Page 15

I took a seat against the wall and waited. Sitting here was no better than sitting in my truck. Waiting was waiting, and I wasn’t good at it.

A moment later, a glass of water appeared in front of me.

“Drink this,” Emmy instructed. “Geez! Anyone would think you’re the one who hasn’t been on a date in ten years.”

I looked up at her with what I’m sure was shock written all over my face. “Ah, shit. Can you just pretend I didn't say that last part?” she asked.

“Ten years?” I choked out, bringing the glass to my lips and taking a sip.

“It’s not my story to tell.”

“Okay.”

“But I will tell you this, don’t fuck it up, you hear me? It’s taken a lot for her to do this, so don’t be an asshole,” Emmy warned, and I found myself nodding my agreement.

Ten years. Shit. Talk about piling on the pressure.

“Actually, I need your help with something,” I diverted as the idea struck me like lightning.

“What?” she replied, seeming skeptical.

“I need two slices of pie,” I told her, digging my wallet out.

“What flavor?”

“You tell me,” I challenged.

She eyed me before conceding. “Maybe there’s hope for you yet,” she offered, heading toward the counter.

“I’m taking them to go, please,” I called behind her.

A few minutes later, with the to-go box sitting on the table, I was watching the clock like it was taunting me when she appeared. Practically falling through the doorway, she stole the air from my lungs.

Her hair was out, cascading in long, dark waves down her back. My fingers itched to run through the silky strands. But it was the simple white sundress that was my undoing. There was nothing suggestive about it, yet my dick turned to iron in my shorts. It hit just below her knee and hugged her curves in a way that had me reciting baseball stats as she walked toward me.

“Wow! You look incredible.” I panted as she stopped beside my table.

“I wasn’t sure what we were doing.” Oh shit! I’d forgotten to tell her where we were headed. “I hope this is okay. If not, I can just duck home and change,” she offered.

I pushed back my chair and stood. It was only then that I stopped staring at her tits wrapped in that dress long enough to see her sandals.

I looked down at my own footwear. A pair of runners that were in desperate need of a wash.

“Sorry, I didn’t think. I thought we could walk up to Raven Ridge Lookoutlookout and have a picnic. I even got pie,” I told her, holding up the to-go box.

“Oh. That sounds great. But I don’t think I’m dressed …”

“You’re perfect,” I blurted out, only to watch as her eyes went wide. “I mean, you look great. Maybe just the shoes …”

“Right. Shoes. Give me two minutes, and I’ll be right back,” she told me, patting my arm before she disappeared back the way she came. The warmth of her touch radiated through me.

A few people still lingered and it felt like every single one of them was staring right at me. When the whispers started, I panicked. My cover was probably blown. I’d left my glasses and hat in my truck, not thinking, and now I was probably outed.

“I’m just gonna go put this in the truck,” I mumbled to Emmy, handing her some cash.

I was halfway out the door when she called out, “Wait!”

I spun back around.