Chapter 1
Allie sat in the booth of the restaurant, fiddling with her cup of water as she checked the watch on her wrist for what felt like the tenth time in a few minutes.Her date was late.Twenty-four minutes and forty-five seconds if she were to be exact.Most people would have left by now and called the date a wash, but this was the first date she’d been on in ages, and her friend had set it up, so she owed it to her to try and give the guy a chance.
Sandy, her best friend, had been singing this guy’s praises for months, telling Allie that he would be perfect for her.Allie didn’t share the sentiment.She was the epitome of ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride.’
Men always overlooked her for tall, blonde, rail-thin women.While she wasn’t a giant at five foot ten, she wasn’t short.She didn’t have blonde hair but red.Bright, fiery red.It had been a source of ridicule by nasty girls in school and earned her the name ‘stop sign’ or ‘fire truck.’
She had tried dying it to make it darker over the years, but the color never stayed long, and it started damaging her hair.Eventually, she stopped caring and just accepted the fact that her hair would always be this color and unruly.
Allie wasn’t skinny, but she wasn’t fat either.She had a sweet tooth and rarely said no when doughnuts or other pastries were brought into the office.There was a slight roundness to her frame, but when she looked at some of the other women who starved themselves and worked out for hours on end to look like they’d just come out of a concentration camp, she figured she’d rather have the slight roundness.
Allie checked her watch again.Maybe she should just order.She was already out and dressed up.Well, in her business clothes.She had just left the office and hadn’t had time to go home and change.Her hair was tamed back in a bun.Not a strand out of place—not an easy feat.
First thing in the morning, she looked like she’d stuck her finger into a light socket.It was always curly and sticking out everywhere.
Allie looked around for a waiter when a man in a white shirt, black leather jacket, and blue jeans caught her eye.Light brown hair that was swept off the side of his face like he’d run his fingers through it a lot during the day.She couldn’t see his eye color because he was looking down at his phone.He had a well-trimmed beard.His clothing was loose, but she could tell he was well muscled.
Several women in the restaurant turned from their partners to ogle him.This man could be a cover model on the books she read.
He stopped about a foot away from her and looked up from his phone.Brown eyeslike warm hot fudge.Those eyes darted around the room.
For a moment, she fantasized about them landing on her and then turning molten as he looked her up and down before striding over to her, taking her by the hand, and dragging her home for hot intense sex.
Okay, so she read a lot of romance novels, and she was a bitsex-starved.A girl could fantasize though.
Only thoseeyes did land on her.She felt hypnotized when they did.She couldn’t move.Could barely breathe.The man looked at her hard as if he were studying her.As if he couldn’t figure her out.
She wasn’t complicated.The same as any other woman.Allie liked to cook, and while she didn’t like to clean—who did—she did it, so she didn’t feel like she lived in a pigsty.She was a simple woman with simple needs.She just wanted to be loved.
The man walked up to her.Her eyes followed him, and she had to tilt her head back.He was easily over six feet tall.
“Annie?”
Oh, so not her date.
“No, my name is Allie.Allie Sunbright.”
“Then you are who I’m looking for.Carson Townsend.”He held out his hand.
This was her blind date?Wow, Sandy really hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d said he was handsome.Carson was gorgeous.Far more handsome than the last guy she’d dated.
Carson looked at her expectantly.Oh yeah, he was holding out his hand for her to shake.Get it together, girl.
“Nice to meet you.”Allie mentally chided herself.The guy was going to think she was a total weirdo, and they’d just barely met.She needed to get a grip.So, he was gorgeous?Big deal.Looks faded; it was a brain she was more intrigued by than a panty-melting smile, though it didn’t hurt.
She reached up and shook his hand, noting the roughness of it.This was not a desk man, but an outdoorsy guy.A man used to hard work.
“Sorry, I’m late.A work thing came up.”
Well, at least he hadn’tghosted her.It had happened before.More than once sadly, but now wasn’t the time to think about that.
“Not a problem.”She smiled; she knew all about work things that came up and stole your time and attention.
“Have you ordered yet?”he asked, sliding into the booth across from her.
“No, I was just about to.”She looked around for the waiter again.“You can use my menu if you want to browse what they have.”
“I’ve been here before.I always get the same thing.”
