Page 21 of Wrapped in Winter
“Then maybe we should give it something to talk about.”
“Your barroom etiquette already did.” She snickers.
“There were two of us that night.” I lean forward. “And it was fucking great.”
“There wasn’t much time to show off, so it doesn't leave me hopeful for future encounters.”
She's baiting me and I love it. “I left that night dreaming of a future encounter. And now you’re sitting across the table from me, so I’d say my chances are pretty good.”
“How do you figure?”
“I’m going to buy you dinner. That pretty much ensures that you owe me sex.”
She barks a laugh, and it turns heads from the tables next to us. “You’re a funny guy.”
I give her a wink to let her know I’m teasing her again. “I told you I believe in saying what comes to mind. I never want there to be a question between us.”
A weird look passes over her face, and in a matter of seconds, the fun banter shuts down. And so did she, but we still spent the next hour talking about our families and my newfound home of Wintervale. I think from her point of view, it was surface talk. She was just spouting off facts, but I took it for more. She was letting me in by giving me details about the townsfolk—how intrusive Miss Trudy is and how amazing Larry the cab driver is. I learned about her best friend, Courtney, and her husband, Jack. And she told me about the shop and how they almost lost it, twice.
“I hate to give him credit, but Jack has been a life saver for us. He helped Lief out when I couldn’t a few years back. And here he is again. All Lief had to do was call him, and Jack was here.”
I don’t miss her saying shecouldn’thelp, but that will be a question for another time. “I heard this story, I think. He and Courtney were divorced and then got remarried?”
She sips from her wine and shakes her head. “Of course you heard this story. This town, I swear.”
“So it’s true? That sounds like some real-life Hallmark movie script.”
She nods. “Those two were meant for each other. From the time we were ten years old, they loved one another. It was only a matter of time. And, luckily, Jack pulled his head out of his ass.”
I laugh. “Sometimes it takes us a bit longer to catch on.”
“So you didn't leave behind any girlfriends?”
I sit back in my chair, tapping my glass with my finger and watching her. She’s gorgeous, her skin flushed just a touch from the wine and eyes wide with wonder. “No girlfriends.”
“No wives either?”
I chuckle. “No wives either. Miami is very fake, and I’m just not that guy. I’m not looking for a passing fling.”
“Could have fooled me,” she snarks out.
I lean forward. “I’m sure you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but being with you was the first time in almost a year I was with someone. And prior to that, I had a steady girlfriend all through college. I’m not one to hook up and move along. It’s not my speed.”
She assesses me, and I see the moment her wonder turns to mischief again. She knows how to hide feelings with sarcasm. “I believe you.”
“You do?”
She nods. “Mmhm. Stamina of a virgin.”
I chuckle low at her comment. “Any time you’re ready for me to prove otherwise, I’m down.”
“I bet you are.”
“So is this our first date, or was the bar our first date?” I tilt my head in wonder.
“First dates and one-night stands are two very different things.”
“First dates and firstnightsare two very different things. You’ll see.”