“Apple cider has a lot of health qualities,” she said. “And not just for humans.”
She looked at Travis, and she thought his smile looked a little bit wicked.
“Are you making fun of me?” she asked. “Maybe I don’t want to sit by you.”
“You can’t leave,” he said, his smile drying right up with the words.
“Why not?” Lila Mae suddenly wanted nothing more than to do exactly that.
Colt leaned forward and said, “Becausethatis Trap’s ex-girlfriend, and he doesn’t want to sit by her.” He pointed his plastic fork out into the crowd. “And if you thought I didn’t want to sit by Jessa, he doesn’t want to sit by Chelle times ten.”
“She’s not my ex,” Trap said at the same time Lila Mae turned to see a beautiful, honey-haired woman looking for a place to sit. “We went out one time,” he muttered. “And it was torture.”
“Yeah, but she wants to go out with him again,” Colt said.
Lila Mae scoffed. “You cowboys seem to have a lot of women who want to go out with you that you don’t want to give the time of day to.” She gave them both a cocked-eyebrow glare. “Seems to me like you’d be happy for someone to go out with.”
Colt’s mouth hung open for a moment, and then he started to laugh. Trap simply blinked at her, his frown deepening by the moment. Lila Mae had half a mind to pick up her plate, claim she was finished, and offer her seat to Chelle.
She had the words formulated in her head too, and the whole scenario played out in her mind. Then she remembered she needed this man on her side, and that he had dozens of construction projects still to do at Feline Friends.
So she shut her mouth and picked up her fork to try her first bite of chicken pot pie casserole. As the creamy, salty sauce exploded across her tongue, Lila Mae moaned.
Trap laughed. “It’s good, right?”
“We do not have food like this in Maryland,” she said.
“I thought you were from Atlanta.”
“Our corporate headquarters are in Atlanta,” she said. “But I grew up in Maryland and worked out of the social media office there.”
“I don’t even know what a social media office is,” Trap said.
“Oh, yes, you do,” she fired back. “You post on social media for your business. I’ve seen your videos. It’s how I found you.”
He turned toward her. “Is it? Tell me more.”
Lila Mae wasn’t sure if Trap was quiet and shy or cocky and arrogant, but she wanted to find out. She put a bite of chocolate cake in her mouth and picked up her phone.
“Let me find the first video I saw,” she said. “I saved it. It’s what made me come back and look you up online.” It only took her a few seconds, as Lila Mae had been doing social media marketing for a very long time and knew her way around a mobile device.
“Here it is,” she said. “You’re even in it.”
He practically yanked her phone out of her hand, and she peered over his forearm at the video, where none other than Trap Walker himself said, “Hi, I’m Trap Walker, and welcome to Three Rivers and MSW Designs, a family construction and interior design firm that can meet any needs, big or small. Come with me as I show you everything from a new barndominium build, to an old farmhouse kitchen remodel.”
“I’ve got to say,” Lila Mae said as the video continued. “You’re a lot more personable online than you are in person.”
That caused Alex, Nikki, and Colt to all start laughing. Lila Mae took her lemonade from Alex. “Thank you.”
“Well, she’s got you pegged, Trap,” Alex said.
“I hate this video.” Trap handed her phone back. “I shot that thing like a thousand times.”
“Well, you’re very good,” she said. “It made me want to work with you.”
“My daddy will be thrilled,” Trap deadpanned. “But let’s not tell him, okay?”
Lila Mae grinned at him. “I think I’ll drive straight to Seven Sons and hunt him down.” She’d met his father, and she could do it too. Trap looked mortified, as if he’d never been teased before, and Lila Mae sighed and shook her head.
