The back of my neck tingles with awareness. Something about his demeanor feels off to me.
It’s the fact that he clearly wants her, dumbass.
But there’s something else, another aspect about Ben that I don’t like. I typically have spot-on instincts when it comes topeople. I hire my ranch hands based on intuition, just like my grandfather did.
Dolly’s eyes float back up to mine while Ben is still talking to her and holding her hand. The waitress returns and takes their order, then mine. I keep glancing over at their table, where their hands are still touching.
“Twenty-four ounce rib eye, rare. With a baked potato and green beans.”
“I wouldn’t have expected anything else.” She shakes her head and walks off.
Dolly’s eyes graze over the waitress as she leaves before landing on me again.
“… the way that you’ve been locked away, doesn’t surprise me,” Ben is saying.
Her gaze slides to his. “Uh, yeah, dating isn’t exactly something I’ve done a lot of. I’m not really looking for a relationship. Just a casual thing for now.”
What?
I can’t see his expression, but he leans closer to her and says something I can’t hear. The restaurant is getting noisier, and there’s a large table of women being seated near us, who are laughing and talking too loud for me to keep eavesdropping.
The women quiet down as the waiter goes over to take their order.
Dolly tilts her head down, blushing. “No, I’m not really. But I do want to gain some experience. I just need the right guy to guide me.”
My mind is spinning. She wants experience, someone to “guide” her. She isn’t out to find her husband and pop out four kids before she’s thirty.
She wants to practice intimacy with … this dickface?
Their food arrives at the same time as mine. I eat without tasting it, watching his body language and counting her smiles.
Why is she smiling so damn much?
He can’t be that funny. I order another beer.
Once the check arrives, he pays for theirs and stands up from the booth, extending a hand out to her. She takes it, letting him help her up. My steak knife is still on my plate, ready to be of use. He walks right by my table without seeming to notice me.
I leave a couple of hundred-dollar bills on the table before standing to follow them outside. The hostess claps her hand over her mouth, eyes widened at me. I shrug as I walk by.
Ben guides Dolly through the parking lot. There’s a bar next door, with a neon sign illuminating the entrance. I stay about five paces behind them, realizing I probably look like a stalker, but I don’t care.
I haven’t cared about much of anything or anyone since my grandfather died.Except Dolly Mae.
Now what’s that about?
He leads her toward the bar, stopping underneath the neon sign. “I’m really enjoying spending time with you.”
My shirt feels tight, like it doesn’t fit my body anymore. I step closer, within five feet of them now. Ben lets go of her hand to wrap his fingers around her waist, where a sliver of her skin shows above her waistband. My blood rushes in my ears.
Yeah, no.
I step forward. “Wow, fancy seeing you two here. What’s up, man? How are you?” I interrupt them before he has the chance to dip his head toward her.
Ben turns, his eyes looking like a deer in headlights. He jumps back from her. “Whoa, hey. What’s up?”
I frown, wondering why he’s acting like he got caught doing something he shouldn’t have been. Dolly’s expression is … relieved.
Interesting.
