Page 29 of Worth the Risk
“Really?” I eye him skeptically.
“Honestly. You could have said anything and I would have said it was my favorite. I just want to keep talking to you.” I blush.
“Well you don’t have to fabricate favorite pastries. I’m enjoying talking to you, too.” He smiles wide at that and I decide that maybe I could move on with someone like Nathan. He’s handsome, charming, funny and maybe the most important quality is that he seems interested in me.
“So, how long have—” he’s interrupted by my brothers booming voice.
“Win! Goldie!” Great. I turn and see him waving a beer pitcher in the air, somehow not spilling it everywhere, and coming our way…and then I see who’s trailing him.Even better.I’m trying to forget about my embarrassing fixation with Rhett and that even when it shouldn’t have, it hurt when he didn’t show up for dinner. I need to let hope die. But he’s walking towards me, looking so good, to be fair he always looks like that. He sees me and then he sees Nathan and I swear he looks annoyed.Winnie…I inwardly groan at myself.
“Hello, brother,” I say in greeting as he sets the beer down.
“Happy Birthday, Winnie!” He wraps me in a hug.
“I hope that beer is for us,” Mare chirps.
“It’s for the birthday girl, but maybe stop being so bossy, Goldie.”
“I’m not being bossy, Colt. It was only a question. You’re always so defensive,” She says innocently.
“I’m not being defensive.” They’re in a staredown now.
“Rhett.” I nod at him then look away. I’m not sure if I should be but I’m mad at him. He basically admitted that he wanted totouch me the other day and then blew off my birthday dinner that he asked to come to. Mixed signals weren’t something I handled well. They made me anxious. I liked to know the plan. I needed to know where things stood.
“Winnie. Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks,” I say without looking his way again and focus on Nathan. Colt grabs a stool from another high top and they crowd around our table. Colt squeezes next to Mare, so that puts Rhett right next to me. It wouldn’t be so bad except his thigh is touching mine and his shoulder is brushing against me every time he moves.
“Hey, Nathan right? You were in my boat last week!”
“Yep, good memory. I decided to take your suggestion for a place to get a drink…imagine my surprise when it’s your sister I find here.” He throws me a wink and I know I must look like a tomato now. We all chuckle…except Rhett. He stays silent by my side. Nathan goes to stand and turns to me.
“It was really nice meeting you ladies but unfortunately I gotta head out. We’ve got a guided fly fishing outing planned for early in the morning. Winnie, I’m in town just a couple more days and I would really like to see you again. Would it be alright if I stopped by your bakery?” I’m disappointed that he’s leaving already. That is not how I imagined my night with Nathan turning out, but hopefully Iwillsee him again.
“Please do.” I decide to wink at him this time and he grins.
“Looking forward to it.” I grin back. He looks at Colt and Rhett. “Have a good night guys.” Then he turns to go. I turn back to the table to see Mare and Colt looking stunned but smiling.
“What?” Mare laughs.
“Game! You absolutely have it, Win!” Colt laughs then too.
“Baby sister, it’s a good thing I came in when I did. I think that poor guy was about to fall in love with you.” I throw my head back at that.
“Oh, come on. I just met the guy. He was very sweet though.”
“I don’t know if the thoughts he was having weresweetbut sure, he was sweet.”
“Marigold!” I laugh loudly again and she and Colt join in, but when I glance to my right I see Rhett looking incredibly tense, jaw set in a hard line and eyes on the table. Not sure what his problem is but I refuse to ask. Tonight isn’t about him, well it’s kind of about not thinking about him…that’s going great. Colt pours me a beer still chuckling.
“How was your week at the bakery, Win?”
“Good, we actually had someone in right at open one day.” I smirk and look at Rhett again. He is now sitting up straight and looking at me with an anxious expression. Ookay…I’m assuming that look means "Don't tell your brother it was me…?”I give him a confused look and am about to ask why it matters but Colt starts talking again.
“No shit! That’s awesome! I knew you’d be kicking ass right out of the gate. I’m so proud of you, Win.”
“Oh, and congratulations on the house closing, Rhett!”
“Thank you.”
