishing Bobby didn't sound so rude. They were going to have hours alone together, so one little conversation couldn't hurt.
"Andrew said," Marty insisted. "And there will be hell to pay if I don't do what he said. I'm not gonna spend my day off mucking out stalls, that's for sure."
"Jeez," Bobby sighed. "Can't you give a guy a break?"
"Nope." Marty winked at Francisca. "I hope you don't mind, Francisca Handel, but we have got work to do."
"I don't mind," she replied, giving Bobby a smile.
"You said you were going to show me on how to train horses, remember? And maybe there'd be time to go for a ride?"
"A ride?" Marty grinned. "The twins wanted to come out this afternoon, so we could all go somewhere together."
"I'm not a very good rider," Francisca admitted. "But I do like to see more of the ranch."
"Don't worry, honey," Bobby said, giving Marty a dirty look. "I will give you the grand tour. Marty, why don't you start with the pinto pony and I will catch up with you in a while?"
Francisca blushed to think that Marty would know why there were going to the barn and what they might be doing there. "No, Bobby. Am not going to keep you from work." She ducked out from under his arm and took his hand. "Show me what a cowboy does."
He tugged her against him and lowered his voice.
"Honey, I will be glad to do that if you will go with me to the barn."
Francisca laughed, tempted once again, but Marty interrupted them. "Oh, yeah," he said. "Shorty wanted me to tell you that he can't find your dog."
"What?" she asked.
"Huh?" Bobby shrugged. "Gus is always around here somewhere."
"Not Gus," Marty said. "The little guy. what's his name?"
"Pookie?" Francisca squeaked. "He's lost?"
"Well," the cowboy drawled. "Just for a while."
"Oh, my God," Francisca said, looking around the vast area of ranch buildings and fences. Everything looked dangerous, considering Pookie's size and trusting nature. "Aunt Roro's going to have a fit! Once I get married, he's the only thing she will have left."
*****
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