Amy savored the last bite of bread pudding. Justin sat beside her, his arm draped across the back of the booth, sipping coffee.

In her wildest dreams, she wouldn't have guessed they were going to have such an exquisite meal. She was also shocked at what a splendid time she'd had so far. Justin was perfect company; he asked questions but didn't press if she didn't answer, and he threw in teasing comments when things started to get tense or too quiet. The man was smooth.

"What's it like growing up in a small town?" she asked.

He smiled and shrugged with one shoulder. "It has its ups and downs. It didn't take much to be a star on the football and baseball teams. There wasn't a lot of competition." He drank the last sip of his coffee and placed the cup on the saucer. "Of course, everyone knows who you are when you grow up in a place like Destin. You can't get away with anything. My best buddy and I got busted when we tried to swipe a friend's truck. That ended our life of crime."

Amy smiled as she leaned back to enjoy her coffee and study the man beside her. There was something different about him--something she couldn't define. When he started talking, he didn't sound like a redneck.

But that wasn't it. It was his eyes. His glistening blue eyes held secrets.

"Of course," he said, "there were only so many girls to go out with, and all the dates were the same. After a school dance or a movie, we'd go up to Lookout Point. The sheriff would come around with his flashlight and knock on the windows. I think that's how he got his jollies, the old pervert."

Amy shook her head. "It sounds like a 1950s movie," she said.

Justin's grin grew decidedly wicked at her comment.

Amy gulped the last sip of coffee.

"What did you do as a kid on a date?" he asked.

"Not much. The boys were all terrified of my father."

Justin laughed and nodded. "I can imagine. Sheriff Aster knew me and my buddies all by name. If he'd had a daughter, I'm sure none of us would have had the guts to ask her out, even if she'd been the prettiest girl in Destin. As it was, we had to leave town if we wanted to do anything at all sneaky."

"You mean, like tonight?"

When his gaze jumped to hers, Amy realized she'd hit on something. He even blushed a little. For whatever reason, he didn't want the town to know that he was taking her out.

She reached over and touched his arm. "Don't worry," she said, "your secret's safe with me. I certainly wouldn't want anyone to know I had dinner with a cowboy."

He grinned again. "Oh, I've planned a whole lot more than just dinner tonight. You're not out with some wimpy city boy."

The way he looked at her made her mouth go dry.