Page 3 of Accidentally in Love

Nolan cackled out a big, booming laugh. “That’s my girl!”

My heart jumped at hearing him call me ‘his girl,’ even though I knew that wasn’t how he meant it. Nolan MacGregor might be good in bed, but I’d never be ‘his.’

Gemma smiled, but it quickly dropped into a frown. “Wait, I thought you brought a date to the Fest?”

I shook my head. “Shut up and beer me, woman.”

“What happened?” she asked.

I grimaced. “He said I would be prettier if I lost weight.”

A scowl formed across Nolan’s face. “Fuck that, guy! He doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

A small smile curled up on my lips. “Thanks, Nol. It’s fine. I’m used to assholes.”

His jaw ticked, and the scowl stayed on his face. “It’s not fine. That guy’s a dick, and you deserve better. I have something that might cheer you up, though.”

“What’s that?”

“We finally released that pumpkin beer I was talking about.”

“Oooh! I love pumpkin beers!” I cheered.

“I know,” he said with a grin.

“Basic bitch,” Gemma muttered under her breath.

I handed her more money and took the beer. “What’s this one called?”

“The Drake Pumpkin Ale.”

Gemma made a face. “I’d rather have a Drakesville Lager any day. Or the 611 IPA.”

“I didn’t make it for you,” Nolan snapped at her.

Gemma nudged him in the ribs. “Grouchy! Go take a break, boss man. I see Declan coming back. We’ll handle it.”

Nolan rolled his eyes at her, but did as he was told. He came around the table and joined me on my stroll around the square. We came to a stop at the dumpling truck.

“You want one?” he asked while he studied the menu thoughtfully, like he didn’t have it memorized already.

“No,” I lied.

Of course, I wanted a dumpling. I loved that the dumpling truck was always here for the Arts Fest. Right now, I wasn’t thinking about how much I wanted to eat a dumpling. Instead, I was thinking about what that jerk said to me. Maybe he was right. Maybe I could afford to lose a little weight.

“You sure?” Nolan asked. He looked down at me with concern in his whiskey-colored eyes.

“I’m sure,” I lied again and took a sip of my beer.

He frowned but didn’t push the conversation and went up to the truck window while I waited off to the side and drank my beer.

Nolan startled me when he came back over to me. “Open your mouth,” he grunted.

“What?”

I was used to him grunting that demand at me, but usually, it was in the bedroom, and I was on my knees.

He held a dumpling in his big hand. “Open,” he demanded again.