Page 6 of The Influencer and The Introvert
“Okay, that’s fair. We can come back to it. How about we start with something easier? I already know you love this Mercantile place.”
His lips tilt with an adorable smile. “I do.”
“What if I ask something about you? Can I ask how old youare, Colt? If that’s not offensive, I mean? I’m just trying to get to know you.”
He shakes his head in understanding. “No, it’s fine. I figured you’d be asking things about me as well as the ranch. I just turned 40 last fall.”
My jaw drops open, and I’m not fast enough to hide my surprise from him. He laughs softly. “I know I don’t look it. You’re not the first one to have that reaction.”
“I pegged you at early 30s and I’m usually pretty good at guessing. Wow.”
“I was blessed with good genes. My mom always looked younger than her age, too.” His fingers grip the steering wheel again, and he clears his throat. “So, ah, how old are you?” He counters.
“I’m 35.”
Colt is quiet for a moment, and in that short slice of silence, I love how he can ramble on about a store he loves and what I need to be on the ranch one minute and then seem to take far too much time choosing his words when he asks me a personal question in the next.
“And you’re happy roaming like you do? Not having a real place to call home?” He rushes on, “I mean, I’m assuming you have no home base from what you said before about roaming the United States over the past five years.”
It’s not the first time I’ve been asked that. Usually, it’s because people think I should have a mortgage and kids at this age. They mean well, but staying in one place isn’t something I’ve mastered. Maybe one day.
I thought maybe love would keep me rooted at one time, but that turned out not to be the case. Especially when the love wasn’t reciprocated, and I was too blind to see that. I’d rather not think about that time in my life right now, though, and I give Colt a partial answer.
“Ilike variety and seeing new things.” I settle on. “Home isn’t always a physical place, you know.”
We’ve reached the turn into town, and after flicking on his signal and coming to a complete stop, Colt pulls smoothly onto Main Street. I sneak a peek at his profile again. His lips rest in a relaxed pout, and his light brown hair poking out from his ball cap ruffles in the breeze from the air vent pointed at him. His fingers grip and re-grip the steering wheel as my gaze travels up his arm.
He’s strong. That’s obvious, with the bulge of his biceps near the armhole of his shirt. Despite having just come from working in a barn, he’s also impeccably clean. How does that even happen when he was spraying with a hose?
He must feel me checking him out, and he quickly glances my way. I snap my gaze forward. It’s day one on the job. I don’t need the man telling his boss I’m creeping him out and lose the job I need to keep simply because I let my sex drive take over.
Thankfully, the only thing Colt says after catching me red-handed is, “Do you like cream soda?”
Chapter 3
Colt
Iknow when a guy is checking me out.
Just because I’m forty and still single doesn’t mean I’m oblivious. I mean, sometimes I am, but not this time.
Ethan is definitely taking notes. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I know if I’m at least going to be friends with the guy, he has to like cream soda. If he doesn’t, I can only assume he’s a monster who prefers Dr. Pepper. So it’s best I learn which side of the fence he’s on right now.
Which is how we’ve landed at the gas station, standing in front of the beverage fridge while he studies his options.
“It’s barely past breakfast, and you’re asking me to drink a soda. This feels like a test.”
I chuckle under my breath since it sort of is a test, and he figured it out quickly.
“Just pick one.”
“You say the red one isn’t as good?” Ethan rubs at his chin like he’s debating over a chess move and not choosing a sugar-filled beverage.
“Absolutely not.” Reaching into the cooler, I grab my usual. “It’s pretty, but the flavor isn’t right. White orbrown.”
Ethan hums with a little smile and chooses the same soda as me. “If you say so.”
I pay for both of us at the cashier, and once outside, he twists the cap and offers his bottle to clink. “Here’s to a new friendship and discovering new things.”
