Page 25 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

I could just leave her be. I’d asked her out and she’d rejected my offer. It was done. Things would probably be simpler if I just moved on.

There was a woman in the corner booth who’d been eyeing me all night. I bet she wouldn’t turn me down if I asked her to come home with me later. But the problem was, I didn’t have the slightest bit of interest.

When I’d delivered their latest round of drinks, the woman had eye-fucked me. Normally that look would be enough to stir some interest, but my dick was fast asleep. At the moment, it only came alive at the thought of Willa. Just remembering how she looked earlier today in the camp’s kitchen, with her hair loose down her back, gave me a semi in three seconds flat. Saturday night, after she’d slammed the door in my face—twice—I’d walked home with a raging hard-on.

Something about her just did it for me.

So was I going to let Willa be? Would I take her rejection and move on?

Hell no.

I grinned at Wayne. “I’ll think of something.”

Maybe I’d swing by the camp again tomorrow. Maybe I’d leave a note with some flowers by her door. I was in the middle of brainstorming other ideas when the front door swung open and Willa walked inside.

I did a double take to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

The sunshine streamed in behind her, making her hair look like waves of gold. She had a heart-shaped face, her high cheekbones flushed and rosy. Her blue eyes were mesmerizing, the color of the lake on a sunny day.

How had I missed this? How had I missed her?

Willa looked around the room, searching. When she found me, she froze, still standing in the doorway.

I smiled and lifted a hand to wave, but before I could say hello, she was spinning back around and running out the door.

“Wayne,” I called as I jogged down the length of the bar. “You’re in charge.”

He laughed and threw up his hands. “Free drinks for everyone!”

The bar erupted in laughter, but I didn’t stop moving. I ran past the tables in the middle of the room, nearly slipping on a pile of peanut shells, and yanked open the door.

“Willa! Wait!”

She was halfway to her car already. At my call, she glanced over her shoulder but didn’t stop. If anything, she seemed to be walking faster.

Just not fast enough.

My boots thudded hard on the gravel parking lot as I sprinted to catch up. I reached her side right as she beeped the locks on her SUV.

“Hey,” I panted, standing by her door. “Why did you leave?”

“I, um . . .” She fiddled with the keys in her hand. “I changed my mind

.”

“Changed your mind about what?”

She closed her eyes, drawing in a long breath. Then she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and looked me right in the eyes. “What do you want, Jackson? Why are you asking me out?”

Her questions caught me off guard. No woman had ever asked me why before. They’d all just said yes.

“I, uh . . . don’t know.”

“You don’t know.” She huffed and yanked open the door to her car, tossing in her purse before climbing inside, muttering, “Stupid idea. Stupid. Stupid.”

“Wait.” I grabbed the door before she could swing it closed. “What was a stupid idea? Coming here?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “I should have stuck with my original plan.”