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He laughed at her. “Could be. I’m just getting beer for the night. You?”
“I was going to get wine and then decided beer would be better. I’m not much of a beer drinker, but the headache is less the next day.”
He smirked. “Depends on the amount you are drinking.”
She saw he had two four-packs of craft beer in his hands. His large hands that she remembered on her body and wished that she didn’t.
Why couldn’t she get this guy out of her head?
“That is true, but I was only thinking of one or two.”
“No plans tonight?” he asked her.
“Nope. My roommate is going to a party,” she said. “After I had to force her to go and not cancel to stay home with me. I’m fine being alone. You?”
“The only person I know is Zane and he and his family are in for the night. They asked me over and I declined. I’ve infringed enough.”
“I don’t think they feel that way,” she said. “Lily is all about family and making people feel like they belong. Trust me, no one knows that as well as her employees.”
“I got the feeling she and her sisters inspire great loyalty.”
“They do,” she said. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s the best place to work on top of it. I didn’t go home for the holidays for a number of reasons and still have the guilt from it, but honestly, I feel as if my coworkers are my family and I wanted to be with them.”
Heather wasn’t sure why she was sharing that much with him. She wasn’t one to share much with anyone. Even her roommate, it’d taken time for her to tell Daisy as much as she had.
“You shouldn’t feel guilty for doing what you want in life,” he said.
There was the same heat in his brown eyes again that she’d seen that night over a year ago. She felt a flush through her skin. She was afraid he could tell what she was thinking...maybe even feeling too.
“Easier said than done,” she said.
“Since we are both alone tonight,” he said. “How about dinner?”
She hesitated. She wanted to say yes but wasn’t sure if she trusted herself. “Is that smart?”
He laughed at her. “It’s dinner, Heather. You can say no. It’s not like we haven’t shared much more.”
He was speaking quietly. He was right though. “I don’t want to say no. But I’m not sure I want anyone to know just yet either. And it’s a busy night in this town. People are bound to see us.”
He frowned. “Is that a problem? Are you seeing someone else?”
“God no,” she said. “I’d never cheat. It’s not that. It’s just...I don’t know. I’m not making much sense. It’s a small town, as I said. People are always watching.”
“And you are private,” he said. “Got it.”
“Yeah,” she said.
“I’ve got a few steaks at the house I picked up this morning. If you trust me to not poison you, why don’t I cook?”
Alone with him again. The temptation might be too much, but it’s not like she had anything else going on and she didn’t want to be alone.
Not only not be alone, but she wanted to spend more time with him. Maybe somewhere they could talk and not just hit the sheets.
“I think that sounds like a good way to spend New Year’s Eve,” she said. “I don’t know where you live. I know it’s Zane’s old cottage, but I’m not sure of the location.”
He gave her the address and looked at his watch. A big complicated one that he probably used in the service. Just like he had jeans on with boots that looked more like military issue than work boots even though they were black and worn.
His jacket was a black Columbia one that seemed basic but durable. He wasn’t flashy by any means. No hat on his head or gloves. But she didn’t wear those things either. It was about thirty and windy out today and she probably looked a mess with her hair having been flying everywhere when she ran in here from her car.
