“Oh-kay…” The hostess’s eyes dart around nervously. “I…uh, I’ll seat you near the fireplace. Away from the…striations.”
“You’re a saint.” I smile, and she leads me deeper into the restaurant after a look of mild panic washes over her eyes. I’ve scared her.
I’m seated in a cozy corner, hugged by dark leather couches and a stone fireplace. The smell of garlic and fresh bread welcomes me.
“Here’s your menu. Can I get you a drink in the meantime?”
“I’m ready to order now, if that’s okay. I’ll have the elk bolognese and a sparkling water. It’s why I’m here, actually—for the bolognese. Heard it’s to die for. Hence, risking my life beside the creepy mountain stripes.” I grimace. This made-up phobia is a running bit now.
“Oh, um, your server can take your order.” She bugs her eyes, looking very grateful to be rescued. I relay my order again, and I’m left alone just long enough to get comfortable on the couch before someone takes a seat, making my side of the leather sofa poof up. The air inside whines with a slow deflate as I sink down again.
“Mind if I join you?” a man drawls with the kind of lazy smile I’m sure California girls go wild for. He’s cute, but he’s got trouble and arrogance written all over him.
“You look like a lot of fun, but sadly, my doctor said I shouldn’t get too close to people. On account of a rash.” I scratch the inside of my arm.
“You’re too pretty to be that contagious,” he says with a laugh. This man clearly doesn’t understand science.
The server sets my drink down, and I fake a smile at her after she takes my uninvited guest’s drink order. But she misses my bat signal.
There’s a code, okay—one where women should have each other’s backs. I’m giving off “victim of unwanted attention” vibes, and she’s ignoring all of it.
I catch her gaze and flick my wide eyes tothe man beside me. She pauses with a frown. “Is there something in your eye? The restrooms are just back there if you need to rinse them,” she says, as if my only problem is a speck of dust and not her ignorance and this man’s unwanted presence.
I dab a finger to my inner eye. “Nope, got it,” I grumble, and she nods before leaving.
“What brings you toThe Can?” My guest leans back, getting comfortable.
I crook an eyebrow. “The what?”
“The Can. You know, the Canyon. First time?”
Pretty sure Presidents Roosevelt and Wilson would pass out if they heard that term.
“How can you tell?”
“You’ve got thatWhat the hell have I signed up for?look.” He winks. “I’m Chad, by the way. I’m a pro. You should stay close to me and my buddy tomorrow. You heading out in the morning?”
“That’s kind. But I can’t. On account of the rash.”
“You’re sticking with that, huh?” He leans back again, stretching his arm behind me. If I saw him crossing the street, I’d probably think he was cute in a just-stepped-off-my-father’s-yacht kind of way. But he’s coming on way too strong.
“That’s how a rash works. This one requires a special cream and everything. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to just eat my dinner alone and get an early night.” I shift, creating a few extra inches between us.
“No problem.” Chad nods, and my shoulders relax as he stands. But then he plops himself down in the seat opposite me.
Seriously?
I purse my lips, catching a wink from a lady at the table nearby. She raises her glass like she thinks I just scored a hot date. My head shakes a fraction, trying to convey that this is a totally unwanted-advance situation, but she only smiles bigger,almost encouragingly, as she tucks her voluminous mahogany hair behind her ear.
And then my gaze lands on a man—not just a man, but aranger—doing a very fine impersonation of Aragorn brooding in the corner.
Jack.
Because of his position from a nearby lamp, his eyes even do that same glowy thing. If the man had a hooded cape and a pipe in his mouth, there’s no doubt I’d be one of the Gaston groupies by now.
It’s a little unnerving having his dark grey eyes zeroed in on me. Like his stare is accusing me of things I’m not sure I want to be innocent of.
My eyes narrow in return, meeting his stare, and his gaze mirrors mine. But his eyes don't stay locked on me. And I kind of want them to.
