“He’s not wrong,” Miranda said.
“You’re correct, because it’s not his business.” I knew I sounded testy, and this guy hadn’t been anything but nice, but Roger not backing off made me pricklier than usual.
“Got it.” Blue Eyes turned his face back to the drink in front of him.
Miranda quirked her brow at me again and I wrinkled my nose at her.
“I think your food’s up. Be right back.” She headed into the kitchen.
I sighed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just been a long week, and this isn’t helping.” I gestured to my phone as he met my gaze again.
He smiled. “I get it, and I promise I’m not trying to pry.”
“Here you go,” Miranda said, depositing a burger in front of him before I could say anything else.
“Wow. Looks awesome.”
“The bacon marmalade is my favorite. You got that on it, right?” I asked.
He looked surprised by my comment, which I guess I understood since I hadn’t been super friendly toward him.
“Uh, yeah, I did. Want a fry or something?” he asked. “Oh, and I’m Gabe, by the way.”
He held out his hand and I shook it.
Ignoring how my hand tingled at the contact would’ve been smart. Maybe my hand had fallen asleep or something, just like my butt.
Hell, walking out of the bar and heading home would have been the right thing to do, but I shook his hand as Miranda put another club soda in front of me.
TUCKS
I thought I’d majorly flubbed talking to the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, but she was still sitting here, talking to me about surface-level shit like how we were handling the warmer than normal temperatures for late September in Denver and how we both enjoyed hiking in the area. Hell, I think I even mentioned the fall foliage while she helped me finish my fries. I didn’t typically share food, but I was making an exception for her because I wasn’t ready to watch her walk out of the bar.
Not that I was trying to take her home or anything. I wouldn’t have said no if she’d offered, but she definitely had a not-interested vibe going on, especially based on the few comments about some dick that wouldn’t stop texting her.
“Chimney Gulch is a solid hike. And I did Bear Peak earlier this year. Great views,” I said.
“I’ve done both of them, too.”
“I’m always looking for a hiking buddy.” I popped another fry into my mouth.
“Are you asking me out?” She tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear. Her skin looked so soft, and I wanted to nibble on her newly exposed earlobe.
Fuck. I was getting ahead of myself.
“Dani, I knew I’d find you here,” a voice called out before I could respond.
She dropped her head down. “Fucking hell.”
“What?” I started to glance over her shoulder.
“Don’t look. It’s my ex.”
My body tensed. “Is he stalking you? How would he know where to find you?”
“He knows I come here a lot, unfortunately.” She sighed and slid onto the seat next to mine.
We’d started two seats apart, but as soon as she’d started picking at my fries, I’d moved one closer to her, keeping just the one seat between us.
