Page 9 of Second Chance Saloon

Mitch stepped aside to let them pass, his hip pressing above Jackie’s.

She inhaled sharply at the contact.

He faced her again, his cheeks still tinged a slight pink, but his lips quirked in a smile. “I assume I should change?”

Jackie cocked her head to the side, assessing his outfit. “Your shirt can stay but lose the tie and the jacket. And change into jeans.” She looked at his fancy shoes. “Those boots you were wearing when we met? Wear those too.”

Mitch chuckled. In one swift motion, he let go of her hand, undid the tie and left it hanging loose around his neck. “I thought you said those boots gave away that I wasn’t a real cowboy.”

“I told you they need wearing in. Tonight will be a perfect opportunity to scuff them up a bit.” She beamed at him, pulling him further inside her room. “But before we stop by your room, let me put these in water and find our fake IDs.”

He froze mid-step. “Fake IDs?”

Jackie grabbed a half-full water bottle from Lyla’s dresser and unscrewed the cap, making a mental note to apologize to her later for taking it without asking first and also to pick up a vase for their room tomorrow. “Yeah. How else do you want to get into a bar?” Rose stems submerged, she looked over her shoulder and bit back a smile at Mitch’s confused and slightly terrified expression. “Don’t worry, I know a great guy. They look legit.”

“I’m not even sure if I want to know.”

Jackie laughed. She pulled open the middle drawer in her desk. Two brand-new, shiny IDs winked at her and she grabbed both, triumphantly shoving Mitch’s into his hand. “See? All good.”

He raised the plastic card, examining it under the orange glow of the overhead lamp. “How did you get my picture?”

“Easy. Pulled it from the swim team’s website.’

Mitch blushed all the way to the tips of his ears. “I didn’t know they’d put the new students up yet.” He lowered the ID, his thumb moving across the smooth surface. With a swallow, he tucked it inside his jacket’s pocket.

“There are bios, too. You didn’t tell me you won gold in the junior national championships last year. Impressive.”

Mitch shrugged, leaning against Lyla’s desk. He appeared broader with his arms crossed, as he watched Jackie with such open attention that she struggled to draw in a full breath while her heart raced.

“You didn’t ask,” he replied.

“And two years before too.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Backstroke.”

“Seems like you know a lot more about me than I do about you.”

Jackie put her hands on her hips. “The night’s young, Mitch from Portland. You might know a whole lot more about me by tomorrow. Or not.”

He chortled, shaking his head. His eyes moved over her brows, her lips, dipping lower to her neck and pausing briefly on her bare stomach. “I’ll take my chances.”

His gaze flicked back to her face, their eyes locking.

Jackie could swear there was a temporary glitch in the atmosphere, a rush of current misfiring or something, because the hairs on her forearms stood, goosebumps rose, and the room fell out of focus.

He’s just a guy. A handsome one, but still just a guy. You’ve known lots of guys. This one’s no different. Except for the flowers.

Perhaps the whole night would be a disaster. Maybe Mitch slurped or chewed with his mouth open. Or maybe he had a mean streak after a couple of beers. She’d find out soon enough. For now, there was no point dwelling on a date which could still be a letdown.

Jackie rolled her shoulders, snapping out of her thoughts. She coaxed her lips back into a smile, grabbed her keys and phone, and walked past Mitch, letting her forearm brush his side. The way he stiffened upon contact widened her grin.

This would be fun.

“Shall we?” She opened the door. “Pit stop at your room for a quick outfit change and then we’ll head to Betty’s.”

Mitch sighed. He ran his fingers through his thick wavy hair. “If we get arrested, I’m totally blaming it on you.”

“For what, the fake IDs?”

“And underage drinking.”