Somebody Like You by Lynnette Austin Page A

No, my hands are fine. Honest.” She reached for his, prepared this time for the jolt. “I’ve never danced in Texas, so you’re going to have to show me how to do this.”
    “It’s a waltz.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “A Western waltz.” He drew her into him, spun her around the floor. “Look. Everybody in here is trying to figure out exactly who you are. How we met. How deeply we’re involved. And how a cowboy like me managed to get a looker like you out here on the dance floor.”
    She struggled to put distance between them, but he shook his head and tugged her closer still. “Huh-uh. Let’s give them something to talk about.”
    “You’re bad, Cash.”
    Annelise swore his eyes twinkled. “I’m gonna take that as a compliment.”
    She threw her head back and laughed. This was fun. And it melted her insides. He was remarkably light on his feet. One dance stretched into two, then three. As he held her close, she smiled. It was nice to be able to be herself. To not have to impress or pretend. To put away her worries.
    In the next day or two, she’d have to see about getting to Lone Tree to start making inquiries. But for tonight, she could simply enjoy. Simply be Annie. For this little while, all her mother’s rules faded away. No expectations, no bodyguards, no formalities. Just her and this beautiful cowboy.
    The music stopped, and they walked back to the table, hand in hand. When she sat down, he leaned in close. She held her breath, sighed when he simply tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Such a simple gesture, yet so intimate.
    Before she could catch her breath to say anything, Mitzy showed up with their pizza. Too hungry to wait, Annelise took her first bite too soon, scalding the roof of her mouth.
    “Youch.” She fanned at her open mouth. “Hot.”
    Then, she let go and gave in to the moment, luxuriating in the meal, in the man beside her. Cash was right. Bubba’s was home to the best pizza she’d ever eaten. But halfway through her second piece, a camera flash went off. She jerked upright, her gaze bouncing around the room.
    Cash reached out to her. “Whoa, darlin’. You look like a skittish mare that’s stumbled on a rattler.” He tipped his head, indicating a table across the room. “Suzie, Farley Jamison’s daughter over there, is celebrating her fifteenth birthday. Somebody took a picture for the family album. That’s all.”
    Annelise smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. Don’t know what got into me.”
    Mentally, she chastised herself. She needed to get a grip and quit acting like some spooked ninny. If she went around jumping at shadows, expecting the paparazzi to be hiding around every corner, it wouldn’t take Cash long to get suspicious. The man might wear cowboy boots and jeans, but that mind of his was every bit as sharp as any Ivy Leaguer she’d ever debated.
    And then that man reached across the table and snagged a piece of pepperoni from her pizza.
    “Hey!” She slapped his fingers. “Hands off. This is mine, boss man.”
    He laughed and ordered another Lone Star.
    A few minutes later, the birthday girl showed up at their table, holding out two plates. “I brought you a piece of my cake, Cash.” She looked toward Annelise. “I brought one for you, too. It’s really good. My grandma Bessie made it. Red velvet with cream-cheese frosting.”
    “Well, thank you, Suzie. Your grandma bakes the best cakes this side of the Mississippi.” He winked. “Don’t tell my mama I said that.”
    Cash took the plates from her, handing one to Annelise. As he made his way through the dessert, he talked amicably with the teenager, teasing her about her newest beau till her cheeks blushed. Annelise listened, envying him his casual, easy rapport. Cash Hardeman knew everyone in the restaurant, and they knew him. All laid-back and comfortable.
    The young girl turned to Annelise. “You know, y’all really look familiar.”
    A nervous little prickle raced down Annelise’s spine, but