Page 23 of Hard to Lose

“Gunner?”

“Hmm?” I ask as her eyes find mine, and a sheepish smile plays on her lips.

“I think I made a tactical error.”

“A tactical error?” I ask, taking a step toward her. “How many days have you been in Destiny Falls, because it seems you’re already picking up the lingo?”

“Funny.” She sways.

“You okay?”

“Tactical error,” she repeats. “I worked all day and was so busy that I kind of forgot to eat anything.”

I chuckle. “And now you have a good buzz going on an empty stomach.”

She takes my hand without hesitation, when previously she’s been more tentative. Her guard is lowered, and I love that I get to see both sides of her in such a short span of time.

This woman. Jesus. She does funny things to my insides.

I could have taken the easy route—hit on her and taken her back to my place—but there was something about her that made me pause. Maybe I wanted this instead. Time. Getting to know her. Winning her over.

While I’m not one who hops from bed to bed, I’m not immune to some unadulterated, no-strings-attached fun here and there.

But dating someone? That’s typically not my thing. The oversharing. The letting each other in. The vulnerability.

I’ve been hurt enough in my life, the last thing I want to do is to step into that shit willingly.

And yet oddly with Chase . . . with Chase, I want to share. Want to make her smile. Want to talk.

“I do. I am. Buzzed. I’m buzzed.”

“And you’re worried I’m trying to get you drunk to take advantage of you, huh?” I tease.

“There’s no need to get me drunk to take advantage of me, Gunner. It’s not taking advantage when we both want it.”

I open my mouth and then close it, stunned by her forwardness, and so damn enamored with her confidence. And before I can recover from surprise over her words, she laughs, then takes a few steps into the street before us. With the lights in her hair and a smile on her lips, she spins in the middle of the empty street.

Fucking hell, how is it possible that such a simple act can make me lose my breath?

She’s gorgeous with her short shorts, red Converse, and her hair pulled up into a messy ponytail. Gorgeous in that carefree, she doesn’t give a shit about what anyone else thinks about her as she twirls like a loon in the street.

I’d give anything to kiss her right now. Fucking anything.

But I need to get her food first.

Then I’ll kiss her.

The funny thing is I thought I was starving, but when we sit down at Lou’s café and order, I lose my appetite. Or maybe not lost my appetite but rather found something way more interesting to pay attention to: Chase Kincade.

“So New England, right?”

She stops mid-chew and smiles. “How’d you know?”

“I figured it was either NY or LA—a big city anyway. Which one?”

“New York.” She pauses a beat before asking. “Why?”

I chuckle and take a sip of my milkshake. “Because you’re mesmerized by the slow pace here. You stop and stare as if people being nice to you just because is abnormal.”