Page 12 of Falling For You

Evie’s brows arched. “It’s only eight o’clock.”

“I’m old,” I explained.

She laughed and shook her head. “We’ll be here if you want to make your way back, but I understand the pull of a good story.”

Liam flashed me a grateful grin as I stood and spotted our server. I pointed to the empty booth, and he nodded, following me.

As I situated myself, I asked him to bring my order of a Diet Coke, cheese curds, and a pretzel with cheese sauce to this table instead. I could have gone big and ordered from the menu in the dining area, but tonight seemed like a junk food night.

I fished my phone back out of my bag and turned on my reading app as the server brought over my drink. He trundled away, and I sighed as I happily slid my book onto the screen.

Just as I got into the chapter I’d left off on, a large figure cast its shadow over me. The flicker from the old lantern dangling over the table did little to help me see my book.

My eyes flicked up to see the man from the bar smiling at me.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Just saw you working away on your phone and thought we might have something in common.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Work is my hobby, too.” He flashed a knowing smile in my direction.

“Oh, no way.” I shook my head. “Work is definitely not a hobby of mine. Not any longer.” I spun my phone around so he could see the screen. “This, my friend, is called a book.”

He cocked his head, narrowing his eyes on me. “Do you think I don’t read?”

I shrugged. “Beats me, but I gave up my workaholic lifestyle the moment I left the city.”

“And which city is that?”

I caught Liam’s glance in my direction, which deepened my scowl as I returned my gaze to the stranger’s. “Chicago.”

He looked at the empty booth, and his brows raised. “Mind if I have a seat?”

A charge ran through us, and I clamped my fingers into a fist under the table.

He was one giant red flag flapping in the wind since I saw him on Mr. Medowski’s property, and now he wants to shoot the breeze at one of my favorite spots in Buttercup Lake.

I gritted my teeth and slid my phone back into my purse. “Fine. Have a seat. Thank you for the drinks.”

He nodded, sitting across from me.

It felt like my body was insistent on betraying me with every skipped beat of the heart or dip of the tummy when he glanced at me.

“You know my name from earlier. Why don’t you tell me yours?” My brows raised impatiently.

His gaze stayed on mine, and he drew a breath. “Owen Benson.”

Nice name.

“You look like an Owen.”

His left brow lifted. “And what does an Owen look like?”

Dang it. I’d opened myself up wide for that one.

I needed to come up with a cheer for my A-W-K-W-A-R-D encounters.

---