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“Pain meds,” she reminded him. “Apparently getting drunk while taking them is frowned upon.”
“Doctors are so unreasonable.”
Jodie grinned. “That’s what I keep hearing.”
“We do have Dale’s Pale Ale NA,” the server offered.
Jodie’s smile vanished. “No.”
The server blinked. “Okay.”
“Sorry. Nothing personal. I’m sure it’s a lovely non-alcoholic beer. It’s just, I’m not putting anything named Dale in my body ever again.”
Mac choked on a laugh.
The server looked between them, wisely decided not to ask, and wrote down the Coke. He went inside.
“Sorry,” Jodie said. “But that man is haunting my thoughts like a protein-powder poltergeist.”
Mac’s smile softened as he thought about taking her to Lavender. He’d make sure she felt every inch the goddess he knew she was. If he could figure out how to not spring it on her. “Give it a little time. Pretty soon you’ll have much better things to think about.”
Jodie started and immediately looked up from her menu. “Such as?”
Crap.
“Sand Wash. Seeing the horses.”
She deflated. “Right.” Jodie settled back in her chair and scanned the menu.
Blew it. Now I’ve got her thinking about what the BLM’s going to do.
“Okay. Important question,” Jodie said a moment later.
“What?” Mac asked, bracing himself.
“Do we start with mozzarella sticks or onion rings?”
Mac relaxed. “I sense a trick question. Do we really need to choose?”
Jodie’s smile got a whole lot brighter. “Very good. Ten points for Canada.”
Mac smiled. “What do I win?”
“Both appetizers.”
“Beauty.”
Jodie laughed, and some of the tension Mac had been carrying since the range finally eased out of his shoulders.
“What do you like on your pizza?” he asked her.
“I’m a pepperoni gal, but I’ll take anything that doesn’t have green peppers.”
“Great. Anchovies and pineapple it is.”
“Oh, bleh!” Jodie’s face scrunched up and she stuck out her tongue. “I just made a huge miscalculation, letting you choose.”
Mac laughed. “Pepperoni sounds great.”
