Page 28 of One Small Spark
A few feet away, four middle-aged women have their phones out. They’re fluffing their hair like they’re taking selfies, but their phones are pointed at Leo. Sneaky, they are not.
“You’ve got some adoring fans at eight o’clock,” I tell him.
He sags against his chair. “Can’t I just lie low for the evening?”
“You and ‘lying low’ don’t go together.” He’s an attention hound through-and-through. Avoiding the spotlight isn’t his style, even if he claims it’s why he came back to Sunshine.
Or…did he come back for Charlie? This is bad. I was better off not knowing about his interest. Crush. Whatever you call it, I need a mentalDeletebutton.
He huffs laughter. “You’re probably right. Hey, Grant and Griffin are over there. Let’s go say hello.”
Proving my point about his inability to lay low.
I look over my shoulder and spot Grant Irwin with Griffin McBride at a big table in the corner, along with their girlfriends and another man. I don’t bother asking where Leo met Grant, who’s opening a branch of his family’s outdoor stores downtown. Best to just assume if they’re in the vicinity, Leo’s going to meet them.
“Lead the way.”
He grabs his beer, and we walk over to their table. They get up and greet him like he’s late to the party instead of a gate crasher. Griffin invites us to join them, and we take a couple of empty seats.
My internal clock counting down to an acceptable time to leave just reset.
The third man at the table is introduced as one of Grant’s brothers, but I lose track of the conversation. My attention snags on Wren standing at the crowded bar across the room. Our kiss flashes through my memory like a lightning strike. I’ve relived that kiss a thousand times in the hours since it happened, turned over every moment again and again. Her taste, the feel of her, the utter perfection of us together at last.
Followed by confusion when she’d gone back inside, mad at me all over again. I should have known one unbelievable kiss wouldn’t undo years of biting back-and-forth. A guy can dream, though.
I focus on Hope, who’s seated next to me with Griffin’s arm slung across her shoulders. “Is Wren with you?”
She cranes her neck to spot her friend at the bar. “Yeah. She didn’t want the beer we’re drinking, so she left to order a cider.”
Wren probably won’t be happy when she comes back to her table and finds me here waiting. I could make an excuse to leave. Find another time to talk to her when we can have more privacy than sitting at an eight-top surrounded by half-drunk people.
Across the room, a man sidles up to her. I don’t recognize him, but he’s standing way too close to her for my comfort. Apparently for hers, too. She takes a step to the side, but he drifts nearer again, chatting her up.
Déjà vu hits me like a slap to the face. Right when I think stars are aligning with Wren, someone else steps in. Not this time.
“I think I’ll get a cider, too.” I stand and stalk toward the bar.
I shouldn’t get involved. She’s a grown woman who can handle herself. Stepping in will probably give her one more reason to be ticked with me.
The guy crowds her, practically caging her against the bar.
I shouldn’t get involved, but I’m going to, anyway.
NINE
WREN
I just wantedto have a relaxing girls’ night. Go out with my friends and distract myself fromthatmoment in the alley I can’t get out of my head. Instead, my girls’ night wound up including several guys, and now a dude at the bar who won’t take no for an answer.
He’s trying to be flirty, but the undertone ofor elseruins the good-guy vibe.
“Come on, what’s your name? Is it so hard to give me that?”
I hold my body rigid so I don’t accidentally touch the hipster in the vintage shirt. If looking him in the eye brought this on, I hate to think what he’d do if we made contact. “I’m just waiting to order a drink.”
“It’s on me. All I want is your name.”
Yeah, right. I’m positive this guy wants more from me than just my name.
