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“Is that experience talking?” I asked.
“Nope.” She popped the ‘p’ sound. “Like I told you that night, I’ve never had a serious relationship.”
The night we met we had dinner with my family, Katy, and Steph. Lawson didn’t have any hotels, so my mom invited Katy to stay at my house in a blatant matchmaking move. When we got back to my place we’d shared a glass of wine and talked for a while. I’d fallen in love the instant I laid eyes on her, and Katy had been giving me signals that she wanted me to make a move.
I’d made a move all right. The wrong move. Instead of taking the time to get to know her, I’d scared Katy off.
***
“I know this is going to sound crazy, but there’s something about you, Katy. It’s like I somehow already know you or something.”
She’d given me a flirty look and moved closer to me on the couch.
“Are you single, Andrew? Any wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, or significant others?”
“No.”
“Great. There’s obviously an attraction between us, so how about we head upstairs and have some fun tonight?”
My dick had come to life at that, quicker than it had in years. Maybe it was because all my blood was heading south, or maybe it was that damned Lawson Lightning Bolt. But instead of taking Katy up on her invitation and figuring out everything else later, I’d opened my big mouth again.
“I don’t want to sleep with you unless it’s leading to something.”
“Huh?” Katy looked at me like I wasn’t speaking English.
“The thing about my family is that we believe in love at first sight and when I saw you…”
Katy held up both her hands so fast she sloshed a few drops of wine onto her pants.
“Stop right there, buster. We just met each other. Like two hours ago. What are you even saying right now?”
“I know this sounds crazy, but I think there’s a good chance you’re the woman I’ve been looking for my entire life.”
The look of horror on her face was comical. My brain was screaming at me to abort, but I didn’t listen. Couldn’t listen.
“I’m offering you a night of no-strings fun here, Andrew. You’re hot as fuck and I’m down for some stress release, but I need to be clear with you about two things. First, I live in Denver and I have no intention of ever moving from there. My entire life, including my job, is in the city. And second, I don’t do relationships, ever. So if you’re looking for a little wifey, I am not your girl.”
After I made it clear that I wasn’t accepting that offer, Katy had just shrugged like it didn’t matter. I caught the flash of hurt and surprise in her eyes though.
“Fine. But it’s your loss Country Lawyer, I happen to be very good in bed.”
I nearly swallowed my tongue.
“Can’t we just spend some time together and see what happens?” I finally got out.
“It’s one night or nothing.”
“You’re turning down a no strings attached night of fun?” When I didn’t answer right away she said, “Okay. I think I’m going to take a bath before bed. See you in the morning.”
***
She’d ended up staying at my place another night, but we’d carefully avoided being alone. We didn’t talk again until that day we’d run into each other at the coffee shop in Denver. We had a nice time chatting, then exchanged phone numbers, agreeing to get together if we were ever in the same place at the same time again.
“I’m glad we can be friends,” Katy had told me as we’d left the coffee shop.
Then I’d made a huge mistake. I kissed her. It was the best kiss of my life, and despite the fact that I’d spent most of my life in a small town, I’d done my fair share of kissing so I knew what I was talking about.
Before I kissed Katy I could tell myself that I was imagining that connection I’d felt for her in Lawson. That I was making up the Lightning Bolt, wanting to have what my brother had.
But after I kissed her I knew I was right. I was in love with a woman I’d seen a grand total of three times. A woman who had said there was no chance of us getting into a long-term relationship. It had hurt, but I’d walked away from her that night.
I wasn’t going to walk away again.
