Page 3 of Wood Riddance
I smiled to myself. He was such a dickweasel. I wanted to go back to my shop, invent a time machine, and travel back six months so I could decline his offer to buy me that first drink. Because what had I been thinking?
Looked like I had hit the desperation stage. Perhaps I should call it a day and adopt some cats.
“Are you laughingatme orwithme?” Finn said, interrupting my thoughts.
I pinned him with a sharp glare. “Obviouslyatyou. I was planning my upcoming cat adoption. I’m prepared to fully embrace my spinster identity.”
“Seems a bit premature.” He dropped his forearms to the table so his hands rested not far from mine. “I’m single, in case you were wondering.” With that admission, he gave me a wink. His posture was relaxed, and despite my better judgment, I was curious. What had led this big, intimidating guy with all the tattoos, a young daughter, and a cocky smirk back to Lovewell?
“I’m not,” I snapped a little too eagerly, “interested.”
He shook his head and leaned in. “You single? I suspect you may be after that Poindexter stormed out of here.”
I shrugged, not willing to give him the satisfaction of being right.
“Good. He’s not good enough for you.”
I snorted. “He thinks otherwise.”
He took another sip of his beer. “Guys like him always do. Not a great loss. Someone better will come along.”
I tipped my wineglass back, desperate for a refill. “Not likely,” I said, catching the server’s eye.
“You’re a strong, blond goddess. On what planet are you not good enough for him? You’re basically a superhero.” He scratched his chin. “I get a strong She-Ra vibe from you.”
I laughed, secretly flattered. Most of the time, I felt tall and unwieldy. I was far from one of those tiny, delicate women. Nope, I was more like the large monster lurching through the city as bodies fell in my wake.
“Definitely. Can you keep a secret? I’m a bit of a comic book nerd. And trust me, you are definitely She-Ra.”
Shit, he was good-looking. And he had the good sense to compare me to a beautiful, powerful, feminist superhero. I had to be careful, though. Because beneath the serious Viking facade, Finn Hebert was a charmer.
And in my just-dumped, vulnerable state, I could not afford to be charmed.
* * *
“Let me drive you. I’m heading there anyway.”
I shook my head, signing the credit card receipt. He had fought me on paying for dinner, but I’d insisted we split it. The last thing I needed was to be indebted to a Hebert. It was bad enough that I’d eaten dinner with him. I’d pay for my own rainbow trout.
“I’m good,” I said primly, digging my phone out of my bag. “I’ll call a rideshare.”
“You will not. It’ll take forever to find someone willing to take you out to the sticks. Plus, carpooling is better for the environment.”
I gave him a dramatic eye roll.
“Come on. My mother would never forgive me if I left you here. She raised us right.” He cocked a brow. “Or at least she tried to.”
“She wouldn’t know.”
He laughed. “My mother knows everything. As does yours, by the way. They probably know we’re arguing instead of driving to Lovewell right now.”
It was late, and my weekend had gone to shit. I’d probably spend tomorrow working. After I hit the gym, of course. Maybe, just maybe, I should lower my weapons and accept a little help.
“Fine,” I said, standing up and pushing my chair in.
His answering smile made my stomach drop. And when he put his hand on the small of my back and gently led me through the restaurant, something inside my chest fluttered. There weren’t many people who could make me feel small, but his size and his presence were comforting. Andthatwas unnerving.
He opened the door to his truck, and I climbed inside. It was immaculate.
