Page 27 of Chance Encounter

I swear I see a shudder run through him at the mention of the bear who wanted to kill him.

He wraps his arm around my shoulder. “I guess I can come back to your place as long as she won’t be there.”

“Well, I can’t promise you since I have no control of her, but if she’s stalking the house because she smells you, we can go to your place.” Fucking with him about that bear is the best part of my day most times. If you didn’t know him, you’d think Maddox is a tourist with how clueless he is to wildlife. The only animals he seems to understand are his horses.

11

MADDOX

I scanthe coffee shop as we walk inside. To say I’m still in shock Chance was right about no one caring is an understatement. It makes me realize I should have ventured out more through the years. There are so many things I wish I could do differently, but I’m done looking back. From now on, I’m only looking to the future. Old grudges have been eliminated, and I want to see what can become of Chance and me with this newfound freedom I feel.

“I’ve never been in here,” I tell Chance as we walk up to the counter.

“What?” He stops dead in his tracks and looks at me with wide eyes. “How is that possible?”

“Um… I can make coffee at my house.” Isn’t that obvious?

“Yeah, but don’t you ever want a pick me up while you’re out?”

“Look, I grew up poor and got used to not wasting money. Spending at least four dollars on a cup of coffee isn’t really my thing.”

Chance glances toward the door and then back to me. “We don’t have to stay. I just thought…”

“How were you to know?” I shrug. “It’s not your fault that I’m a cheapskate.”

“I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, okay? If you want to leave, just say so. Plus, I asked you out today, so I’m paying.” He pauses for a moment before continuing, shuffling as the line moves forward. “You really should try their hot chocolate. It’s the best I’ve ever had.”

I nod as the couple in front of us steps to the side, and we’re up next.

“Since you’re buying, I’ll have whatever you’re having,” I tell Chance as I watch the couple take a booth on the side of the shop. It takes me a minute with the beard, but I recognize Dash Knight. He’s changed since I last saw him. He’s definitely added some muscle onto his frame. I don’t recognize the woman he’s with, but she’s beautiful. They look good together.

I feel hot breath against my ear before Chance speaks. “Are you checking out Dash?”

Twisting, I smirk as I catch his tight jaw tick. “If I was, is that you being jealous?”

“Me? Jealous?” He looks over my shoulder, staring at Dash.

“It’s okay if you are, but I can assure you I wasn’t checking him out. I was admiring how good they look together. Hell, at first, I didn’t even recognize him as Dash with the facial hair. I haven’t seen him in… years. Not since I was in high school.”

Dash used to come to all our hockey games. I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because there’s nothing to do in this godforsaken town.

I follow Chance to sit in front of the window and take the seat across from him.

“See what you’ve been missing out on? The best hot chocolate in all of Alaska, and hot guys,” he laughs, nodding toward Dash.

“Oh, no,” I shake my head. “While the male to female population is on my side in this town, I’m not interested in the men of Polar Bear.”

His face pales, and his mouth opens and closes. “I…”

It’s then I realize what I said. It’s actually cute that Chance is upset, thinking that I’m not interested in him. I think about letting him sweat for a second, but I decide against torturing him, just this once.

Taking a deep breath, I reach forward and link my index finger with his. “I’m not interested in the other men of Polar Bear because I’ve already got the one I want.”

“You’re such an asshole making me think…” he laughs, his finger pulling on mine.

“Did you really think I would go out into public one day, and then bam, ditch you and find someone else? Someone like Dash, but who’s into guys?”

“Logically, no, but I don’t know. I put myself out there and somehow let myself be vulnerable, which is something I’m not used to.”

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