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“Everyone we pass seems to know you.”
“Oh… yeah. I’ve lived here my entire life and both my parents did before me, so…” It sounds like there’s so much more she could tell me, but she doesn’t.
“Then I guess I asked the right woman for directions.”
She smiles.
Maybe I misinterpreted her glances my way at the diner. Maybe she doesn’t want anything to do with me other than to show me to Lucky’s. Lucky’s isn’t that far, so once we reach it, we stop and she signals to the doors.
I take in the place. “I thought it would be bigger.”
“There aren’t a lot of big things in this town.” Her eyes trace over my body and I like them on me. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten this much interest from a woman I just met.
“I’m starting to see that.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “I hope your boyfriend doesn’t get upset that you showed me how to get here?”
“Boyfriend?” Her head tilts to the side.
“The guy at the diner? The one who said he loved you when he left.”
She laughs and stops when she sees my confusion. “That’s my cousin, and he definitely isn’t boyfriend material for anyone.”
I rock back on my heels. If I didn’t have an interview, I’d try to spend time with her. “Can I get your number then? Maybe you could show me around while I’m here.”
The innuendo is obvious in my tone, and her eyes widen for a moment as though she’s surprised I’m asking. There’s no way this woman doesn’t get hit on every damn day.
“How long are you here for?” she asks.
If my commander at the Coast Guard has anything to say about it, it’ll be eight weeks. But I don’t say that. “I’m not sure. I’m not on a time clock.”
She smiles and nods. “Um… sure.”
I put my password in my phone, go to my contacts, and hand it to her. Her hands tremble a bit as she holds it, her thumbs resting over the screen as if she’s second-guessing giving me her information. She looks at me before typing anything, and I smile at her. Something is stopping her from giving me her number.
A man comes out of the tattoo parlor next door. I noticed Smokin’ Guns when I came into town and was thinking maybe I’d add to my collection while I’m here. He doesn’t bother looking at me, but he stares at the back of the blonde, clearing his throat loudly enough that he’s easily heard.
Her alarmed eyes lift to mine, and she hands me back my phone. Glancing over her shoulder, her hands shake more, so she clenches them at her sides. “Sorry, I should go. I’m sure I’ll see you around, not many places to hide.”
I nod, a little disappointed. “Thanks.”
She hurries over to the man who’s definitely older than her.
“Hey,” she says when she reaches him and walks into the shop.
The man’s eyes finally meet mine, and he studies me for a second. “Hey, Brinley.”
He gives me what I interpret as a warning glare. Then he steps inside, and the door shuts after him.
I shake my head, opening the door to Lucky’s. This isn’t exactly what I thought my first day here would be like. Inside, I find a small bar with booths by the window and tables of four placed where there’s room. There are dart boards and pool tables in the back, along with a jukebox. Other than a group of four elderly people in a booth, the place is empty.
A guy comes out of the back as I step up to the bar and drop my duffel bag on the floor.
He smiles and crosses the room to me. “You must be Van.” He puts his hand out in front of me.
“Nate?” My eyebrows rise.
“Yeah. Can I get you something?”
“A water?”
