“Oh. Would you like to come in?”

“I would love to.” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Closed her inside with him. Inside another hotel room with Sam Pleasant. How did this keep happening? He carefully set down the champagne bottle and glasses, then removed his hat. He nodded toward a set of oddly shaped hooks by the door.

“Do you mind?”

“If I say I don’t, that doesn’t mean we’re betrothed or anything, does it?”

“No, it just means I’m asking before I hang my hat any old place. Just trying to respect your space is all. Ma’am.” Amanda rolled her eyes at the entirely unnecessary twang he added at the end.

“Knock yourself out, Tex.”

Sam threw her a devastating wink and settled his white hat safely on the hook. He turned then and took her hand and led her over to the couch. They sat together, just enough space between them for Amanda to pull her knee up to the cushion. The huge scoops of ice cream were melting atop the warm pie, but Amanda couldn’t bring herself to care at the moment. Sam draped his arm over the back of the couch and lightly brushed her shoulder.

“Did you enjoy the rest of your night?” he asked. For some reason she didn’t expect such a simple but sincere question. She expected more lines. More come-ons, more jokes. Instead she got that soft look in his eye. The same one she’d caught a glimpse of before they’d tumbled into his bed at the W.

“I tried.”

“That bad, huh?”

“No. I had a great time. The square dance was amazing. I haven’t been to one since Girl Scouts.”

“Oh, I bet you were the cookie champ.”

“No. One year I pooled all my resources to help this other girl win ’cause her parents were getting divorced? That made me feel like a winner.”

“I would say so,” Sam said, chuckling a bit.

“I just wish I’d had a proper pair of cowboy boots so I could have really gotten into the spirit. My wedges got the job done, but I would’ve really liked to have committed to the whole ranch aesthetic if I’d known it would be so involved.”

“Oh, you need some proper boots. Your feet haven’t truly lived without them,” he said gravely. She had a feeling he was right.

“I’ll add them to my footwear bucket list. So what’s next for you?” Amanda nudged his knee, then realized it was time to stop neglecting their dessert. She grabbed a spoon and dug in as Sam replied.

“I’m taking a little time off. I’ve been filming and traveling for the better part of two years. I’m exhausted. I missed my family too.”

“Must be nice to be home,” she said before she took another bite.

“It is.”