“Good to see you,Dean!Don’t work too hard.” She winks at him and then drags me out the door.
When we make it to the truck, I turn around and find Dean watching me with a small smile on his face. I can feel my cheeks heat, so I spin around and get into Rina’s truck.
“Well, that was fun,” she snickers.
Somehow, I don’t think she meant lunch.
Chapter 11
Ledger
What the hell is Rina doing with Ainsley? Are they friends now?
Shit.I need to come clean. Rina had that mischievous gleam in her eye that means she is planning something, and I don’t need it fucking with my chances here.
You’re already fucking with your chances because she thinks your name is Dean, you asshole.
Yep, I’m an asshole.
I walk up to the front counter just as Oakley puts my order up.
“Here ya go, Ledger. I added an extra pickle in there for you.”
“Thanks man, you’re the best.” Oakley’s a good guy. Mostly keeps to himself, but he’s a damn excellent chef. He tells everyone the same story of how he came to be in Bluebell Falls, but there’s something about it that feels too scripted. But it’s none of my business.
“Rina was just in here with a cutie. She looked like she was looking for trouble.” He laughs.
My shoulders instantly tighten when he calls Ainsley a cutie.She’s mine.
“Umm.” I let out breathy laughter, trying not to lose my shit on him. He’s a nice guy, and I know he didn’t really mean anything by it. I just need to remember that before I punch him. “When isn’t Rina looking for trouble?”
“Ain’t that the truth? Enjoy your lunch.” He waves as he walks back to the kitchen.
I make my way back to my truck, and all I can think about is if Oakley hit on Ainsley and what the hell Rina is up to. Since when did my life become this complicated?
There’s also the guilt.Why the hell haven’t I come clean yet? Am I really that scared of rejection?
The answer is hell yes. I didn’t realize the number my ex did on me. I mean, I knew it at the time, but I thought I had gotten over this. It’s been over a decade—Ishouldbe over it.
Then why are you being a chicken shit with the one woman you’ve never gotten out of your head? How is lying to her going to get her to trust you?
Fuck.My head’s a mess.
Trudging back to my truck, I set the bag of food in the passenger seat and head home for lunch. I have about forty minutes before I need to meet some of my guys at a house to start some landscaping, so I don’t really have time to dwell on the shitshow that is my life.
As I walk into my house, my phone dings with a text.
Finally getting myself settled at my kitchen island, I lay out my food, then pull out my phone.
Rina:
Are you busy tonight?
So it starts. I knew she was up to something.
Me:
Not really. I’m starting a job after lunch and then wrapping up a couple of projects after that.
