Only You (Love In Montana Book 6)

The next day, something shifted between Renée and Sawyer after that promise the night before. They couldn't stop staring at one another. They were more acutely aware of each other than ever before. Renée was more shy of his burning gaze constantly focused upon her. In fact, even Rihanna noticed the hungry look in his eyes.

"What's up, Renée? Did you two kiss or something?" She whisper asked, unable to contain herself any longer. Renée gaped at her with a horrified expression on her face.

"No, are you crazy?" She said as two specks of color appeared on her cheeks.

"No wonder, " chuckled Rihanna. Renée gave her older sister a puzzled look.

"What do you mean?" She asked with interest. Rihanna chuckled and pinched her cheeks and just walked away, leaving her wondering just what was going on. Why did Rihanna ask her such a weird question?

"Hey Ren, Ryan and I are leaving for our final practice today. We have a big match tomorrow. Are you coming along?" Asked Ryder. Renée looked at her pajamas with dismay.

"Like this? In my pajamas? Couldn't you have informed me before? I would have been ready, " she scolded him. Ryder looked guilty and Ryan rushed out of his room and skidded to a halt right in front of her.

"Let's go Ryde. Renée can hitch a ride with Rex, Saw or her friend Ana, " he shrugged. Renée glared at him with her hands on her waist. Sawyer saw his opportunity to get Renée all to himself and he gladly grabbed it before Rex could say a thing.

"Rex's still half asleep. I'll drop you off to college. Go get ready, Ren, " he said. Renée blushed at his offer and nodded. Ryder and Ryan raced off towards their truck.

"Breakfast is ready boys," announced aunt Kathy and then glared at the retreating backs of Ryder and Ryan. "They left already without eating breakfast? I hurried because of them," she said with displeasure. Renée's mom too came out of the kitchen.

"They'll end up eating junk food at college," she sighed. Then looking at Renée and Sawyer, she gestured towards the dining room. "C'mon, you two. Have your breakfast before leaving," she ordered. Sawyer strode towards the dining table and slumped onto a chair. Sawyer's dad started talking to him about the sales figures of last month. He was quite impressed it seemed with Rhett and Sawyer's hard work at the stables. The sale of their horses had gone up by half and it called for a celebration.

"Why don't we go out to eat tonight?" Asked uncle Keith, who was Rhett's dad.

"That's a brilliant idea," said their grand dad.

"Why today of all days? I have dinner plans and a sleep over at Anastasia's house tonight, " protested Renée. Sawyer looked at her with interest. He didn't know that she had such plans?

"You go ahead with your plan. Let us enjoy our own way. You could go out for your share of the treat with Rhett, Rex, Rihanna, Sawyer or anyone later," said her dad with a shrug. Renée nodded avoiding Sawyer's eyes. She could see the excited sparkle in his eyes without having to look at him.

"Don't worry. I'll treat you later, " he shrugged, trying to sound casual, briefly glancing in her direction.

"There, happy now?" Asked their granddad with a chuckle. Renée nodded excitedly but her heart was beating faster thinking about their first outing together. Breakfast was over amidst lots of planning and utter chaos but Renée was quieter than usual since she wasn't going with them. It seemed that Sawyer was also not interested to go and decided to stay back as one of the horses was expecting to give birth anytime soon.

"Just give me a call whenever Ebony gives birth," said aunt Helena who was Renée's mom. She was a vet and looked after all the animals at their ranch. Sawyer nodded.

"We'll bring food for you Saw, okay?" Said his mom.

"I wouldn't be able to accompany you'll mom. Granny Emma has invited me to dinner," said Rhett and his mom nodded. Later after breakfast, Renée went to her room to get ready for college. When she emerged wearing a light blue sundress and boots, she saw Sawyer already ready and waiting for her. Both checked each other out minutely, taking in every detail, as if committing them to memory. Renée noted how thick his muscular thighs looked in that figure-hugging pair of jeans. He had discarded his stetson and the black tee shirt showed off his muscular biceps. How wonderful it felt when he wrapped those arms around her body! Blinking away those sinful thoughts away she followed him towards his truck. Thankfully he didn't make her change into something else this time. He was exceptionally quiet, his eyes looking a little darker than usual. Renée was confused by his expression. Was he angry with her?

She climbed in and fixed her seat belt. "Are you angry with me?" She asked him with concern. Sawyer turned to look at her and kept staring at her in silence.

"Sawyer? Have I done something wrong? I'm sorry, " she said, looking more confused than before. He looked away finally.

"Don't be sorry, Ren. I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at the circumstances that we're in," he told her confusing her further.

"What circumstances Sawyer?" She asked him more puzzled by his words.

"I'll tell you sometimes later," he promised.

"You can tell me. I'm already grown up, can't you see?" Asked Renée. Sawyer smiled and glanced at her, his eyes taking her in from head to foot.

"I can see that you've grown," he chuckled and started his truck, driving out of Wildcreek Ranch towards her college. Renée blushed at his scrutiny. She knew what he meant exactly.

As they drove down the marketplace, Renée noticed the worried look on Sawyer's face. His frown deepened seeing a man staring at him with a peculiar look on his face as they stopped at the signal. The man didn't look away even once. There was something odd about him, about his way of dressing and the mustache he sported. He didn't look like he belonged to Montana at all. Sawyer's scowl deepened as he pulled away and drove off towards her college.

After they'd left the man behind, Renée saw that he was deep in thought. "Who was that man? Do you know him? He was staring at you," said Renée. Sawyer briefly glanced at her.

"No, I've never seen him before in Fordsville. Only for the last few days everytime I pass the marketplace, he's always there staring at me. I have no idea why?" He told her.

"Maybe he wants to speak to you, " said Renée. Sawyer shrugged.

"Maybe," he agreed.

"You could ask at that motel where he was standing. They could give you details about him," suggested Renée.

"Yeah, I'll ask only when he's not around," said Sawyer.

"Hmm," said Renée.

They drove in silence for a little while as both thought about the man and what business he could have with Sawyer.

"You didn't tell me that you were going to your friend's house tonight, " said Sawyer.

"It's her birthday. She doesn't have many friends. So it'll be just me and her, " said Renée. Sawyer nodded.

"Wish her from my side," he told her. Renée nodded.

"So, when do you want today's treat?" Asked Sawyer, trying to sound casual but his heart beats increased thinking about their outing together.

"Any day," said Renée shyly. Sawyer was excited by her reaction. He was determined to turn this into a date, their first date!

"How about lunch on Sunday?" He asked her. Renée nodded eagerly waiting for Sunday already.

"Don't tell anyone yet. I don't want the whole lot of them coming along," said Sawyer with a smile.

"Oh, okay. I won't tell anyone," she promised but she was dying to ask him whether it would be their first date. "Umm, are we? .. I mean..," She started but bit her lip seeing Sawyer's amused expression.

"Are we, what?" Prodded Sawyer, fully aware of what she was about to say. Renée blushed crimson not knowing how to ask. She couldn't just ask him,'Hey Sawyer! Are we dating?'

"Nothing, " she mumbled looking at her hands. Sawyer looked at her tenderly. She looked so vulnerable and unaware of the depth of his feelings for her. He would tell her on her eighteenth birthday.

"Finish what you wanted to say, Ren, " he told her softly.

"Umm, are we going on a date on Sunday?" She asked him with flushed cheeks and wide eyes, looking so adorable that Sawyer had to control himself from kissing her senseless. Her plump pink lips were parted as she expectantly as she waited with baited breath for his answer.

"Do you want it to be a date?" He asked in return.

"Do you want to go on a date with me?" She asked back in return. Sawyer chuckled.

"Yes to all your questions, " he told her, watching the smile that lit up her face. "So now answer me. Do you want to go out on a date with me?" He asked earnestly.

"Yes," she answered shyly.

"Why?" Asked Sawyer.

"Because I love you, silly," she said with a grin. Sawyer looked overwhelmed. If he could he would have recorded her confession and played it day and night, all the time. It gave him the energy to live, the zeal to face the world, the hope of a new tomorrow, the hope of togetherness.