Fuck.
She places a hand against my chest, and I’m sure she can feel my heart pounding wildly beneath it. “Friends?”
I nod because words fail me.
She drops her hand and motions toward the door. “I’m going to go to the bar.”
“Okay. I’ll clean up.”
“You could come if you want,” she offers, her voice raspy with emotion and her face full of hope.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I grab the plates from thecounter and empty them into the garbage.
“It’s just the brewery.” She shrugs and then takes another step back, holding up her hands like she’s promising not to touch me. “We don’t have to go together. I could walk like ten feet in front of you the whole way there.”
“It’s not like that,” I say, shaking my head.
“Then what’s it like, Cowboy?” She licks at her bottom lip when she catches me staring again. “You want to be my friend or not?”
The heels of my palms dig into my eyes as I try to focus on anything but her lips and the way my dick is thumping against my jeans at the mere sight of her tongue. “Christ, woman.”
“Well, as yourfriend, I’m just letting you know that I’m going to the bar tonight.” She grins at me. “Don’t wait up.”
CHAPTER 27
Walker
HOPE HARBOR TOWN CHAT
FLETCHER:Don’t forget the Daffodil Festival kicks off tomorrow! Can’t wait to see everyone there.
ELI:I’m heading to Rosie’s. Anyone want to meetme there?
BABS:It’s awfully last minute.
STEW:Can’t have a beer with a New York traitor.
ELI:I DON’T EVEN PLAY FOR THEM ANYMORE!
STEW:Once a traitor, always a traitor.
TALLY:I’ll be right there Eli! I’m happy to drink a beer with you. I’ll even buy you one.
FLETCHER:That’s the neighborly spirit!
* * *
I can’t believe I’m doing this. I didn’t even drive here. It’s only a few hundred feet past the end of our driveway, but still, I always take my truck. Not tonight, though.
Tonight, I walked here becauseshewalked here. And if she’s walking, I’m walking.
The air feels heavy, the April dew is thick against my skin, and the frogs cryout in a warning. It feels like rain. Fucking great. It’ll probably pour on my walk back home.
With every stomp of my boots against the gravel, I get more annoyed with myself. Why am I following her? She let me off the hook. She said we can be friends. We had an honest conversation, and now I can move on.
Yes, I tell myself, I’m just coming here tonight because I want a beer and to listen to some music.
Doesn’t matter that I have an entire case of my favorite beer back at the house and I can’t stand the seasonal ales that Rosie serves. Or that the music isn’t my style.
