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“Nope. But it sounds right up my alley.”
“Wait, how long have you been in town?” Lou asked.
“Three weeks.”
Lou elbowed his friend. “What’s the matter with you? You’ve got this gorgeous East Coaster living in your cabin and working her tail off, and you don’t take her out for a sloshy?”
“She’s busyworking,” Jaime said.
Lou stepped in front of his friend. “Excuse him. He’s a savage. How about I take you out for a drink?”
“She’s been on her feet all day,” Jaime said. “She’s exhausted.”
Now, there’s a side to him I’ve never seen.His tone was firm, possessive, and not open to discussion.I like that.
Lou broke out in a slow grin. “I see how it is. It’s cool, man.”
“It’s not like anything.” Jaime didn’t back down. “Look at her. She’s just getting home at nine thirty. She’ll be up baking at three in the morning.”
“All the more reason someone should take her for a night out on the town,” Lou said. “What do you say? Can I take you out? Show you some of the sights?”
She waited to see what Jaime would do. He wanted to keep them a secret, but that was because of his daughter. No need to hide around the players, right? There was no way he’d be okay with her dating someone else.
Then again, if he were, she wouldn’t need to have that discussion about the redhead. She’d have her answer.
His jaw went hard. He ground his teeth. But he didn’t say a word.
Was everything he’d said to her a lie?
This thing between us is so huge.
It sure as hell doesn’t feel like a fling.
Or was he that screwed up he’d rather her date someone else than claim her publicly?
She grew hot and flustered, but when he still stood there like a tree stump, she turned all her focus on Lou. “Sure. I’d love that.”
“Awesome. What night works for you?”
“The festival runs seven days a week, so I won’t have free time until I get my new employees trained up.” She gave Jaime a shit-eating grin. “Good thing you suggested those boys.”
“Cool.” Lou pulled out his phone. “Let’s trade numbers, and you can hit me up when you’re ready.” He turned to Jaime with a look that said,Is this okay with you?
Grace couldn’t wait to see his response.
And honestly, after fifteen years of a man who didn’t mind breaking up with her over and over again so he could see what else was out there, she wanted a man who cared enough to say,No, it’s not okay. I’ve got some issues, but I know how I feel about this woman, and I’m not giving her the chance to catch feelings for someone else while I pull my head out of my ass.
She’s mine.
A feeling of certainty filled her, and she knew without a doubt what she wanted and more, what she deserved. And that was not a secret relationship. She’d been willing to consider it, but now she saw it as an excuse for him to not commit to anyone.
Jaime lowered his gaze to his sneakers, wiped the back of his hand across his damp forehead, and then said, “I’ll catch you later, Louey.” With a lift of the baskets, he strode off toward his house. “I’ll drop these on your porch.”
His indifference hit her soul like a splash of boiling water.
She felt scalded. She meant a whole lot to him when he had a hard-on but not so much when he had a sexy redhead waiting in the wings.Well, fuck that. I’m not going to shrivel up just because some guy doesn’t want me enough. “You know what? I’m here such a short time. Let’s grab a drink right now.”
Not that she didn’t trust Lou, but after a quick shower, Grace drove herself into town to meet him at the bar. “So, this is Wild Billy’s.” She passed it every day on her way to and from the amphitheater—hard to miss with that neon sign of a bull rider on top.
