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She laughed. “Pretty sure you’re not supposed to admit that.”

“Probably not.” Taking advantage of the quicker beat, he spun her beneath his arm, making the chains on her boots jingle as she turned. She came back laughing, her earlier hesitation gone.

The second song merged into a third, then a fourth. He lost count after that. When another slow song started, Amanda stepped into his arms without needing an invitation. This time, she came closer, leaving far less space between them than before. He caught the faint scent of her perfume beneath the aromas of steak and barbecue drifting through the restaurant, and when her fingers moved absently against his shoulder, he wondered if she was as reluctant for the night to end as he was.

When the slow song ended, and the band launched into another fast one, Amanda stepped back with a breathless laugh. “Okay, I need a break. And water.”

“Thank God.” Grady took her hand as they headed off the dance floor. “I was trying to figure out how to suggest that without admitting I’m not twenty-five anymore.”

“I thought you were.” She paused, then grimaced. “Wait. That makes me sound like a cougar.”

He barked out a laugh. “I’m only eleven years older than you.”

“Semantics.”

Still chuckling, he led her back to their table, where they immediately reached for their water glasses. Grady drained half of his, then sat back with a satisfied sigh. Their abandoned coffee had long since gone cold, but their server stopped by and offered to refill them. He thanked her as she topped off his mug, then did the same for Amanda.

He'd just taken his first sip when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and found a message from the department. Another burglary had been reported, this one on the other side of the county.

His first instinct was to call for an update, but he stopped himself. His deputies and detectives knew what they were doing, and if they needed him, they'd let him know. Otherwise, he'd get a full report in the morning.

Then he noticed the timestamp on the alert, and his eyebrows rose. “Damn. I didn’t realize it was that late.”

And he had an early meeting—a last-minute addition to his schedule dumped on him shortly before he left work.

Amanda blew on her coffee before taking a cautious sip. “Got a curfew, Sheriff?”

“Something worse. An early meeting with Antelope Rock’s mayor in the morning.”

She winced. “That doesn't sound like much fun.”

“It rarely is.” Shaking his head, he slipped the phone back into his pocket. He hated to admit they should probably call it a night, because he could’ve sat there talking to her for a few more hours. It had been a long time since he'd lost track of time simply because he was enjoying someone's company.

They lingered over their coffee a little longer anyway, neither of them particularly eager to leave. Eventually, common sense won out, and he caught their server’s attention and asked for the check. Once he’d paid the bill, they gathered their things and headed outside.

The night air felt good after the crowded restaurant, and he placed his hand at the small of her back as they crossed the parking lot. By now, the gesture was automatic, and Amanda didn’t seem to mind. He opened the passenger door for her, ignoring the amused look she gave him, and waited until she was safely inside before closing it.

The ride to Antelope Rock passed faster than he would’ve liked. They talked about nothing important—the band, the restaurant, and how much Butterfield had grown since her last visit more than two decades ago. The conversation came as naturally as it had over dinner, without any of the sharp edges that had defined their earlier encounters. He’d expected the date to be entertaining, especially after she'd opened the door looking like Madonna's long-lost backup singer. But he hadn’t expected to enjoy simply talking to her this much.

When he finally pulled into Edith’s driveway, the lights were still on inside. Leaving the engine running, he climbed out before Amanda could reach for her door. She laughed as he opened it and offered his hand.

“Do you honestly think I’m incapable of getting out of a vehicle by myself?”

“Nope.”

“Then why do you keep doing that?”

“Because I’m a gentleman.”

She shook her head but still slipped her hand into his. Instead of letting go when her feet touched the ground, he kept her fingers wrapped in his as they headed toward the house. He slowed at the porch steps, automatically eyeing the loose boards and uneven railing he’d noticed earlier. He really needed to fix the damn things before Edith or Amanda got hurt.

At the door, she turned to face him, and for the first time all evening, he wasn’t quite sure what to say. He’d had a damn good time. Better than good, and he didn’t want this to be their only date. “I had fun tonight.”

“So did I.” Her lips curved into a smile. “Even though you lied about one dance.”

“I didn't lie. I just neglected to mention there might be more.”

“Uh-huh. Is that what you tell yourself?”