“I get it. Stinks that I’ll miss seeing Zach this trip. But I figured I’d have a better chance hitting the lottery than getting him to come here.”
“Only reason for a single guy to come to this place is if they’re looking to get laid. My gut tells me he frequents other watering holes for that. But Alex and his girlfriend are coming. He’s a good kid. Zach’s been trying to keep him on the straight and narrow since he joined their station. Kinda like I recall him doing for someone else I know.”
“I remember well. Alex is a lucky guy. I’m glad to hear he’s a nice guy. I’d hate to think I left, and they replaced me with an asshat.”
Mick laughs again. “It’s always a possibility. But I think that title might be reserved for his girlfriend.”
“Oh, shit. Really?”
“I shouldn’t have said anything. Let you make up your own mind. Don’t say anything to Addy. I’d get a scolding from Ava if she found out I was talking smack about her before the girls met her.”
“Okay, mum’s the word. But I can’t say it’ll be easy keeping an open mind now. You’re usually not quick to judge.”
“I think it’s personal. She reminds me of my ex. Don’t let that poison your opinion. I’m going to run. We’ll see you soon.”
“See ya, Mick.”
Tucking my phone into my pocket, I make my way over to the bar and stop in my tracks. Addison is perched on her stool with two men by her side. She has her back to me, but it appears they’re doing most of the talking. Suddenly they give her a brief wave and walk away, a look of dejection on the taller man’s face. As I slowly resume walking, I really take her in. She rotates back toward the bar and I let my gaze drift down her long, toned legs, the elegant curve of her back, and her succulent lips that sip from her martini glass. Addison’s the whole package.
And she’s mine.
As if she can sense me watching her from the corner of her eye, she turns in my direction as I come nearer. The sight of her still steals my breath. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so hasty to get here. If Mom broke out her wedding album and they started planning, popping the question would just be a formality—because there’s no doubt this girl is it for me.
“Hi. Is this seat taken?” A smirk lifts the corner of my mouth, hoping she’ll decide to play along.
“No. It’s all yours,” she replies with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“I don’t come to clubs often. I’m from a one-horse town where you’re lucky to find a bar or two.”
“Oh, really. That actually sounds quite nice.”
I sit up a little taller in my seat. “It is. It’s beautiful there.”
“Did you grow up there?”
I reach for the lager Addison ordered for me. “No, moved there for work. I was worried I’d be bored, but I can’t imagine living anywhere else. It has everything I could want.” I give her a playful wink.
“So, what do you do?”
“I’m a firefighter.” Expecting her to fawn all over me, I stifle a chuckle when she simply lifts her glass to her mouth with her eyes trained on the bartender, acting completely unimpressed. “Pity Sycamore Mountain is so far away. I’d love to show you sometime.”
“Well, you don’t waste any time, mister.” She giggles.
“A girl like you doesn’t come along every day. You have to strike while the iron’s hot.”
“I like that. I’m used to the men I’m attracted to playing hard to get. I mean, I shouldn’t have to chase someone.”
Ouch. Guess I opened the door for that. “You’re absolutely right. What a blockhead that guy must’ve been.”
The smile that crosses her face is delicious.
I scoot a little closer to her stool and lean into her, placing my hand on the small of her back. “I know we just met, but I have a good feeling about you and me.”
I can practically feel her rolling her eyes at me. “You do, huh?”
“Yes. I want to show you I’m not like the halfwits you’ve dealt with before. I’ll happily do the chasing.”
“And what do you plan to do with me once you’ve caught me?”
