Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Luckily, no one seems to even notice me. At least no one seems to. That is until I look to my left, at the far end of the counter away from everyone, where a lone man is sitting. He’s rugged looking with at least a couple days of stubble on his chin. He has longer hair and the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s staring at me, and instantly I can feel my whole body heat. A million things cross my mind. Did he hear me say I was on a diet? I look up at the ceiling, deep in thought – did I say anything about Mike and what happened with him? Geez, I hope not. I definitely don’t need someone else speculating on what they think happened. I have enough of that going around already.
Because I can’t stop myself, I chance another look at the stranger. At closer look, I notice that he’s older. Considerably older than my twenty-four years of age. He has to be in his late thirties. The corner of his lips raise in a smile, and he nods his head in acknowledgement. Normally, I’m a nice person. I’ll say hi to anyone. But I guess not today, because I barely stop my mouth from dropping open. The hot guy smiles at me. I turn my back to him. It’s rude and uncalled for, but I don’t know what else to do. I’m not good at small talk, and there’s nothing good that can come from me talking to the hot cowboy. It’s obvious he’s way out of my league. And he’s obviously not from around here. I definitely would have remembered him. I gaze out at the restaurant, but no matter how much I focus on the locals, waving and calling hello across the restaurant, I can still feel the hot, penetrating gaze of the man behind me. I look through the big window that shows Eddie, the cook, and I can see that Violet is bagging up my order. Thank goodness. I need to get out of here. It definitely feels like the temperature has gone up a notch – or thirty.
“All right, here you go. A meatloaf and a Cobb salad with grilled chicken, blah, blah, blah.”
I can’t help but laugh out loud as I hand over the money. “Vi, I’m sure that’s not how you’re supposed to describe your food to customers.”
She rings up the order in the register and makes change with the money I gave her. She hands over the change. “I’m only saying that because I hate the way that stupid Mike has made you feel about yourself. He’s an idiot.”
I nod my head quickly and don’t dare look over at the stranger. No doubt he’s hanging on our every word. “I know, Vi. I’ve got to go. Thank you for lunch.” And because she’s my best friend and means well, I tell her, “And thanks for the pep talk. I love you, friend.”
Now, Violet is the one that’s trying to get away. She hates any kind of affection and does anything to avoid it. She pulls the towel from the belt at her waist and flicks it at me. “Go. Get outta here. Enjoy your salad. Talk to you later.”
I give her one last wave and walk out the door. I tell myself I’m not going to look inside but of course, I don’t listen. I look. I about have to strain my eyes to look through the reflection on the glass to see inside. But there he sits. Completely turned around in his stool, watching me as I walk down the sidewalk. And all I can think is, Don’t trip, Millie. Don’t you dare fall on your face. I lift my shoulders back and keep walking. The guy may be hot, but I definitely don’t need a man in my life. Not now.
Austin
Imagine my luck. I never come into Whiskey Run. My ranch is right on the border of Whiskey Run and Jasper. The farmers co-op in Jasper is closer, and that is my main reason for ever going into the town. So the fact that not only did I have the best lunch I’d had in a long time, I saw the prettiest, curviest, brown haired woman I’d ever seen. Already, the day is looking up.
I watch as she walks down the sidewalk until she’s out of eyesight. I hated to let her go without even asking her name, but the way she turned her back to me, she definitely didn’t seem interested. And then hearing her and the waitress talk about some guy named Mike breaking her heart pretty much sealed the deal for me. She doesn’t need or want a man hitting on her. So I let her go. But I’m a big believer in fate. If it’s meant to be, our paths will cross again.