Page 31 of Double Booked

“I don’t make a habit of hooking up with strangers,” he stated.

“Earlier, you said, if you wanted company—”

“But I don’t. The last woman I dated was someone I knew from high school,” he added.

She looked surprised, and he felt somewhat vindicated. He took a long drink, forcing himself to relax.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“It’s okay. I get why you’re a little skeptical right now.”

“I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. You’re not Patrick.”

“No, I’m not.” If he were, he wouldn’t have let her go. She was beautiful and intelligent, with a wicked sense of humor. She was the whole package.

They drank their beer in silence until Carly returned with their food. This time, when she leaned over to set down his plate, he wasn’t even tempted to look. After tonight, he’d never see her again, and he didn’t want to. He was much more interested in Eden’s opinion of him than hers.

“Can I get you anything else?” Carly asked, looking only at him again.

“No. I’m good. Eden?”

“I’ll take another beer, please,” she said.

“Short or tall?”

“I like them tall,” Eden replied, looking suggestively at Cole.

Does she have something in her eye or is she batting her eyelashes at me?

“Be right back,” Carly said.

After she walked away, he continued gazing at Eden as she squirted ketchup onto her plate.

Finally, she looked up. “What?”

“She probably thinks we’re together,” he said, somewhat shocked by her playfulness.

“So what? You’re not going home with her, anyway.” With that, she picked up her sandwich and took a big bite.

This woman. “Right. I’m going home with you.”

She swallowed hard, and he smiled. Then he dug into his food, not caring how messy it was. He enjoyed every bite and even licked the barbeque sauce off his fingers. Throughout the meal, he noticed her watching him, and wondered what she was thinking. Was she finally seeing him for himself and not a duplicate of Patrick?

Once they’d finished eating, and Carly brought out the bill, she’d ceased flirting with him. She must have noticed the way he was staring at Eden, and her flirtatious comment about liking them tall probably helped. He handed her the gift card and a hefty tip, thinking it would suffice in place of his attention.

When he and Eden left the restaurant, he was glad to be alone with her again. This trip was supposed to be a solo venture, but suddenly, he didn’t want to be alone. Whatever Eden’s thoughts on the matter, he was enjoying her company… Maybe a little too much.

Eleven

Eden regretted ordering the second beer. She felt a little woozy, even though she hadn’t finished it. As soon as they went inside the cabin, she poured herself a tall glass of water and slumped down on the kitchen stool.

“Are you okay?” Cole asked as he slid onto the stool beside her.

“I don’t usually drink that much.”

“Do you want me to get you some ibuprofen?”

She shook her head. “That’s okay. I’ll take some before I go to bed.”