Page 19 of Wilde Hearts

“I’ll have the spelunker, small.”

“No changes?”

He flashed her a dazzling smile. “Nope, just as it comes.”

She winked at him, then looked at me. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll just have a house salad with the house dressing.”

“That’s all you want?” she asked.

Handing her the menu, I replied, “Yes, please. I’m not that hungry.”

Once she was gone, Doug reached across the table and took my hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Want to talk about it?”

I dropped my gaze to our hands. Why didn’t I feel anything? A spark. A tingling feeling. My stomach swooning at his touch?

There was nothing.

When I looked back up and our gazes met, I saw it in his eyes. The moment he realized I wasn’t over Colt.

A soft smile appeared on his handsome face. “I always knew you were still in love with him, Ensley. That he was the reason we broke up.”

I frowned.

“No, you never said that…but I knew. I remember how the two of you were together, and how you would look at one another. The crazy thing is, he still looks at you like that.”

I let out a bark of laughter. “I don’t think so.”

He let go of my hand and leaned back. “I think so. You didn’t see the daggers he was shooting at me when he realized I was there for you.”

When I didn’t say anything, he went on.

“Is he back for good?”

Shrugging, I replied, “I’m not sure. I haven’t spoken to him about anything.”

“Let me ask you something, Ensley.”

I held my breath as I tried to brace myself for whatever he was about to ask me.

“If Colt stays in River Falls, do you still want to go out with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

But even I could hear it in my voice. The answer was no.

Damn, you, Colt! Damn. You.

He raised his brows. “Because I saw the way you looked at him, too, sweetheart. You’re just as much in love with Colt Owens now as you were ten years ago.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“Am I? Being silly? Or am I just stating the obvious? You couldn’t commit to us before because of Colt—and don’t say he wasn’t the reason, because you’d be lying to yourself and to me.”

I closed my eyes and dropped my head back against the booth seat. “Fuck,” I whispered. “Why can’t I move on with my life? I’ve tried so hard to forget that asshole.”

Doug chuckled. “The heart wants what the heart wants.”