Maybe This Summer (Colorado Ice #2.5)(10)

“Well, that’s assholish,” Ricky said with a grin.

“Trust me, I doubt the first one is going anywhere beyond this drink.” Not that he didn’t want it to. If she hadn’t agreed to the drink, he might have offered his next in line place to the person who’d pulled a ticket right after her, just to stay and hang out with her. Or rather, annoy the shit out of her. He remembered how she’d struggled with indecision on whether a drink with him was worth the quick in and out of the registration office or not. “She’s a little standoffish.” Though he had seen a look of—dare he say—interest flash momentarily in her eyes when her gaze had shifted to his body. Maybe he had the extra time at the gym that week to thank for this one.

“She’s not into you, you mean?”

“If we’re being technical—yeah, that’s exactly what I mean.” But he was hoping to change that. He was ready to stop goofing around and start opening himself up to something real. Hiding behind the mascot costume had been easier in recent years as he’d struggled to figure out his place in the world now that hockey and the military weren’t options. But he needed to regain his confidence and start believing in himself again. It wasn’t the career that defined the man, right? He took a swig of his beer and nearly spit it back out as he saw Paige enter.

Dressed in a pair of jeans that hugged her hips, a black turtleneck sweater, and short tan heeled boots, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked far too good to be meeting him. And early.

The sound of her heels on the wooden bar floor kept pace with his thumping heart as she approached and stopped next to him.

“Hi,” he said, sliding off of the barstool. “You’re early.”

“Thought I’d have a drink to take the edge off. Looks like you beat me to it.” Her voice sounded strained, and she clutched her purse as she scanned the bar.

He smiled. “Good to know I’m not the only one nervous.”

“Who says I’m nervous?”

“I can read body language.” And damn, what a body. His gaze did a quick once-over and his mouth went dry. She was the only woman who could wear a turtleneck in this heat and make it look hotter than any of the revealing, skin-baring tank tops walking around Denver. The way the light wool fabric clung to her breasts and tucked into her jeans, highlighting her tiny waist, prevented him from thinking clearly. Her soft perfume lingering on the space between them wasn’t helping either. She was so far out of his league. Talk about setting himself up for heartache. Shit.

She cleared her throat, snapping him out of his trance.

“What are you drinking?”

“Um…gin and tonic, please,” she told the bartender.

“Coming right up,” Ricky said, shooting him a look that confirmed he was right, this woman was definitely too hot to be interested in him.

Owen tossed several bills onto the bar. “Can you bring it to the booth?”

“No problem,” the bartender said, shaking his head as though in disbelief.

Ricky wasn’t the only one.

“This corner booth okay?” he asked Paige, leading the way to his table.

“It’s great,” she said, as she slid in across from him on the plush leather seat. “You’ve been here before?” She looked surprised.

“Yeah.”

“Huh.”

“Huh?”

She looked around. “It’s just…this place doesn’t strike me as a place you’d frequent.”

“Why’s that?”

“I guess I’d pegged you as a sports bar kind of guy.”

After two brief meetings where she’d practically ignored his existence? “I get my fill of sports bars…and piano bars, and comedy bars. I’m well rounded.”

“Or an alcoholic?”

He laughed. Wow, she was really hoping not to like him. “Well rounded.”

Ricky delivered her drink and she took a sip, sitting back in the booth. “So, how much longer were you stuck at the DMV?”

“Two hours.”

She finally smiled. A small one, of course. “Sorry. I really do appreciate you giving up your number, though. I had somewhere I needed to be this afternoon.” Her face clouded slightly.

“Hey, it worked to get you out for a drink. I’m actually starting to think it might be a great way to meet women. Go there every morning when the place opens and every hour grab a new number…phone number, I mean,” he said with a wink.

And she actually laughed. A full on, unguarded, unexpected laugh.

Which would have been fantastic had he not taken a swig of beer. The sight of her face transforming when she smiled nearly knocked the wind from his lungs and he coughed, choking on the liquid.

“You okay?”

He recovered and took a breath. “You need a warning label on that smile.”

She looked slightly uncomfortable, and he didn’t get it. She had to hear compliments all day every day. She took a bigger sip of her drink this time and checked her watch.

Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the table. “Can I ask you something?”

She looked unsure, but finally nodded. “Sure.”

“What’s the worst that could happen if you stopped trying so hard not to like me?”