“What would you like?”
“Just a water, please.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her fingers toyed with the edges of a cocktail napkin.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, filling up a glass of ice water and adding a lemon wedge. “I could make you a pizza.”
She shook her head. “I ate at camp with the kids already.”
“Want some peanuts?” I slid over a paper boat full without waiting for an answer.
“Thanks,” she said but didn’t crack one. She also didn’t say a word.
My heart began pounding and my palms were sweating. Had talking to a woman always been this hard? It occurred to me that I didn’t actually know how to get to know a member of the opposite sex, except in the carnal sense.
I decided to go with the only safe topic that came to mind. “So, uh, how are your parents?”
“Good.”
“Your dad’s a teacher, right?”
She nodded. “Science.”
“And your mom? What does she do again?”
“She’s an accountant. She helps out Bob with some of the bookkeeping at the diner and then does tax returns for a bunch of people every year. She likes it because it gives her the summers free to spend with my dad and to do her gardening.”
“Is she the one who did all the flowers then? Up your stairs?”
“Yep.” After another short answer, Willa examined her water glass.
I took a moment to glance around the room, trying to think of another topic to discuss. She wasn’t giving me much to go on and I had a sudden case of stage fright. The only other conversation starter that popped into my head was the weather, and I refused to talk about the fucking weather.
“How are things at the camp?” I asked.
“Good.” She sipped her water. “Busy. We just brought in a new bunch of kids yesterday so the first couple days are crazy as they all get settled.”
“I bet. Do you ever have kids who get homesick, go home early?”
“Sometimes, but they rarely leave. It usually only takes a day for them to get comfortable and make some friends. Then they usually don’t want to go home.”
“I never went to camp as a kid.”
“That’s too bad. They’re a lot of fun.”
“I bet.” I would have killed to escape my foster home for a week. There was no way I would have gotten homesick.
Behind Willa at one of the tables, a customer gave me a nod for their check. “Be right back.”
I hustled to the till and printed out their bill, then delivered it and cleared some glasses. After I rang them up and wiped down their table, I went back to my spot across from Willa.
She was studying her water glass, and while I’d been gone, she’d pulled her hair back into a long ponytail so it was off her face. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a black, sleeveless blouse that showed off her slender arms. The collar of the blouse was high, but it had a deep cut. Her shirt was blousy and loose, and with the way she was leaned forward with her elbows on the bar, it hinted at her black lace bra underneath.
She didn’t have large breasts, but that didn’t stop me from trying to sneak a peek. I bet she’d blush something fierce if she knew I was attempting to look down her shirt.
“Hey.” My eyes snapped away from Willa’s chest to the woman standing by her side. It was the same one who’d been flirting with me all night.
She had her arms pressed tight to her ribs, forcing her breasts together. Out of habit, my gaze dropped to her chest. It was like a car accident on the side of the road. Those tits got a glance whether you wanted to see the carnage or not.
Unlike Willa’s, this woman’s top could barely contain her breasts. The material pulled as low as possible to show off her cleavage. This chick couldn’t pull off subtle, unlike Willa, who was sexy without even trying.
“What can I get for you?” I asked.
“My friends are ready to go, so I just wanted to leave this for you.” She set three twenties on the bar. On the top one was a name—Cee Cee—and a phone number written in red sharpie.
“Thanks.” I took the bills back to the register and made change. “Here.” I handed her a five and some coins.
“Keep it,” she purred. “And call me.”
I gave her a polite smile. “Thanks.”
She turned, flipping her brown hair over a shoulder, then strutted back to her friends. She looked ridiculous, her ass swaying and her heels teetering with every step. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to trip on a peanut shell and break an ankle.
It took forever for her and her friends to gather up their shit and leave, and when they were finally out the door, I turned my attention back to Willa.
It was just the two of us now, but I didn’t know how long the privacy would last. My dinner rush was over and Mondays were normally our slowest night. But with my luck, someone would be here soon for a nightcap, ruining my chances of talking to Willa alone.
“Before someone else comes in, I wanted to ask you again. Would you like to go out for dinner sometime? Maybe hit the diner or even drive up to Kalispell.”
Kalispell was the biggest and closest town to Lark Cove, about thirty miles away on the north side of the lake. I hadn’t been to many of the restaurants up there, but I did know they were fancier than the diner or my bar. And Willa deserved fancy.
“Listen, Jackson.” She hitched her purse over her shoulder and stood from her stool. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“What?”
“I’m not what you’re looking for, and I’m definitely not your type.”
Not my type? She was exactly my type. “Willa—”
She cut me off. “It would probably be best if you just forgot about me. Again.”
With that, she turned and hurried through the door, leaving me and my mouth hanging open behind the bar.
Again.
What the fuck did that mean?
“Any Jackson sightings lately, Willa?” Leighton asked.
It was the night after I’d foolishly gone to the bar and sat with Jackson. I was out at the diner with three friends from high school.
I shook my head. “I’m, um, kind of done with that whole thing.”
Three shocked faces stared my way.
Giving up on Jackson was kind of a huge deal. Leighton, June and Hannah had known about my epic crush from day one. Though, Leighton was the only one who’d ever supported my feelings for Jackson. June and Hannah never spared their comments on how ridiculous it was.
At least one good thing would come from giving up on Jackson. I wouldn’t have to deal with their snide commentary anymore when we met every other week for cheeseburgers.
Leighton set down her burger. “What do you mean, you’re done with that whole thing?”
I shrugged. “I’m just . . . done.”
June and Hannah shared a look.
“Well, I think it’s great.” June smiled. “And about damn time.”
“Me too. Here, here!” Hannah raised up her Diet Coke for a toast.
June hoisted her glass of water right to the middle of the booth, both of them waiting for me and Leighton to join in.
A bruised heart wasn’t something I felt like toasting, but I picked up my Coke anyway, reluctantly lifting it in the air. Leighton didn’t touch her Dr. Pepper. She was too busy studying my profile.
I gave her come on, let’s just get this over with eyes, and she finally joined in.
“Cheers!” June chimed. “Here’s to Willa finally giving up on the hot bartender.”
The hot bartender. They’d always called Jackson the hot bartender.
Their quips about Jackson made no sense. If I declared right now that I wanted to jump in bed with him and use his sculpted body for sex, they’d be all for it. All they saw when they looked at him was a tight ass and muscular arms.
Heaven forbid I actually like the man enough to want a relationship. That was just me being na?ve. It didn’t matter to them that he was funny and charming. They didn’t care that he was so good with Charlie it made my heart skip.