Page 24 of Meant to Be
Mitch laughed. “I suppose that’s a possibility. I’m more charming and better looking, but you’re—”
“Richer.” Jagger lifted his beer in salute.
“Women do like a man with money.”
“No worries, Mitch. My oat sowing days are coming to an end.”
“The pigs flew and I missed it?” Mitch looked out the window and then back at Jagger with a smirk.
“You laugh, but there comes a time in every man’s life when he’s got to settle down.”
Mitch frowned. “I don’t think that’s an actual rule.” God, he hoped not. He may not feel the need to sow his oats with every woman in town, but he had no plans to settle down either.
Jagger laughed. “You’ve been to war and faced down criminals, but I don’t think anything scares you more than the idea of getting married.”
Mitch took another swallow of his beer.
“Speaking of settling down, what’s the deal with you and Sydney Preston?”
Mitch nearly spit out his beer. “No deal.”
“I was thinking, a new, beautiful, smart woman in town. She’s not the type Mitch McKenna would pass up.”
The waitress set two plates of pulled pork barbecue sandwiches in front of them, giving Mitch time to gather his thoughts. After all, the whole purpose of hiding in the diner was to get Sydney off his mind and out of his system. “I knew her from college.”
“Oh, that’s right. You went to Princeton too.” When Jagger didn’t say more, Mitch looked up. “So, you and Sydney…”
“Me and Sydney nothing.”
Jagger stopped mid-bite of a fry and studied Mitch. “Are you sure about that?”
“I’m sure.” Mitch took a bite of his sandwich, trying to ignore the voice in his head calling him a liar.
“So, you wouldn’t mind if I asked her out?” Jagger popped the fry into his mouth.
Hell yeah, I’d mind.The thought of Jagger and Sydney together pissed Mitch off even more. It proved that time and distance hadn’t wiped away whatever part of Sydney had bore into his soul. It was the only explanation for the yearning, even though he wanted nothing to do with her.
Mitch shrugged and poked at a fry on his plate, hoping he was coming off as nonchalant. “You can try.”
“You don’t think I have a chance?” Jagger sat back. “I usually have pretty good luck with the ladies. Maybe not as good as you, if the rumors are true.”
Jagger was poking at him and, normally, Mitch would have poked back. But he wasn’t in the mood.
“Sydney is no ordinary lady.”
“No. But it’s time for me to stop playing around. Settle down.”
The barbecue in Mitch’s stomach soured at the thought of Sydney marrying Jagger. Making love with him. Having his children. He remembered what Sydney had said about Jagger, how she might be interested in Jagger if he hadn’t dated her friend. Apparently the guys’ rules of dating a friend’s ex were different.
“She’s loyal to her friend Julia.” Mitch enjoyed seeing the wince on Jagger’s face.
Jagger let out a breath. “That was a mistake.”
Mitch pushed his plate away, his appetite gone. What would Jagger think if he knew about the kiss in the star grove? How receptive she was to his kiss. How she clutched at him and opened for him. Mitch shook his head, trying to rid the memory that no doubt tormented him more than it would bother Jagger.
“I think she and I would make a good pair. We come from similar backgrounds, and yet, we’re seeking a life away from that.”
“I thought she was here for a year-long sabbatical.” The fact that Sydney wasn’t in Charlotte Tavern to stay was part of what was helping him keep his resolve to not touch her.
