Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(23)

Rooster stopped at a barbecue place outside of Kent. He had Lauren’s cell number. Although tempted to contact her, he didn’t expect her employer would appreciate her taking personal calls while working. A text would be better, but even then he wasn’t sure what to say. He was no good at this and was sure to bungle it. Rather than take the risk, he returned his cell to the holder on his belt, angry with himself for being so out of practice when it came to dealing with a woman.

Back in his hotel room, he paced the confines of the room and decided he’d waited long enough. At five he punched out her number, and when she didn’t pick up, he left a short message.

“It’s Rooster.” He didn’t figure there was much else to say.

At six his phone chirped. It was Lauren.

“I’m so glad you called,” she said, and seemed slightly breathless and troubled.

She was glad, but it wasn’t for the reasons he’d hoped. He could hear it in her voice. Something had happened. Right away, Rooster suspected it had something to do with the man who’d stood her up the night before, when they’d gone out instead. “What’s up?”

He heard her exhale. “I had a rather unpleasant confrontation with Todd this afternoon.”

So he was right. “I’m sorry.”

“Yes, so am I. Todd was upset that I’d left the restaurant. He said he’d arrived just minutes after I left with you.”

“Really?” That seemed unlikely. “I thought the last text you got said he’d be another fifteen minutes.”

“Fifteen minutes at least. Since then he apparently changed his story. He wasn’t happy when I ignored his phone call, either.”

Todd had had his chance. From what little Lauren had said about the other man, being late wasn’t something new.

“I’m just getting off work now … I’m not usually so forward. You insisted on paying for dinner last night even though I was the one who asked you. Would you allow me to buy your dinner tonight?”

Rooster was stunned, and she seemed to read his hesitation as indecision or a means of putting her off.

“You can always say no.”

Rooster had no intention of turning her down.

“Although I hope you don’t,” she added.

“Okay.” He did his best to hide his enthusiasm. “Where would you like to meet?”

“I know a great place down on the waterfront. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city. We might have to wait for a table, but I promise you it’ll be worth it.”

“You’re on.”

She gave him a time and the name of the restaurant. “I hope you like seafood.”

“I do.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll see you in a little less than an hour.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

That gave Rooster enough time to shower and shave. He pulled out a western-style shirt from his saddlebags. It was wrinkled, and after shaking it out several times it didn’t look much better. He didn’t have time to shop for another shirt, so he got out the hotel iron and ironing board. He wouldn’t go through this for just any woman. The shirt looked substantially better when he finished, and he quickly put it on and snapped it closed.

His hotel was only a few blocks from the Seattle waterfront, so he walked down the hill toward Puget Sound, experiencing emotions similar to those he’d had as a teenager on prom night. The last time he’d felt this giddy he’d been in high school.

The restaurant waiting area was crowded when he arrived, but it didn’t take him long to spot Lauren. Not for the first time, he realized it would be far too easy to fall for her. One advantage was the fact that he’d be leaving town early Sunday morning, riding back to California. Monday was Memorial Day, and Max and Rooster hoped for a more leisurely ride. If he spent much more time with Lauren, he would surely need to clear his head.

“Hi,” he said, coming up behind her.

She turned and dazzled him with a smile. “Hi.”

Rooster swore her eyes were warm enough to melt wax.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He should be the one thanking her, although he wasn’t about to let her know that. “No problem. I didn’t have any other plans for the evening.” That was probably the wrong thing to say, even if it was the truth.

“I had a dreadful day.”

“Todd?”

“Oh, it’s more than that. My employer is going through a rough time with her daughter, and she and her husband can’t agree on what to do. They argued, and Elisa left the shop and didn’t come back. Garry was upset.” She shook her head as if she’d said more than she wanted. “I don’t know what it is about you.”

Rooster arched his brows. “About me?” he asked, unable to connect the dots. “What do you mean?”

“I tell you things I don’t intend to say.”

He chuckled.

“I feel comfortable around you.”

Probably because she had no intention of ever getting seriously involved with him. “Is being comfortable with someone on your list?”

“No, but it’s something else I should consider adding.”

Rooster was encouraged to know she’d found him helpful. It was difficult to tell if she was genuinely interested or if he was being relegated to the friend zone. Time would tell. As they waited for their name to be called, Rooster buried the tips of his fingers in his jeans pockets.