Page 36 of Unexpected Love

“Sure, if three weeks is way back.” I turn to face Abbey, a smirk of my own forming. “We officially met at the courthouse my first full day in town, but it was next door at Murphy’s where we had our first real conversation.” I glance at Gage, a twinkle in my eye, before looking at Abbey again. “His dad invited me to join them for dinner. Seemed like this one might have been a little nervous to do it himself.” I’m well aware I’m twisting things slightly, but if he’s going to mess with me, I’m going to do the same.

Gage laughs a deep belly laugh. “Oh, I would have done it. He just beat me to it.” He winks. “Besides, if I recall correctly, you were the one to show up at the same place two weeks later looking for me.”

“I wasn’t looking for you.” I scoff. “I told you, Declan and Quinn have dinner at The Diner Thursday nights. If I want to eatout without awkwardly crashing their date, Murphy’s is the only place for me.”

“Sure. If that makes you feel better.”

I laugh and lightly push at his shoulder. Without realizing it, we’ve both moved closer to each other, only inches of space left between us. It’s the sound of Abbey cleaning her throat that has me realizing just how close we are. I step back, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear and glancing at the application I still need to finish filling out.

“Well”—Gage straightens next to me—“I better get back to work. Thanks for the cookies, Abbey.” He grabs the bag Abbey placed on the counter earlier and turns to me. “Glad you’re sticking around, Rebel.” He reaches forward, untucking the piece of hair I just moved, tugging it lightly before leaving the bookstore.

I try to look away, but I can’t help myself and end up tracking him as he walks past the front window and disappears from view.

“That was interesting.” Abbey’s voice has me jerking my head around to look at her.

“Sorry?” I play dumb, heat blooming in my cheeks.

Abbey gives me a break and doesn’t say anything, but the look in her eye tells me she knows exactly what I’m trying to hide. And it’s in that moment I realize I need to distance myself from Gage. Not forever, but at least until I can get my libido in check.

If I keep seeing him around town and spending time with him, there’s no doubt we’ll end up back in bed together. And no matter how good that would be, it can’t happen.

sixteen

GAGE

HaveI made it a point to be at Murphy’s by the time the clock strikes six on Thursday nights in the hopes that a gorgeous brunette will walk in and I can have dinner with her? Yeah, I have.

Did that happen last week after our Monday morning run-in at the bookstore? No, it did not.

Is that stopping me from walking into Murphy’s tonight? Ten days since I last saw Ava Day? No, it’s not.

Have I been counting the days since I last saw Ava? Yes, I have.

“You doing all right there, kid?” Walt asks from behind the bar after the fifth time I’ve turned to see who’s opened the door.

I know I’m acting a little pathetic and way out of character here, but that’s not stopping me from watching that door like it’s my salvation.

I turn back to Walt, forcing myself to continue looking at him even when I hear the door open for the sixth time in the hoursince I’ve been here. “Yeah, of course.” I pick up my beer and take a drink. “Did you talk to Jude today?”

Walt’s face falls, but only for a moment before he forces a smile. “Yeah. Unfortunately, his trip to DC got pushed, so I won’t see him for Christmas this year.” He places the glass he was drying on the shelf behind him before turning back to pick up another. “Hopefully in the new year.”

“Sorry, Walt. I know how much you miss him.”

“This town had a way of bringing him down. I understand why he doesn’t like coming back. I wish I were better at relinquishing control long enough to visit him more. But I’m an old man set in my ways, and you know what they say, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

It’s not the first time I’ve heard Walt mention the town being an issue for Jude, but I’ve never figured out what he means when he says it. From what I remember, when we were kids Jude never had any issues other than Abbey’s dad. But my parents always said that had more to do with the history between Walt and Abbey’s mom than anything else.

“You’re not old, Walt,” I say, ignoring the comment about Jude for now. “You’re not even sixty yet. We’ve got years with you and plenty of time to teach you new tricks if you want.”

Walt laughs as he puts the clean glass away and grabs another. “You definitely keep me feeling young, that’s for sure.”

“I have no idea what you mean,” I say in mock outrage, sitting straighter in my seat. “I’m the epitome of acting my age and always have been.”

“Not if the stories your dad told are to be believed,” a feminine voice says from my side as they take the seat next to me.

I don't know if it was Walt's intention, but my conversation with him distracted me to the point that I hadn't even heard the door to the bar open. All night, I’ve struggled to fight my instinctto see who was entering each time the wind swept in. And no matter how much I fight it now, I can't stop the smirk from sliding across my lips as I turn to look at Ava.

I desperately want to know why she’s been avoiding me—because I have no doubt shehasbeen avoiding me. But I have a feeling if I call her out on it, she’ll get spooked and run, avoiding me for who knows how long the next time.

---