Page 27 of Trophy
Nothing she’d done in the last month would impress Arthur in the slightest. He’d never see it as a victory. It didn’t matter—of course it didn’t—but she would never get that small moment of vindication in proving she could be happy without her ex. He would never believe it was true.
“Allison,” a voice called out from the sidewalk.
She lowered her phone and straightened up when she recognized Rob, crunching through the gravel parking lot toward her. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
“I was walking over to Dora’s. I have a meeting in a little while and promised I’d get lunch.” He was grinning as he approached her, and he looked golden in the light, the sun gleaming off his brown hair and tanned skin.
“Oh. The meeting must be why you’re all dressed up today.”
Rob’s dressed-up look involved a long-sleeve shirt and a tie. She wondered if he even owned a suit. He tugged at his tie and made a face. “I hate this thing.”
She chuckled and then glanced over toward Dora’s. “Well, promise me you’ll get a salad for lunch.”
“Why would I get a salad?”
“You can’t eat burgers every day on top of eggs and bacon.”
Rob glanced down at his very flat belly and gave it a little pat.
“I’m not suggesting you’re getting fat,” Allison said with a laugh, looking away from his abs, since she had the sudden urge to touch them, even through his shirt. “I’m worried about your arteries.”
“My arteries are fine.”
She frowned at him and made a humming sound to show her disbelief.
He stepped forward, one of his hands curving around her hip. His voice was lower and thicker as he asked, “Shall I tell you what’s fine about you?”
Her breath hitched, and she flushed hot, but she managed to remove his hand from her hip. “We’re not doing that. Remember?”
His eyes were hot and soft and incredibly appealing as he murmured, “Maybe I was hoping you would change your mind.”
She was hit with a wave of attraction the likes of which she’d never experienced before. Her vision actually blurred, and her knees were close to buckling. It would be so easy to lose herself for a while in this strong, sexy, good-hearted man. He would make her feel better about herself. He would make her feel better about everything.
He would make her feelgood.
It didn’t seem right, though, when she couldn’t imagine it ever turning into a long-term thing.
She gave him a little smile and pulled herself together. “I better get back inside. My break is over.”
He let out a hoarse sigh and stepped back. “Of course it is.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, so she didn’t say anything as they walked inside together.
11
A weeklater Rob decided he was making some progress with Allison.
He was sure she was attracted to him. He’d seen it in her eyes more and more lately. She liked him too. She visibly brightened up whenever she saw him. Sure, he wasn’t her kind of guy, but people didn’t always go for the ones they expected.
He wasn’t a bad catch. He had a good business, a house, and no debt, and he wasn’t the worst-looking person in the world. He wouldn’t be a bad choice for her.
Maybe when she was ready to start a relationship again after her divorce, she’d look to him.
He was eating his toast and watching her chat with Chelle in a lull between orders. It wasn’t a very busy morning. There were only three other tables occupied right now.
Chelle was telling Allison about spending the summers in her camper by the river. Allison’s expression was bemused—as if she couldn’t believe someone would want to do that—but she was listening for real, sincerely interested in understanding the appeal.
Rob could see it on her face. She liked Chelle, no matter how different they were. Allison had only lived in Fielding for five weeks and was still getting used to a very different culture, but she didn’t look down on the people around her.
