Fuck, it sounds horrible when she puts it that way. “No, that’s not it... it just means... well, we’re different. The two of us are too different. I just don’t think we should get anything started. You’re leaving soon, I mean what’s the point?”
She rears back like I’ve slapped her. Man I couldn’t fuck this up more if I tried. I’ve hurt her, and that’s the last thing I want to do. There’s no denying I want her, but the more I spend time with her the harder it’s going to be to let her go when it’s time for her to leave. But I can’t keep doing this to her.
I take a step toward her, and she steps back. I hold my hands up. “Look, I’m completely messing this up... have you eaten? Can I take you to dinner?”
She shakes her head. “Wait. What? You’re asking me to dinner...now?”
Because I can’t stop myself, I reach over and brush a stray hair off her face. I ignore the way my stained hands look next to her porcelain skin and keep my eyes trained on hers. “I want you, Lakelyn. I’m not going to lie about that. And I know nothing can come of this between me and you, but we can be friends, right? Have a meal together.”
“So you want me... but nothing can happen between us... but you want to have dinner?”
I know it’s crazy. “Yeah.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Okay. I’m starving actually.”
I walk over to the side and pull off my coveralls. I can feel her eyes on me the whole time, and I’m willing my body not to react. I take great care in cleaning my hands in the nearby sink, scrubbing them until they’re as clean as they’re going to get. I raise my eyes to the mirror to look at her and she’s still watching me. When her eyes meet mine, she blushes from the open v of her shirt to the top of her forehead. Damn, this is going to be the hardest meal to get through and keep my hands to myself. “So where do you want to go? I could call and see if we can get a reservation at the Peddler. They have the best steaks in town.”
She’s shaking her head before I even finish. “Nope, I want Red’s.”
I finish rinsing and grab the towel hanging on the hook. “The diner?”
She nods. “Yep. And Kameron threw my cake away earlier so I’m going to need you to order a piece and let me have a bite of it.”
She follows behind me as I start to close up. “What’s up with that dude? I’ll buy you a whole slice. A whole cake if you want it.”
Her eyes light up as her hand goes to her stomach. “I would love that, but I’m filming tomorrow, and Kameron will die if I come in bloated. I’ll just eat some of yours.”
We’re standing outside the doors I just shut and locked, and she looks up at me with a smile. I can’t bring myself to look away. “You’re beautiful, Lakelyn, just the way you are.”
She puts her arm through mine, and my whole body reacts to it. “Thank you, Tate. You’re pretty hot yourself.”
5
Lakelyn
I could have let him go, but I don’t want to.
With my arm threaded through his, we walk down Main Street. Everyone that we pass says hello to Tate, and he nods, answers any questions they have, and keeps going. I don’t know what to think about him. He’s obviously got a hang-up with me being a model, but honestly it’s refreshing. Most men want to date me because I am a model. Not the other way around.
“So tell me about you.”
His arm tightens on mine, and I hold my sigh in. It feels good to be held against him.
“I own the repair shop. I’ve lived in Whiskey Run all my life. I have one sister, and our parents live in Florida. I’m about to be an uncle.”
“I really liked Violet the other day when I met her. Do you think you’ll live in Whiskey Run forever?”
He nods. “Yeah, probably.”
We make it to the diner, and he opens the door for me as he releases my arm. I walk through and come to a complete stop. The whole diner has ceased talking and is staring at Tate and me. My eyes go round, and I look up at him. His face is red, obviously not happy with all the attention, but he points at an open booth and puts a hand on the small of my back to guide me to the corner table.
I sit down, and he slides across from me. “Wow!” I whisper to him. “Why are they all staring?”
He looks at me curiously. “You really don’t know?”
I shrug my shoulders. “No.” I look around the diner, and almost everyone has resumed eating or talking but there are still a few looking at us. Even the waitress from earlier is staring. “What is it?”