Page 71 of Paper Horses

“Well, Liv. Carl had a crush on me, but he was too shy to ask me.”

“When Jessie and I dated, he figured he’d lost his chance until I dragged it out of him one night after we broke up. Thought I’d be upset if he even tried.”

Liv glanced between us. “So you encouraged him?”

“Damn right I did. They were two great people, so I knew they’d make the perfect couple.”

“Jessie, stop gabbing and get back to work,” Dennie called.

“Shush, or I’ll sic Olivia’s lawyers on you for harassment.”

He grumbled to himself as she turned back to us. “I’m assuming not everyone calls you Liv?”

“That’s right.”

“You’ll have to tell me one day why this guy doesn’t, but I’ve got tables to get to. Maybe we can get together at the Brand one night this week?”

“Sounds good, Jess,” I said.

Olivia took a bite of her yogurt, eyeing me.

“What?”

She shook her head, taking another bite.

“Spit it out…and I don’t mean the food.”

“You set your ex up with your friend?”

“I told you I didn’t love her, Olivia,” I said, leaning in to keep my voice down. I didn’t need everyone knowing more of my business. “Carl’s a good guy, and I knew he could give her what I couldn’t. They’ve been together for six years.”

She gave me a small smile. “So, drinks at the Brand? Do I want to know what that is?”

“The local bar. Not your kind of place at all.”

“Hm, then it sounds like someplace you should take me.”

“Line dancing and drinking beer out of bottles? They don’t have fancy wine or whatever it is you drink.”

“Wine, and I’m sure they do, but I haven’t had a beer in a really long time. Not since…”

“Me?”

Her smile spread. “Yeah.”

“Then beers at the Brand it is. Maybe in a few days after things settle down…” My mood faltered as I finished the thought. “…if you’re still here.”

Understanding passed through her eyes before she said, “You’re stuck with me until next Monday.”

My mouth fell open, and I swallowed back the myriad of emotions that information gave me.

“And beer and line dancing sound perfect.”

Deciding not to dwell on the date that loomed ahead of us, I gave her a nod and said, “Only perfect if you wear that sexy shirt I picked out with those tight jeans you’ve got on that make your ass look so tempting.”

Her laugh skated across my skin and set my soul ablaze. I wanted her to keep laughing, to have her smile never fade again, only I didn’t know how to keep them from slipping out of my grip because I didn’t know how to keep her from doing the same. Where her return to New York had been a blessing when she’d first arrived, now it hovered over me like a shadow I couldn’t escape.

“Have you been checking my ass out, Hudson Thomas?”