The grass at the side of the road had barely begun to green up, but it was warm—springtime warm, with the sun painting the sky with pastel hues that screamed happiness.
Josiah turned down the dead-end off Mitchell’sroad. Lisa’s truck was parked to the side, out of sight from curious drivers. As the road dipped to the north, then curved to the west, he slowed to enjoy the scenario Lisa had created.
She was strolling down the middle of the road—strutting, really—and a thrill raced through him.
The closer he got, the more his amusement rose. Lisa looked every inch a country rock star. A guitar hung over her shoulder and she wore a cowboy hat and boots with a barely-there skirt—damn, he liked that she remembered things.
But the laugh that burst free was because she’d brought Ollie and the instant the dog heard Josiah’s truck, she’d stopped moving right there on the road. The dog glanced at him, then toward Lisa, then back to him as if utterly torn which direction to go.
Josiah pulled over to the side of the road behind Lisa’s truck.
Lisa twisted, waiting for him with a wide grin in place as he marched forward.
She eyed him up and down, gaze lingering on his chest and the formal tie he’d quickly knotted into place before leaving the cab.
If anything, the happiness in her expression increased. “Hey, stranger. Have you come to save me?”
“If you need it. Maybe you’ve come to save me.” He stopped a foot away from her and looked down in admiration. “Been a long time since anybody serenaded me.”
“And you think I’m willing to do some…serenading?”
He grinned. “Yes, please.”
She laughed, sliding toward him and tucking the guitar behind her back so he could pick her up, kissing heatedly before returning to his truck.
Lisa whispered as she tapped on his shoulder. “Sorry to break character, but I have to put the guitar away because if something happens to it, Walker Stone will have my head.”
Too funny.
He lowered her so she could head to her truck. She pulled out a guitar case, tucking everything away carefully and laying the case across the front seat of her truck. Meanwhile, Josiah grabbed Ollie and put her in the back of his truck bed so she’d not be underfoot or wandering unsupervised.
They finished their tasks at the same time, Lisa turning to him, wiping her hands clean.
Josiah paused. “Are we ready for the next act?” he whispered.
“I think so,” she whispered back. “Nice outfit, by the way.”
She gestured at his tie.
“I figure it’s what all the best-dressed reclusive billionaire eccentrics are wearing this year.”
Lisa wrapped her fist around the fabric and used it to tug him toward her. Lifting her voice back to full volume with a sexy lilt, she stepped back into character. “You’ll have to take me back to your place later so I can play for you. But I’m feeling a little shy and lonely.”
“I can cheer you up,” he promised. Josiah pressed her against his truck and, as always, passion flared.
At least it did until a wet tongue slid up the side of his face. Josiah pulled back in shock to discover Ollie frantically attempting to give Lisa a tongue bath as well. “Ollie. Down.”
Dejectedly, Ollie jumped off the raised truck bed where she’d been balancing precariously and made her way to the back of the flat bed, wagging her tail furiously until Josiah came to grab her.
“We can’t have you running all over the countryside while we’re busy,” he explained, opening the truck door and dropping the dog inside. He cracked open the window then snatched up a set of blankets. A moment later, he had closed the door firmly and tossed the pile of material into the back of the truck.
“Are we going to be busy?” Lisa asked innocently.
“It’s a good way to not be lonely,” he said.
Josiah loosened his tie before picking her up and easing them onto the tailgate.
Soon they had the blankets spread out and he was looking down at the prettiest cowgirl he’d ever seen. “I love you,” he said past a throat that had gone tight.
