“And second, I didn’t know you were staying. You bought food. I assumed you’d eat at the cabin.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Not my problem. If you don’t like that I’m here, leave.” I point at the door. I’m staying here now; he can’t kick me out. “Or do you want to stay so you can continue to suck face with Alison?”
He smirks and casually relaxes in the seat. “Suck face? Are you in high school? Or just jealous?”
I scoff. “Jealous? Oh please. There’s nothing to be jealous of. If you were listening, Alison said the stove in the room doesn’t work, so I need to eat. That’s why I’m staying.”
Leaning forward, he sets his forearms on the table. The smirk drops from his face. “The sooner you’re back in the city, the better.”
I mirror his posture, our faces only inches apart. “You could have left me there. But you didn’t. That’s on you.”
His gaze drops to my lips, lingering long enough for my heart to stop and my breath to quicken.
The thud of plates hitting the wooden table jerks me back. “Your wings and fries,” Alison says tightly.
I busy myself picking out silverware from a basket on the table. “Smells delicious. Thank you,” I say a little too enthusiastically.
Why did my stomach flutter when Lucas looked at my mouth like that? Maybe I should get out of here before I want him to do something stupid like kiss me. I inwardly shake myself. Kissing Lucas is the last thing I want to do. Obviously, if I was in my right mind, the thought of kissing him would make me ill.
“Let’s get dinner over with so we can go back to my house. I have a table ready.”
I glance at where Alison points to a corner. She’s picked the darkest spot in the room. I have a feeling she’ll get dessert started before their main meal arrives.
“Enjoy your dinner.” Lucas rises to his feet.
“You too.” I give him a tight smile.
He nods. Then he turns and follows Alison to their table.
My shoulders sag on a heavy sigh. Now that I’m on my own, I don’t know what to do next. I should probably call Claudia and my mother; they’d know where to start. Plucking my cell phone from my purse, I swipe the screen. It doesn’t turn on.Great. The battery has died.I’ll charge it when I get to my room and call later.
The smell of tangy wings causes my stomach to grumble. All I had to eat today was gas station snacks. Now I’m starving. Devouring the food, I lick the spicy sauce from my fingers. Like I sense someone watching me, my gaze drifts over to Lucas’ table. Even in the dim light, our eyes lock. Heat flushes my skin, making me want to fan my face. And it’s not caused from the hot chicken wings. It’s the way Lucas is staring at me like I’m his next meal.
How can that be? I’m seriously seeing things, or I’m delusional. I need to get out of here and away from Lucas. As much as I hate to go over there and interrupt their romantic meal, I need the key to my room.
Just as I’m about to make my way over to Lucas’ table, a man walks into the bar and stops in front of me. A big smile spreads across his face, causing dimples to form on each cheek. A dark blond lock of his hair falls over his sparkling blue eyes, and he combs it back with his fingers where it stays perfectly in place. He’s gorgeous, and judging by the way he swaggered into the room, he knows it.
His head tilts to the side as he takes me in. Oh no! Does he recognize me?
“I’ve never seen you in here before. I’d remember someone so beautiful,” he says.
I sigh with relief. He doesn’t know who I am. Was that a pickup line? Men don’t usually approach me unless it’s to get an autograph for their wives.
“Can I buy you a drink?” The track on the jukebox changes to a Luke Combs song; something slow and romantic. “Or would you like to dance?”
The man oozes confidence, yet he doesn’t come across as sleezy. I can sense a cheekiness about him. Someone who’d be a lot of fun. Although I’m not sure I can trust my judgment. Look who I nearly married. Under Darren’s charming personality was a dirty dog.
“I don’t want a drink. Thank you. And there’s no one dancing.”
He shrugs. “So? We’ll start a trend.” He grins. Oh, those dimples. I’m sure they can make most women do just about anything. He holds out his hand. “What do you say? Want to have some fun?”
Fun does sound wonderful. It’s something I haven’t had in a long time. Do I know how to anymore?
“Hey buddy, she’s not available,” Lucas interrupts.
My mouth drops open. What is he doing?
