“So are you. And I can’t help but notice how in four days you’ve gone fromit’s just someone I used to knowto smiling like an idiot and telling me he’s different.”
Technically I said,it’sdifferent, but... he’s right.
I don’t have to ask him outright to know what he’s thinking. He was there throughout the whole Simon mess. He saw how broken it left me. It’s not a stretch to imagine him thinking Vic is another Simon, because that’s exactly what I thought at first.
“He lives in Edwinstowe,” I say by way of explanation.
Jerry screws up his nose, thinking, so I clarify.
“You know... Sherwood Forest, Major Oak...”
“Ooh.” He rubs his jaw. “So not that far away. Little over an hour?”
“Something like that.” I can see the wheels turning in his mind, and as much as I like the fact that he seems to have shifted his view of Vic by that one statement, I don’t want to jinx things. “It’s new, so let’s not get carried away. We’re just seeing where things go and enjoying thenow.”
He studies me for a long moment, and I try not to fidget, but then he lifts his glass a little. “Well, good for you.” He clinks his glass gently against mine, and we smile at each other.
I relax into my seat more, knowing that Jerry’s on my side and he’ll leave it alone unless I ask his opinion.
With that out of the way, we chat about work, family, all the usual shit, but my gaze sweeps the pub every so often, looking for Vic.
We didn’t specify a time, but he knew I was dropping in after work. Yesterday morning seems like ages ago, and I’m itching to see him again. If for nothing more than to reassure myself that I didn’t imagine the connection between us. That my mind hasn’t embellished our time together.
I’ve almost finished my drink when Jerry glances over my shoulder. Something changes in his expression, and I justknow. The hair on the back of my neck prickles.
“Lover boy just walked in.”
As I turn around, I catch more than one person in the bar glancing between me and Vic. I ignore them all because he captures all my attention.
He’s wearing a tight black T-shirt smeared with white paint. It’s incredibly snug, and I’m guessing that’s why it’s been relegated to painting gear. His light blue jeans have a couple of rips across the knee and thigh, not intentional I don’t think because they’re also splashed with five streaks of paint on one leg. Like he wiped his fingers on it.
He’s a little dusty and dishevelled, and far from looking at his worst, he’s got that rugged workman vibe going on. Hot as fuck.
“You lucky bastard,” Jerry mutters, just as Vic’s eyes land on me.
His whole face lights up, and it makes him even hotter, and I grin because Jerry’s right.
I am.
I really fucking am.
Vic strides over to our table, oblivious to the way half the pub is watching, gaze solely on me. Until Lucky wags his tail and steals Vic’s attention.
“Hey, you,” Vic says to my dog, crouching down to fuss him. Lucky practically vibrates in his spot and I can’t say that I blame him. But when Vic looks up at me with a soft “Hi,” I’m still completely lost in the depth of hazel eyes that have more brown in them than green tonight. The effect is the same, whatever colour they are: my pulse kicks up and heat blooms inside me.
“Hi,” I manage, ignoring Jerry’s shit-eating grin as he watches us. “You done helping Hailey?”
He glances down at himself and must suddenly realise what he’s wearing because a quiet “fuck” falls from his lips and he flushes, one hand finding its way into his curls. “I meant to get changed before I came in here, but I saw you and...” He shrugs.
He saw me and forgot about everything else.
My smile probably matches Jerry’s now, but fuck me, I can’t help it. “You look good to me.” I catch Vic’s hand and tug him into the extra chair that Jerry’s dragged over, mouthing a “thank you” to Jerry.
“How was work?” Vic glances between me and Jerry. “Do you two work together?”
“God no,” Jerry says, knocking back the rest of his pint.
“Jerry’s a vet.” I’ve still got hold of Vic’s hand, it seems to be becoming a habit when we’re together. “Turns out he was on the same course as Gareth Slater.”
