We shared another smile and the light in his eyesturned serious. Jesse Hasting was a catch. Every single girl that lived inSummit County and most of the tourists that passed through took one look atthis guy and started ovulating. I wasn’t any different.
Okay, I was a lot different.
And my ovaries didn’t really ovulate on command anyway.
But I was still crazy for dreading the question Icould see formulating in the depths of his rich, chocolate eyes.
Jesse cleared his throat and started rubbing the backof his neck that had very suddenly turned bright red. “There’s this band that’sgoing to be in town tomorrow night. I went to college with the lead singer andthey’re pretty good. They’re playing down on Main Street at Foote’s Rest. Theweather is supposed to be really nice and it should be a fun time. And I’mwondering if you’d like to go with me?”
“Jesse Hasting are you nervous?” I tried to repress mysmile, but I wasn’t totally successful.
“You’remaking me nervous, Caroline Baker.”
I flinched, barely, at the sound of my fake last name.“I’ve watched you walk up to complete strangers and ask them out,” I accused.“One time I saw you pull a girl off her seat and start dancing with her atFoote’s without even asking her. You just assumed she’d want to dance with you—itdidn’t help much that you were right!”
The high planes of his cheeks darkened withembarrassment. “Well, those women aren’t you, Caroline. You’re a hell of a lotmore intimidating than random women at a bar halfway through a bottle of Grey Goose.”
His comment made me laugh. “And why is that?”
Jesse cleared his throat. “Because you’re going to sayno.”
“Well, if you knew I was going to say no, why did youask me?”
Some of his confidence returned, kicking his lips upinto a cocky smile. “Because I figure it’s worth the shot. And maybe you saidno the first couple times because of Juliet. But maybe if you keep getting toknow me, eventually you won’t say no. And if you keep getting to know me, and Ikeep asking you, then eventually you’ll say yes.”
I tried really hard not to be flattered. I mean, Ireally gave it my all. But it was impossible not to feel special after a manlike Jesse Hasting put so much effort in trying to date me.
Over the years, Jesse had asked me out a couple timesvery nonchalantly, and when I’d turned him down he hadn’t acted like he caredall that much. But last summer something changed in him. Instead of the casual,offhand invitations to dinner, he had started to actually pursue me. He stoppedby my work, he bought me little things like coffee or an ice cream cone if hesaw me in town, he went to events that he knew I was going to be at. And heknew Juliet.
Maybe he didn’t know everything about her. But he knewI had a daughter. And he knew I was raising her on my own. And that didn’t seemto deter him.
Also, the two of them were thick as thieves. Which Ifound particularly troubling. Because I didn’t mind their friendship. Or theway he could make her laugh. Or the way he seemed to genuinely care about her.
It was hard to say no to him. He didn’t realize howhard.
And not just because he was this standup guy that wasalso super-hot and responsible and nice. I mean, they just didn’t make guyslike Jesse anymore.
But to be honest, the hardest reason to say no to allhis attention was basically because I was in desperate need of a good lay.Let’s be real, the last time I had a night worth bragging about was the nightJuliet was conceived. And while I was in no hurry to repeat that particular ordeal,it had been a long, very long, super long dry spell.
It was on the tip of my tongue to say yes to this man.A night out of the house surrounded by other grown-ups, good beer and decentmusic sounded awesome. A night hanging out with this particular grown-upsounded even better.
But I couldn’t do it.
I had Juliet to think about.
And my fragile existence in this town was built like ahouse of cards.
I didn’t have time to date. Especially not men likeJesse Hasting.
“Maybe someday, far down the road, in the very, verydistant future, every one of my answers might not be no,” I told him with agentle expression. “But today it still has to be. I’m so sorry.”
Undeterred by my negative answer, he tilted so thatall his body rested on one forearm. “You’re not into good music?”
“No, I am.”
“Then it must be the venue?
“I love Foote’s.”
