Page 9 of Roughneck

Her eyes were wide with admiration.

“So that’s how you heard about the rescue,” Hunter asked. “From your trainer friend?”

“Yeah. He told me about it a while ago. I always thought working out here sounded like an amazing opportunity, just something I’d never have time for.” Her eyes clouded over for a moment and she looked down before pasting on a bright smile and shrugging. “Well, I finally have some time and it seemed like a perfect fit.”

Hunter’s eyes narrowed, wondering what was going on in that lovely head of hers. “New Hampshire, you said? Is that where you’re from?”

But before she could answer, Jake came up and interrupted, beer in hand. “Hey Hunter,” he gestured toward the pool table. “Connor’s leaving if you want in on the next round.”

“Oh.” Hunter shot a quick glance at Isobel, then looked back at Jake, trying to communicate telepathically. Come on, Jake, move the fuck on. Hunter wanted to smack the guy upside the head. Couldn’t he see he was talking to a beautiful woman?

But Jake just kept standing there so Hunter finally said, “I’m good. You guys can keep playing.”

“Ohhhhh,” Jake said, looking over at Isobel like he finally understood. And was being totally fucking obvious about it.

Hunter felt the back of his neck heat up as Jake winked at him and turned around, finally walking off. But when he looked back at Isobel, she was just smiling into her beer.

“Here ya are, darlin.’ Char-grilled just like the good Lord intended.” Bubba set down Isobel’s burger in front of her.

She thanked Bubba and picked up her burger but then paused, looking over at Hunter. “Sorry, is it rude if I just dig in right in front of you?”

Hunter waved his hand. “By all means. I already ate.”

“Oh thank God, I’m starving.”

He laughed and she took a huge bite of the juicy burger. Apparently it tasted good because her head fell back in bliss as she chewed.

Annnnnnnd now his jeans were tight because, fuck. That was the hottest thing he’d seen in a long while.

Her eyes had dropped closed, she was so lost in the sensual experience of eating the burger. Hunter watched the delicate column of her throat as she chewed and swallowed. His eyes traced down her throat, past the collar of her t-shirt, down to the round swells of her—

Shit.

He jerked his eyes back to her face, only to find her watching him ogle her. Well, fuck.

He felt his neck heat and he looked away, back behind the bar. Only to see Isobel’s reflection in the mirror, two spots of color high on her cheeks as she watched him surreptitiously over the top of her burger like she was amused by his embarrassment.

Everything he was feeling right now—God, he hadn’t felt it in so long he barely recognized it. Attraction. This was what attraction felt like. He almost couldn’t believe he was actually sitting here, talking and flirting with this beautiful woman.

She finished swallowing her bite. “So this bar is like Cheers. Where everybody knows your name?” She took another bite and Hunter couldn’t help smiling sheepishly.

“Yeah. Well. Small towns.” He couldn’t help his thoughts turning back to Janine. “You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em.”

“I’ve always liked them,” Isobel said, leaning in like she’d detected his suddenly soured mood and was trying to jostle him back into the moment with her. “My best memories are of the small town where I lived in New Hampshire.”

Right.

Because she wasn’t Janine. This girl grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, not an expensive neighborhood in Manhattan. Janine used to brag about being from Soho like it was an exotic foreign country. Hunter shook himself and loosened back up.

They chatted easily as she ate her burger. He learned she loved working with horses and all about the personalities of the horses at the stable where she’d worked in New Hampshire. She was so animated as she talked about each one, Hunter couldn’t take his eyes off her. She mentioned she was taking some time off from college but she’d gotten a far away look in her eye and seemed uncomfortable so he hadn’t pressed anymore.

“I feel like I’ve been talking non-stop,” she said, taking a sip of her beer. She’d only drunk about half of it, and eaten a little more than half her burger before setting it down on the plate and ignoring it. “Tell me about you.”

Hunter shrugged, feeling embarrassed. What could he say? He was the town vet who spent his days armpit deep up the back end of cows and horses, struggling every month to pay his bills and keep the lights on? He knew all too well exactly how unimpressive he was.

Besides, really, what was the point? It wasn’t like he could have a relationship with this woman, even if she was as perfect as she seemed. He wasn’t sure he was ready, if he would ever be. And she was only going to be here for the summer. The last thing he needed was to get involved with another woman who couldn’t wait to be rid of him.

But at the same time, the thought of saying goodbye to her and going back to his empty house… The thought of spending another night alone in his cold, empty bed…

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