Page 31 of Chasing the Dream

“Be quiet, or I’ll take a picture of you and post it on Facebook,” she threatened.

They all laughed even though the threat was real. “We should probably get going,” he said.

“I wish I could come too, but I understand this is a business meeting,” Maria said with an eye roll.

“It is. We’ll be working,” he stated, needing the reminder.

“Yeah. Whatever. You kids have fun and don’t stay out too late.”

Gabe held the door open, and Morgan squeezed past him. As they walked out to the car, he took a closer look at her. She was also wearing a plaid shirt, with the top three buttons undone to show a lace-trimmed tank top underneath, but the denim skirt was what really caught his eye. It hit above the knee, and there was a tantalizing slit up the front. Her toned legs were on display, and she’d gained a few extra inches from Maria’s brown leather cowboy boots. Right then, he decided that Morgan was sexy no matter what she wore.

Once they’d driven out of the neighborhood, Morgan took off the hat and shook out her hair.

“You’re not going to wear it?”

“It’s driving me crazy. I only wore it because Maria insisted, but I planned on taking it off as soon as she was out of sight.”

He chuckled. “She can be a bit persuasive.”

“A bit? Once she gets on a kick about something, there’s no stopping her. So, is there anything else you can tell me about this place before we get there?”

She’d smoothly brought the conversation back to business, which was as it should be.

“He’s been in business for a couple of years and has some good reviews on Google, but his goal is to attract new customers.”

“And that’s where the website can help.”

“It can’t hurt, especially since the one he has is pretty shitty. We’ll have to do a complete overhaul.”

“Sounds fun.”

“I agree. Bryan won’t be able to sit down with us tonight, but that’s okay. We’ll get a feel for the place and then draft a proposal.” He glanced over to see her smiling, and while he’d like to believe she was enjoying his company, he knew the truth. Work energized her like it did him. In that regard, they were kindred spirits.

Soon they pulled into the parking lot of the bar, which was already crowded. The building itself was wood-planked and designed to look rustic, like country-western bars everywhere.

“According to Bryan, they serve the best barbeque ribs in town,” Gabe said as they walked up to the building. “Are you hungry?”

“Starved.”

He smiled and opened the door for her. He liked that she wasn’t afraid to eat. He’d dated a few women who’d picked at their meals or ordered a side salad and nothing else. He’d often wondered if afterward they’d gone home and pigged out.

A hostess greeted them immediately, and when he gave her his name, she smiled and said, “Welcome! We saved you the best seat in the house.”

The hostess was attractive, with long, dark hair and deep brown eyes. Naturally, she was dressed in the “country” style, wearing a tight T-shirt, denim shorts, and cowboy boots, but she didn’t hold a candle to Morgan.

They followed her to a high-top table in the corner that provided them with a view of the entire place. She set down their menus and said, “Order whatever you like. Your food and drinks are on the house. A waitress will be right over.”

“Nice,” Morgan said after she’d walked away.

“Not a bad way to spend an evening, huh?”

“Not bad at all.”

The décor was typical of country-western bars, with a variety of animal mounts and cowboy paraphernalia hanging on the wood-planked walls. Every stool at the L-shaped bar was occupied, and most of the tables too. Delicious scents of roasting meat, beer, and other aromas filled the air and made his mouth water. Overall, the vibe was casual and inviting.

They were perusing the menu when a waitress came up and greeted them. She rattled off a list of drink specials, after which they both ordered a beer. A few minutes later, she returned with their drinks and took their food orders. They’d decided on an appetizer sampler platter and a full rack of ribs to split, including side dishes.

After the waitress left, Morgan said, “They’ll have to roll us out of here!”