“If anything, he would’ve made your curse worse,” Leo muttered, taking a sip from the beer glass I slid his way.
“Really?” I asked, unamused and a little annoyed he thought he knew what I needed. “Okay, well if you know what I should be looking for, why don’t you tell me.”
Leo didn’t miss a beat. He leaned forward slightly, his tattooed, corded forearms resting against the bar while his gaze locked with mine. “An electric connection. Fire. Passion. Something you can’t walk away from.”
My eyes traced the movement of his mouth as he spoke, his words landing between us, low and deliberate. A subtle warmth crept up my neck, and my pulse picked up.
That kind of fire didn’t come with a one- or two-night stand. I’d had plenty of great sex over the years, but never that spark, that impossible pull. The kind of connection Leo described required more. More intimacy, more time, more…something I hadn’t found—and wasn’t looking for.
I didn’t want someone I couldn’t walk away from. I wantedthe exact opposite—someone Icouldwalk away from and neither of us would think twice.
I scoffed, parting my lips to refute his words when my grandma spoke up.
“You know, Leo, I was thinking the same thing,” Gran said. “I’m Marnie, by the way. Eliza and Cooper’s grandma. I hope Golden Falls has been treating you well so far.”
“Great to meet you, Marnie. No complaints here. Wes, Cooper, and Gabe have been showing me around, and then I start my new job in a few days.”
“Those boys are wonderful. I’m glad you have some time to explore town and get settled before work starts. Maybe go to a yoga class or two in your free time.”
“Gran,” I huffed.
“What? I can’t be proud of my granddaughter’s business?” she asked with an innocent shrug.
“Seems like the very thing you should be,” Leo chimed in. “I’ll have to stop by sometime in the next couple of weeks.”
Gran gave me asee?look, causing me to roll my eyes.
“Hey, Gran. Ready to head out?” Cooper asked, coming up to the bar.
“Yes,” I answered for Gran.
That got Cooper to pause and say, “Actually, should we stay a little longer? I bet you have a fun Eliza story to share, Gran. Don’t you?” He grinned.
I scratched my forehead with my middle finger, discreetly flipping him off. Everyone was in the mood to cause trouble at my expense tonight.
Gran’s grin matched Cooper’s. “As tempting as that is, I should get home. But”—Gran turned toward Leo—“I have plenty of those stories if you’re ever curious.” She gave his arm a gentle squeeze before sliding off the stool.
Coop reached for Gran’s bag, hitching it on his shoulder and giving her his arm.
“Thanks for the ride, my boy.” Gran beamed.
Coop’s eyes softened. “You know it’s my pleasure. Did you have a good time at knitting club?”
“I sure did. Finished my sweater and got some good gossip.”
“Bye, Gran,” I said with a gentle laugh. “Give Coop trouble on the ride home.”
“You know it.” She winked at me. “Goodnight, Firecracker. Get home safe, okay?”
“I will. No need to worry about me. Talk to you tomorrow.”
For as long as I could remember, Gran had always called me Firecracker and said that if I ever wanted to settle down, I needed someone who would come blazing into my life. The fact that Leo called out fire in regard to what I needed unsettled me.
I watched Gran and Cooper walk out before I turned to Leo, a softness in his expression that further unsettled me. Leo would be intertwined with my professional life, but I couldn’t let it happen personally.
Boundaries.
“I should—” we both started to say, and I nodded for Leo to finish.
