Page 28 of Single Girl in the City
“Why not?” she challenged. “You’re good and maybe you deserve something good in your life right now.”
Owen studied her, waiting for the punch line, except she didn’t crack even the tiniest of smiles. She looked as if she meant it.
“Fine. I’m not your type.” She shrugged. “Maybe the pretty brunette at the end of the bar is. Hang on.” She got up and walked across the room, ignoring the way Owen was chasing her from the other side of the bar top. Before he could stop her, she stuck out her right hand. “Hi, I’m Abi and this handsome guy here is my friend Owen.”
“Hi, Owen, I’m Jennifer.”
“Of course you are,” Abi said, then mumbled something that sounded a lot like, “Are you happy now?”
“Hey, Jenny. Can you excuse us for a moment?” he said to the woman, then took Abi by the elbow and dragged her around the side of the bar and behind it. But when he got her there, he couldn’t seem to let go of her. She didn’t seem to be in any rush to move either.
His grip loosened and he slid his fingers down her arm to her good hand. He was practically lacing fingers when she jerked back.
“Mistake, remember?”
Oh, he remembered. “Can you not ask random women at my bar if they’d like to go on a date with me?”
“Afraid I’ll scare off a prospect?”
“No, she’s just not my type.”
“Then what is your type?”
If he were pressed at that moment to describe his perfect type it would, hands down, be Abi. But hell if he would admit that. She was already walking all over him and that kind of turned him on.
“Why? You interested?”
“My offer was strictly professional.”
That made him smile. “So you’re a professional dater. Isn’t there a name for that?”
“It was a courtesy from one friend to another. Nothing more.”
“Are we friends?” he asked, genuinely wanting to know where she stood on the matter. He knew where he stood, and it wasn’t anywhere near friendly.
“Never mind,” she said, starting to turn away. She paused. “You know, since the universe is enjoying screwing with my life, I thought I would use my powers for good instead of evil. So, in the sake of time, it would help to know what your type is.”
“Not Jennifer,” was all he said.
“Well, Jennifer isn’t all that interested either.”
Chapter Ten
Happy Things:
Mee-maw Ruth’s Blue Ribbon chili
Abi wasn’t a fool. She knew that the way to a man’s heart wasn’t through his stomach—it was a little further south of the Mason-Dixon line. But since she wasn’t looking to crawl into his heart or his bed, she’d decided to go with his brain.
Owen was the most logical person she knew, which meant she’d have to find stealthy ways to help him that he couldn’t argue with—and she was going to start by carving out a little downtime for him. So while she’d been avoiding him after that kiss—a kiss that could go nowhere—because a) she was leaving, b) she was in his life under false pretenses, and c) it was a really, really good kiss—she owed it to herself, and to Owen, to finish what she came here to do. And it had nothing to do with his magical lips.
Reminding herself that she’d become a ninja do-gooder, she decided the best course of action when it came to a prideful control freak was a good ol’ bait and switch. To keep all her do-gooder plans to herself, thenbang! He wouldn’t know what hit him.
Backpack slung over her shoulder, she entered Stout and made her way to the bar. At the far end sat Owen, interviewing a potential bartender, who was tall, leggy, and had a few strategically placed tattoos. Her smile was sexy and sultry in a way Abi could never pull off—and aimed right at Owen. She looked as if she were interviewing to be his next girlfriend, like she’d swiped right and managed to land on a winner of a man.
Abi hated to admit it because she was supposed to be impartial, but he was a winner. Honest, smart, and handsome as all get out. Then there was his heart that was so big and warm it made Abi want to believe in things she’d never known existed. Things she would never have if she continued to push people away. Then again, other people were the ones who pushed her away first. For her parents, she was a reminder of a difficult time. Treating her differently wasn’t a conscious decision, but feeling invisible left marks that would forever shape her life. Even now, they were so busy with their own lives that they didn’t see Abi was in pain. There was no invitation, no offer to help Abi through a heart-wrenching and traumatic time. There was only a short visit, then back to their regularly scheduled life. And Dotti, who tried so hard but couldn’t quite understand what Abi was going through.
Then there was Owen, strong and steady Owen, who continued to check in on her even though it wasn’t his job. Which was how she could feel a few cracks forming around her inner wall. It would only lead to heartache when her time was up and she moved on.
