Marlie just nodded. “Right. Damon.” She frowned. “See ya.”
Then she turned and left him staring after her like a besotted moron.
Just then his knee gave out, and he landed hard on his hip while the snow fell harder.
He swore, long and loud.
“Well, that’s got to be embarrassing. Denied by a woman and by your own body. So sad how far Demon Sinclair has fallen.”
Of course his buddy had followed him out and watched him crash and burn.
Damon ignored his heated cheeks. “Shut it, Cade. Help me up.” Once again on his feet, he accompanied Cade back to the restaurant, careful not to put too much weight on his bad leg.
But instead of being able to eat in peace, he found himself mobbed by people demanding autographs while others told him exactly what they thought of him ditching the team when they needed him most.
As if he’d ripped his meniscus on purpose.
Cade was no help, the popular general contractor a staple of the town and apparently beloved by everyone. Because while they complained about Damon, they gave Cade nothing but sweet smiles and compliments.
He sighed. Some things never changed.
He just wished he could have gotten Marlie’s number. Or even a smile.
Because for some reason, she was stuck in his brain. And he had a feeling it would take more time than it should to get her out of it again.
CHAPTER 2
Marlie didn’t know what had come over her. She didn’t normally make a scene in public, but she was so over Ben’s nonsense.
After doing his best to win her over after that first date, he’d been a dream boyfriend. For all of a month.
Then, over time, the red flags had not only appeared but had flown and grown.
Though he accused her of only wanting him for his money, she’d been enamored of the good-looking, gentlemanly guy who didn’t live with his parents and actually had a job.
Turned out he might as well have lived with his parents for all the attention he gave them and not her. And his job seemed to be nothing more than a title where he got accolades for those who did the actual work. Some financial genius he turned out to be.
She knew she should have dropped him after hearing his constant bragging. Or his gaslighting when she’d call him on his attitude with people. The way he never wanted her to meet his wealthy friends or do more than say hello if they did run into them.
Friends like Darlene McBoob.
She snorted as she let herself into her small cottage a few blocks from central downtown. A dream she’d earned by being the favorite teacher of a few star pupils whose parents dominated the rental market.
She hadn’t been too proud to take the offer of a reduced rental rate. Teachers didn’t make squat, and she had to supplement her meager income by coaching and on some occasions, tutoring. The coaching she loved. The tutoring? Not so much.
Sighing, Marlie tossed her jacket on a hook and finally let herself grin at the memory of that giant lumbering after her.
Had she not already seen him in the restaurant—because who didn’t notice a near giant with dark eyes and a scruff that looked, well, not sexy, but not not-sexy either—she might have been worried. He had interesting features. A high forehead, a nose that had been broken before, and a square jaw.
The guy put the man in manly. Those muscles and that height had been no joke.
But coming on to her after she’d just torn into Ben? Who did that?
She had no intention of following up one bad boyfriend with another, especially not one who clearly looked like a serial killer. The deep, gravelly voice and big fists didn’t help his image.
For a short moment, she let herself wonder about him. Then her anger and disappointment over Ben returned.
Marlie had been on so many dates in her lifetime. Closing in on thirty, she’d expected to be married by now. Having a kid or two. Or at least dating someone seriously.
