Page 26 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“What plan?”

“To stay away from you.” She tried to shut her door, but I held it tight. “Let go, Jackson.”

“No. Just . . . just one second, okay? Clearly, I did something to piss you off. But I’m not sure what I did. So at some point, you’re going to have to spell it out for me.”

She frowned, tugging the door handle harder.

Still, I didn’t let go. “You want to know why I’m asking you out? I guess . . . because I want to get to know you. I don’t know, something about this,” I waved my free hand between us, “feels different. Special.”

Her mouth parted and her eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything. Though she did stop jerking on the door handle.

“Come inside,” I pleaded. “For just a little bit. Come sit in there and hang out. I’m sure Wayne’s passing out free drinks at the moment so you can at least take advantage of one of those.”

Her lips turned up, just a bit.

“Please?” I was begging now. I never begged.

Willa made me stand there, sweating from the summer sun and her intense stare, until finally she gave me the smallest of nods.

I did my best to hide my smug smile as she grabbed her purse and slid out of the car. As soon as she was clear of the door, I closed it behind her and walked with her back into the bar.

I opened the bar door for her, and sure enough, Wayne was making himself comfortable behind the bar. Though it didn’t look like he was giving away drinks.

Thea and I never gave drinks away for free. It was a policy Hazel had drilled into us when we’d both started here, just as it had been drilled into her head long, long ago.

Hazel’s parents had been the original owners of the Lark Cove Bar. When they’d passed on, she’d inherited it, as well as her childhood home. I’d worked alongside Hazel at the bar for years, until Thea moved to Lark Cove. With both of us running the place, Hazel had decided to retire, though her rules remained.

No free drinks.

It might be against the rules, but Wayne had just earned a free refill.

And Willa could drink for free any night of the week.

“Hey, Willa.” Wayne smiled and winked at her as we approached the bar.

She smiled back. “Hi, Wayne.”

I slid a stool out for her, and after she sat, I went behind the bar. “Thanks,” I told Wayne, clapping him on the shoulder. “Next one’s on me.”

“Rain check. I’ve hit my two-beer limit for the night and it’s time to go home.”

With a quick wave to Willa and a couple others in the bar, he walked out the front door, leaving me and Willa alone across from each other.

“What would you like?”

“Just a water, please.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her fingers toyed with the edges of a cocktail napkin.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, filling up a glass of ice water and adding a lemon wedge. “I could make you a pizza.”

She shook her head. “I ate at camp with the kids already.”

“Want some peanuts?” I slid over a paper boat full without waiting for an answer.

“Thanks,” she said but didn’t crack one. She also didn’t say a word.

My heart began pounding and my palms were sweating. Had talking to a woman always been this hard? It occurred to me that I didn’t actually know how to get to know a member of the opposite sex, except in the carnal sense.

I decided to go with the only safe topic that came to mind. “So, uh, how are your parents?”