Page 6 of Blocked Shot
“Natalie,” she answers, putting her small hand into his rough, callused one.
CHAPTER 4
JAKE
Jake sets two drinks on a small, wobbly table, a fresh glass of wine for her and a light beer for himself. She eyes the wine, as though still deciding if accepting it was a mistake. He watches the way her fingers skim the rim of the glass, hesitating for a moment before finally taking a sip.
“You really didn’t have to do this,” Natalie says, smoothing an invisible crease on her jeans. “I’m sure you have better things you could be doing.”
“Can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing,” Jake replies mildly, watching her.
She glances away, tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then picks at the edge of her sleeve.
Yeah. She’s nervous.
He scans the room, searching for something—anything—to break the tension.
“So,” he says, leaning back in his chair and stretching out his long legs. “The Night Circus, huh?” He gestures to the book left open on the table, pages puckered and damp with wine. “I’m guessing it’s… what? Some kind of smutty fantasy novel?”
Natalienearly chokes on her drink. “It isnotsmut.”
Jake smirks, taking a slow sip of his beer. “Oh, come on. My sister loves those books. There’s no judgement here. Forbidden romance, probably some brooding guy who’s ‘dangerous but misunderstood.’”
She scoffs. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” He taps the cover of her book. “Magic, love, probably a tragic backstory or two. If this isn’t fantasy smut, it’s at least fantasyadjacent.”
She narrows her eyes but takes another sip of wine, her lips curving slightly at the edges. “Afraid you can’t compete with a fictional man?”
Jake snorts. “IknowI can’t compete. No real guy is ever going to live up to a six-foot-five brooding warrior prince who always knows exactly what to say and has a conveniently tragic past to make him even more appealing.”
She hums in mock consideration. “You do have the ‘big and brooding’ thing going for you. Perhaps you’re a tragic backstory away from being someone’s book boyfriend.”
Jake barks out a laugh, shaking his head. He watches her over the rim of his beer, the way her eyes glint with amusement as she takes another slow sip of wine. She’s too serious, he can tell. Probably the type who keeps a tight schedule, makes plans, and doesn’t like surprises. But then she cracks a joke like that, and for a second, she feels unpredictable. Interesting.
He tilts his head, studying her. “What’s your tragic backstory, then?”
“I have a horrible weakness for cheap Cabernet and tall men who rescue damsels,” she deadpans.
Jake laughs again, a low, genuine sound. He hadn’t known what he was getting into when he offered to replace her drink, but now he’s glad he did.
“So, you from around here?” he asks.
She hesitates, then shakes her head. “Just here for a couple of days.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Business?”
“Something like that.” She tilts her head at him. “And you? Are you from Hartford?”
“Nah. Moved here for work last week.”
Jake starts to relax despite himself. He likes this. The vague back-and-forth, the lack of expectations, the way she doesn’t pry too deep. It’s been a long time since he’s talked to someone who didn’t already know who he was. And the fact that she’s only here for a couple of days? Even better. Just a conversation in a bar between two people passing through each other’s lives. That she is drop dead gorgeous also helps.
Natalie rolls the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. “I used to have three jobs,” she offers. “Now I just have one.”
His brows lift. “Three?”
She counts on her fingers. “Bartender, bookstore clerk, administrative assistant. I barely had time to breathe. Now I work as an assistant at a publishing company. I love it.”
