“I’ve never had an orgasm with someone else in the room,” Glow’s announced as if she were the authority on self-made orgasms.
Vivi’s eyes went wide.
The coffee shop went still.
Then a low whistle cut through the silence. The whistler in question was a tall cup of coffee, with broad shoulders and a face that looked like it had been carved to annoy her. From two stools over, he tipped his cowboy hat with the kind of slow grin that made her want to sink straight into the floorboards.
“Well now,” his voice was a lazy and flat like a true Montanan, “far as confessions go, that one sure beats ‘I stole a candy bar in second grade.’”
Her cheeks burned. “I meant—I didn’t mean—forget I said that. Well, that she said that.” Vivi held up theshein question.
“Can’t,” he said, his grin deepening until two deep dimples appeared. His gaze flicked to her designer cowgirl boots that still had the tag on them. “See, boots, some things a man justfeels obligated to rectify. And lucky for you, I’m a fixer by nature.”
“Funny,Cowboy. You look more like the breaking-things type,” she volleyed back, surprised at the bite in her tone.
Vivi was a people-pleaser by nature. It went as far as apologizing to mannequins when she bumped into them. She lived in constant fear of disappointing anyone, which meant she said “yes” more than she should, swallowed “no” like a bitter pill, and smiled even when her cheeks ached. But with this man it was like her polite-filter was on the fritz.
He chuckled, a low, dangerous rumble that curled under her skin. “Guess you’ll just have to stick around long enough to find out which.”
Again, he raised her hackled, a reaction even Lewis couldn’t stir in her. There was something about this guy that brought out her worst. And she didn’t like it
She snatched her purse off the bar top and stood to leave. Only her phone felt heavy in her hand.
This was only her second task, and she was considering giving up. Just like that. One embarrassing moment and she was ready to throw in the towel? Then she remembered what her mom had said just two days ago.
“Honey, this isn’t about running away, it’s about finally giving yourself permission to stop living for everyone else. This is your chance to step outside that little box you’ve built, to get uncomfortable, and to dig deep until you figure out who you really are. And who you want to be. For once in your life, be bold.”
Vivi sat back down and turned to the stranger at the table behind her. He was Paul Bunyon’s bigger, twin brother. Logs for arms and a beer belly that threatened to spill out of his Grateful Dead shirt, the bar stool groaned under his weight as he turned to face her.
“Excuse me,” she said sticking out her hand. “I’m Vivi and I have to tell three different secrets to three different strangersand it has to be a secret I’ve never told anyone. I once ate an entire sheet-cake by myself. In one sitting. Chocolate with raspberry filling. No shame.” She put her fingers a centimeter apart. “Well, a little shame.”
“What’s your third secret,” Cowboy whispered from beside her. He’d taken it upon himself to scoot closer.
“What?”
“You said you need to tell three different secrets to three different strangers. What’s your third one?”
“I already told you one.”
“No, you told the entire bar one. Would you prefer to do that again?”
Vivi looked down at her watch. Twenty seconds and counting.
“It will be so much fun,” Paul Bunyon said and stood. “Can everyone quiet down. New York here has a confession for us all.”
The crowd fell silent once again and Vivi’s tongue went dry.
“Spill, spill, spill,” Einstein said, and the shop went wild with cheers. Before she knew it the entire bar had joined in the chant. Except Cowboy. Who was staring at her with a grin that was all charm and challenge.
Racoon eyes and all, Vivi stood.
A humorous chuckle and a few whistles came from the peanut gallery. Vivi cleared her throat and waited until there was silence. Then mumbled, “I accidentally flashed a whole restaurant because my skirt got caught on the chair. I stood, my dress stayed.”
“Can you speak up, honey,” Paul Bunyan said. Vivi cleared her throat and said in a raided whisper, “I accidently?—”
“So we can hear you,” Cowboy said.
Taking a breath, Vivi blurted out, “I accidentally flashed a whole restaurant because my skirt got caught on the chair. I stood, my dress stayed.”
