The Reluctant Bride (Montana Born Brides) by Katherine Garbera Page A

lingered in the back of her eyes. Until she felt comfortable and at home in his arms, she was always going to have one eye on the door.
    “ Have a good one,” he said as he pulled up behind her shop and she opened the door. She got out and closed it. Two women rounded the corner, and Risa’s entire persona changed as she waved at them before looking back at him.
    She looked over at him and walked around to the driver ’s side of the truck. He rolled down his window.
    “ Forget something?”
    “ This,” she said, leaning up on tiptoe and kissing him. There was bravado in the kiss and he thought maybe a promise.
    “ Thanks for breakfast,” she said, as she pulled away. He watched her walk to the door of her shop and greet the women before going inside.
    She was determined people see them as a happy couple with no problems. Well, that could work in his favor. He’d take her out and see how far she was willing to go to keep up appearances.

     
     

Chapter Eight

     
    Going out to dinner with Monty on a proper date felt…well, weird. Risa had asked for space and he’d given her two days. It was Friday night and everyone in Marietta seemed to have plans and, for once, so did she.
    She smoothed her hands down the sides of the dress she ’d picked for the occasion. Her nod to the Little Black Dress. It had a light tulle and lace design at the top over her neck and shoulders, which was attached to a fitted bodice that accentuated her waist and bust without making her feel too over the top.
    The skirt flared out and ended just above the knee. She put on a pair of dress boots since it was still April and freaking cold. She hoped that Monty would like the way she looked, and was honest enough with herself to admit she’d picked out the dress in Bozeman on Wednesday night when she’d gone shopping with Annie and Sienna especially with him in mind.
    She shook her head. She’d even bought some new lingerie from an exclusive online boutique which offered overnight delivery. It wasn’t that she planned on sleeping with Monty again, it was simply that she knew when he was around he made her forget about everything except him.
    Not smart, girl.
    There was a knock on the loft door and she checked her make-up one last time before opening the door.
    “ Hello, sweetheart.”
    It was the first time since Vegas that he ’d called her that. Her heart beat just a little bit faster as she took in his dark denim jeans that fit in all the right places, the tucked- in button-down shirt and the cowboy hat held loosely in his left hand.
    His grey-green gaze skimmed her body and when their eyes met he arched one at her. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been out on a date.”
    “ I know,” she said. “Feels like we might be a normal couple.”
    “ What else would we be?” he asked.
    Estranged. But that was by her own doing, not his. He obviously viewed them differently. “Two people taking it slow.”
    “ Slow. God, woman, how long has it been since I first proposed? Doesn’t get much slower than that,” he said.
    She nodded. She didn’t want to fight with him. Had the feeling that he wasn’t listening to her and would simply keep pushing until she acquiesced to his wishes. Something that she couldn’t do. She needed to keep firm. Remember that she still needed more time to figure everything out.
    “ Should we get going? I’ve heard the Long River Cookhouse gets busy on Friday nights,” she said.
    “ It does, which is why I made a reservation.”
    He stepped into the hallway and she closed and locked her door, before following him down the stairs to the back alley where his truck was parked next to her Audi.
    He opened the passenger door to his truck for her and helped her in. Then walked around to climb behind the wheel. He looked over at her before he started the truck.
    “ I want us to be okay. To be normal. Is that even possible?”
    “ Yes. You know how I suggested we sort of act like everything in our