Page 53 of Trick or Treat

“Lindsey, I’m glad we were able to finally meet up. It’s been a long time.” Kurtis’s smile was genuine and Lindsey felt bad for overreacting to a simple kiss on her cheek.

“It has been a long time. It’s nice to see you. How have you been?” She placed her jacket and purse in the seat next to her.

Before he could respond, a waitress stopped by their table and took their drink orders, while handing out menus. Lindsey took a quick glance and set the menu aside.

“I’ve been doing great. I got back into town about two months ago.” Kurtis leaned back in his chair, his arm slung over the empty chair next to him.

She couldn’t get over the transformation from nerdy geek to hot, confident guy. Everything about him screamed successful businessman. From his precisely cut and styled hair to his $200 shirt. His teeth were perfectly straight and white against his tan skin. She wondered if he spent a lot of time outdoors. She could see he’d packed on a lot of muscle beneath his long-sleeve button-up shirt. It stretched nicely across his defined biceps and upper chest without being too tight. “I have to say, I couldn’t get over how much you’ve changed the first time I saw you at the restaurant.”

“I know. Amazing what sixty pounds and a growth spurt can do for a guy, right?”

They both laughed at his joke, although the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. Despite how handsome he’d become, there was something off about him. Was he still harboring a grudge after all these years because she chose to believe Doug over him? Her inner radar was telling her to proceed with caution.

The waitress returned with their drinks, took their orders and disappeared in the back.

“So what have you been up to the last six years?” he asked.

“Obviously, I divorced Doug. It took three years, but I finally saw the light. Kind of hard to miss when he gets some other woman pregnant.” She noticed a tic in his jaw at the mention of her ex’s name. “I’ve also been teaching third grade and I absolutely love it.” She looked away and back again, her smile faltering when he remained silent.

“Yes, I heard about you and Doug through the grapevine.” The way he said it, he clearly wasn’t the least bit surprised how things had turned out. “And I’m really happy to hear you love your job teaching.”

She still had one more thing she needed to say to him. She cleared her throat and pushed her hair behind her ear. “I believe I owe you an apology for not taking your concerns more seriously back then. I was an ungrateful idiot for not listening to what you were telling me about Doug. For some reason, I had blinders on where he was concerned.” She shook her head, completely disgusted with how blind she’d been.

Kurtis reached across the table and covered her hand with his, giving it a gentle squeeze until she looked up at him. “I’m sorry it took something like that for you to really see him for what he is.”

“Thanks. If I had listened to you, I could have spared myself all the heartache he put me through.” She laughed self-consciously, then looked away and back before she could work up the courage to say what she should have said a long time ago. “I’m really sorry for how things ended up with us. I said some things in anger I shouldn’t have and I know I hurt your feelings. I didn’t mean to but I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I had to have believed you and that’s why I lashed out. I’m so sorry.”

He squeezed her hand again. “It’s okay. I understand. Besides, if you hadn’t pushed me away, I might not be all this right now.” He jokingly waved his hand to encompass his new and improved self.

“So what happened to you after you left Redemption? What have you been up to?” she asked, curious to hear his story. “Are you married? Have any kids? Seeing someone?”

“Not married. No kids. And not currently seeing anyone. As for what I’ve been up to since I left Redemption, I transferred to Denver to finish school. While I was there I landed a job at an export company.” He leaned back and slung his arm over the back of the chair again, the perfect image of someone living the dream, without a care in the world.

A lovely dark-haired girl, probably in her early twenties, walked by their table, all long legs and grace. She tossed her long black tresses over her shoulder and treated Kurtis to a sexy smile. Lindsey pretended not to notice the heated once over he gave the woman in return. Much to her amazement, he even went so far as to turn his head and watch her walk toward the bathroom.

“What do you do at this shipping company?” she asked once he was facing her again. She coughed to hide her laugh and took a drink from her soda.

“I’m actually in acquisitions. I find the rare things people are looking for and they pay a hefty price for my services.”

Huh. She hadn’t expected that. “Really? I thought you would be doing something with computers since you were so good with them before.” They both sat in silence for a minute, allowing the waitress to deliver their food. She’d ordered a Reuben sandwich with chips and he’d gotten the burger and fries. It all looked and smelled delicious.

Kurtis took a bite, chewed and swallowed. Instead of answering her question regarding how he went from computer nerd to working for a shipping company in acquisitions, he asked, “That guy you were with at Crooked Dick’s? Are you seeing him?”

Lindsey’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Trick. Why would he be asking about him? She wiped her mouth with her napkin and swallowed her bite. “No. We’re just friends.” But was that really true? Being friends would imply that they actually talked to each other and spent time in each other’s company. With that in mind, she wasn’t sure they were or ever could be just friends. She was afraid with Trick, it was an all or nothing thing for her. Seeing another woman’s scratch marks on his back clearly told her it was nothing.

He nodded his head in understanding. “Just wondering considering the reputation the Sons of Redemption MC has made for themselves.”

Don’t ask. Don’t ask, she kept telling herself. “What reputation?”Idiot!she chastised herself.

“Of drinking, drugs and an endless supply of sex.” He watched her closely for her reaction. She wasn’t sure what he hoped to find, but whatever it was, she didn’t give it to him.

“Yes. I’ve heard that, too. Cami is friends with several of them.” She took another bite of her sandwich.

Kurtis snorted at that, leaving Lindsey to wonder what he meant by it. Before she could swallow her bite and ask, he threw her a curve ball.

“Have you ever been to Bliss?”

“No, but my friends and I have been wanting to go.” She dipped a couple of fries in ketchup and popped them in her mouth.

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