He looked around and smiled.“It’s a gift.”
He really was good-looking.What one of her friends called ‘go to hell good looks.’Tall, with dark hair, hazel eyes, and muscles that were apparent beneath his clothes, he was a man any woman would be happy to be with.Too bad she was still obsessed with a certain rancher.Too bad she was afraid she always would be.
They talked for a bit and then Ryan said, “We can skip the small talk if you want.”
Surprised, she looked at him.“Why?”
“Not to be too nosy, but I know the look of a woman who’s thinking about another man.”
“It shows, huh?”
“Afraid so.The rancher.The McFarlands’ neighbor, huh?”
“That’s him.”She hadn’t thought she’d been so obvious the other night, but clearly she had been.“We broke up recently.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.It was my choice.My…fault.”She shook her head.“I’m sure you have better things to do than listen to me whine about my broken relationship.”
“Not really.I don’t know many people yet.”
She laughed.“You must be really hard up if this is entertaining to you.”
“Hard up?No, I definitely wouldn’t say that.”
“Um, thanks?”She hadn’t flirted with anyone but Riley in a long time.It made her feel flustered.
He looked over her head.“Your ex is headed this way.And he doesn’t look happy.”
“Shit.”She didn’t look.Purposefully.
“Crisis averted.A woman stopped him, and he walked off with her.”
“Good.”No way was she ready to deal with Riley tonight.Which made her supremely dumb to have come here when she knew Riley could be here.“It’s been nice talking to you but I’m going home.”
“Do you need a ride?”
“No, thanks.I don’t live far.I walked.”
“By yourself?Alone, at night on New Year’s Eve?”
“Marietta doesn’t have a lot of crime.I’ll be fine.”
“I just moved here from Denver.Which does have a lot of crime.Let me walk you home.”
What the hell.She could see it really bothered him.“It’s really not necessary but thanks.I’ll go get my coat and meet you at the front door.”
Naturally, the women she’d been with, those who hadn’t left anyway, razzed her about ‘the new hot doctor.’
“It’s not like that.He’s just a friend.”
Being very careful not to look for Riley, she left with Ryan.It didn’t take long to reach her apartment complex.They didn’t talk on the way, for which she was grateful.She didn’t bother telling him not to walk her to her door.She had a feeling he’d insist.She unlocked her door and turned around to him.“Thanks.You’re very easy to be with.I appreciate it.”
“I try,” he said with a smile.As she started to go in he said, “Letty?If—or when—you decide to move on, give me a call.Logan has my number.”
“I’ll do that.”Assuming she ever got over Riley enough to want to see another man.Right now that was doubtful.
*
