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Around them, birds sang. A weird, cheerful mask dropped into place on Rook’s expressive face.
“I can’t lean on you forever. Don’t worry about me. I’m the master of my own fate.”
Rook turned back to his work. The sun was warm in the clearing, but something about the boy’s demeanor chilled Banner to the bone.
Chapter 13
Sub drop sucked. Even after Banner’s reassurance that it was normal and that Kate wasn’t broken, it still took a few days for the heavy cloud to lift.
Today, she was starting to feel more like herself. As she perused her closet for something to wear, she felt a sense of optimism for the first time in a while.
Banner had set up a date with his friend, Ambrose. Well, it was more of a group thing because she’d insisted Banner come. Even regular blind dates were awkward, and she didn’t want to go by herself. Banner was kind enough to agree, even though he seemed hesitant about it. It must be awkward for him, too, but if they were going to stay friends, he’d have to deal with it. The idea of “just friends” dampened her mood a bit, but she’d been telling herself over and over for days that it was best for both of them.
Every year, the town set up a harvest fair just before Thanksgiving. Last year, winter had come early, so everyone bundled up and sipped hot cider as they wander
ed through the outdoor tents filled with homemade goods. Thankfully, today the sun was shining, and it was unseasonably warm.
As she shoved hangers of clothes aside, growing frustrated with her limited options, she realized just how much of a girl she was being. Was looking perfect that important? What were the chances things would work differently with Ambrose than the other guys Banner had introduced her to? They were nice but there was no spark, no sign of chemistry whatsoever. In fact, the whole time she’d talked to them, all she could think about was Banner.
She sighed in resignation. Maybe it was silly and girly, but it mattered to her what she looked like. Warm for November still equaled needing a sweater. She pulled out a green one that matched her eyes, then threw on a pair of jeans and zippered tall brown boots over them. After a glance in the mirror, she starting pulling her hair back into a ponytail then stopped. Wearing her hair back was instinctual, but Banner liked it better down. Even when meeting his friend, she still felt the urge to please him.
“Ugh. What is wrong with me?”
Her reflection didn’t have an answer.
After saying a quick good-bye to Pixie, she grabbed her purse and headed out the door.
Dom search, take four hundred and one.
The fairgrounds at the center square bustled with shoppers, families, and couples out for a stroll. The smell of cider donuts hit her as soon as she stepped out of her car. Her stomach rumbled. Maybe skipping breakfast had been a bad idea, but her belly had been fluttering with nerves all morning.
Banner was easy to find across the plaza. She waved, and he spotted her, smiling in a way that made her heart skip beats.
No, no, no. She wasn’t supposed to be checking him out. She was supposed to be checking out his friend!
She slid her gaze to the man walking next to Banner. How she hadn’t seen him first was a mystery. He was at least two inches taller than Banner and about twice as thick. His short buzz cut and tattooed arms made him look either military or criminal. Swallowing hard, she hoped for the former.
As they came closer, she looked at the friend’s eyes, searching for clues about what kind of person he was. He met her gaze, steady at first, then his eyes crinkled a bit at the corners. The bright blue was a sharp contrast to the hardened look of the rest of him.
“Hey,” Banner said.
Instinctually, she went to hug him. When he hugged her back then kissed her cheek, she realized it might have been a mistake. Should she be showing him affection, even as a friend, in front of a potential date? God, she sucked at this.
Feeling insecure, she turned to Ambrose and smiled shyly. “Hi. I’m Kate.”
He held out his hand, which she shook. “Ambrose. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
The sexy smile that went with his statement made her blush. Just how close were the two of them, and how much detail had Banner told him? Great. Now she felt awkward and vulnerable. This was going well.
“How are you?” Banner asked.
“Hungry.”
“Aha!” Ambrose’s expression brightened. “A girl who likes to eat? That’s my kind of woman.”
“Does that mean you don’t like stick figures? ’Cause I don’t plan to starve myself for a man.”
“Body size doesn’t matter. I just like women. But when they enjoy a good meal with me, all the better.” He leaned in and whispered, “Don’t tell anybody, but I’m a bit of a food snob.”
