Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Even though…what?”
I sigh. “Even though…a big part of me wants to belong to Brock Steel. Okay? I said it.”
Callie twists her lips into a sly smile. “You didn’t say anything I don’t already know.”
Callie’s phone buzzes with a text. “It’s Donny. I’ve got to get back.”
“Can’t you even finish your lunch?”
“Unfortunately, no.” She waves to Sadie. “I’m going to need to box the sub, please.”
“Sure. I’ll take care of that for you.” Sadie takes Rory’s sandwich away.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“I’m not sure yet. He just said he needs me to come back right away.”
“I hope it’s nothing bad.”
“I hope so too, Ror. I’ll fill you in as soon as I can.”
Sadie returns with Callie’s sandwich in a bag.
“Thanks, Sadie,” Callie says.
“Not a problem. I hope to see the two of you again soon.”
Callie waves goodbye, still not smiling, and leaves.
“You okay?” Sadie says to me. “I hate eating alone.”
“I don’t mind.”
Not the first time I’ve eaten alone, and it probably won’t be the last.
“Is there anything I can get for you?”
“Nope, I’m good. I’m just going to finish up. You can go ahead and bring the check whenever.”
Sadie smiles and bustles off.
I add a little salt to my salad and get ready to take a bite when—
“Oh, for God’s sake…” I mutter under my breath.
Seriously? My ex did not just walk into this restaurant.
Except that she did.
Raine Cunningham. Her hair is covered in a red bandana, but otherwise she looks fresh-faced and pretty, as she always does. Her jeans fit in that slightly loose way that she likes, and she’s wearing a T-shirt and denim jacket. But it’s all put together in a way that works for her. Raine is the kind of person who can put on sweat pants and still look like she’s ready to go out on the town. You can’t be the town beauty expert and look unkempt.
And already, she’s seen me.
It would be totally okay with me if she chose to ignore me. But Raine is not a rude person. We didn’t end on the best of circumstances, but she’s not going to be disrespectful.
I don’t mind eating alone, but eating alone in front of my ex? Not really on my bucket list.
She walks toward the table. “Hi, Rory.”
“Hi, Raine. What are you doing here in Snow Creek?”
“I had a few extra boxes at the salon that I needed to grab from Willow. Then I thought I’d head over here for some of Lisa’s lasagna before I drive back to Denver.”
Ask her to join you, Rory. You’re eating alone, and it will look really bad if you don’t.
“Why don’t you join me?” I say. “Callie was here, but she got called back to the office.”
“Oh… Well… Sure.”
Damn. I shouldn’t have asked. She’s looking for a way to get out of it, but now she can’t because she’s not a rude person. She takes Callie’s vacated seat.
“I’ll grab our waitress.” I wave to Sadie across the room.
Sadie arrives promptly. “Hi there. Will you be joining Rory?”
“Yeah. I guess so,” Raine says.
“What can I get you?”
“Lasagna, please. And an iced tea.”
“You got it.” Sadie sets my check down. “Here you go, Rory.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Thank you, Sadie. Now I won’t get roped into paying for Raine’s lunch, and she won’t get roped into paying for mine. Perfect.
I pull my credit card out of my purse and slap it on top.
“You’re paying already?” Raine asks.
“Yeah. Like I said, Callie had to leave early, so I just went ahead and asked for the check.”
“That’s good. Now we don’t have to bother her for separate checks.”
“True.”
And…we’ve effectively run out of things to talk about. It’s strange, really. Raine and I used to stay up late into the night talking. What did we talk about? At the moment, I can’t remember a damned thing.
“So how’s everything going in Denver?” I ask. “Are you getting set up at the spa?”
Her eyes brighten then. “It’s actually pretty amazing, Rory. The place is so classy, and the decor is fabulous. Plus, all the therapists are great, and we trade services. So I’m getting all the massages I can ask for, and all I have to do is color hair or do a rebase. It’s heaven.”
“I’m happy for you. I was talking to Willow the other day, and she only does hair. There’s going to be a lot of clientele here who will be missing your manicures and facials.”
“Really? Willow only does hair?”
“Well, she’s from LA. She had lots of hair there.”
“Honestly? I’m doing mostly hair now myself. The spa has nail techs and aestheticians. I’m the only one that does all of it. I love doing hair, but I miss the other stuff.”
“I’m sure you can probably take a few appointments here and there.”
“Probably. Honestly? I can deal. The money is phenomenal.”
I nod. That’s not shocking at all, given that she’s in Denver now at a top-notch salon and spa rather than a tiny salon in Snow Creek, Colorado.