night sitting at a truck stop spying on her ex-husband was not her idea of a good time. She should be home with her little boy.
Or getting ready for a night out on the town with the ruggedly handsome cowboy from the Diamond J. He was the first man she'd met in ages that she felt a spark of attraction for. Wilder was full of young men straining at the leash, anxious to escape as soon as they graduated high school and, at the other end of the spectrum, devoted husbands and fathers who were already taken.
Her chest rose and fell in a heavy sigh.
Too bad she'd chosen wrong when she was younger. She wondered what she'd ever seen in Steve. His bad boy image had been so intriguing, so tempting, for an honor student like her. He pushed the limit, smoked Marlboros, drank Busch beer, drove too fast and stayed out too late. Their romance was fueled by teenaged rebellion, pure and simple. They’d both been immature. She could see that now.
Again, her thoughts turned to Aidan Brackston. He was gainfully employed, polite . . . and he had the most amazing blue eyes. The chemistry between them had been palpable.
And, boy, did she need some chemistry in her life.
She was being ridiculous though. She'd met the man once. He probably had no interest in her at all.
She sighed and stabbed a chunk of hardboiled egg with her fork.
Though she often told people she didn’t need a man, that was a lie. Even though Steve had been immature and foolish, she missed being married. The need for a man, a partner, was like an ache buried deep within her chest. She wanted someone to go out to eat with, someone to go to Toby’s football games with, someone to warm her at night.
Wilder wasn't exactly a hotbed of action for a single woman like herself. She didn't go to bars, she didn't want to do the online dating thing. That left her with very few options.
Maybe that was why Aidan Brackston made such an impression on her. He was mature and responsible, if how he completed assignments for his boss was any indication. He had walked into a scrapbook store, generally considered women's territory, asked her opinion and listened to her suggestions. Even though he was totally out of his element, he had been charming and pleasant and carried on an intelligent conversation.
She wondered how he treated his girlfriend. More importantly, she wondered if he had a girlfriend. For whatever reason, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. Maybe because he was a cowboy. She’d always had a thing for a man in a cowboy hat and boots.
She sighed heavily. Dreaming did no good. Aidan was good looking, and probably had a beautiful girlfriend. Probably one of those barrel racers, with long dark hair pulled back in a braid, skin tight jeans and cowboy boots. Besides, why would he want to have a relationship with a single mother? She had given up on having a life of her own when she decided to file for divorce and raise her son alone.
Though she didn't regret the decision, it was hard to live with sometimes. After all, she wasn’t dead. She still had desires. She still felt a stirring deep within her.
She still hoped for a fairy tale ending, wanted to be swept off her feet by a knight in shining armor.
And, though she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, even Midge, she still wanted a man in her bed.
No, it was more than want.
It was a primal need.
“Refill?” The waitress looked at her expectantly, holding the coffee pot out.
She peeked at the booth she’d been spying on, just as Steve and the pig tailed woman scooted out of their seats and strolled toward the cash register.
Gina shook her head. “No. Just the bill please.”
The woman ripped the ticket off her pad and laid it on the scarred table, then bustled on her way, dodging from table to table, refilling off-white coffee cups at tables and booths as she went. Steve and his companion paid separately, then walked toward the door together, still talking.
Gina slipped her hand into her purse, pulled her billfold
Or getting ready for a night out on the town with the ruggedly handsome cowboy from the Diamond J. He was the first man she'd met in ages that she felt a spark of attraction for. Wilder was full of young men straining at the leash, anxious to escape as soon as they graduated high school and, at the other end of the spectrum, devoted husbands and fathers who were already taken.
Her chest rose and fell in a heavy sigh.
Too bad she'd chosen wrong when she was younger. She wondered what she'd ever seen in Steve. His bad boy image had been so intriguing, so tempting, for an honor student like her. He pushed the limit, smoked Marlboros, drank Busch beer, drove too fast and stayed out too late. Their romance was fueled by teenaged rebellion, pure and simple. They’d both been immature. She could see that now.
Again, her thoughts turned to Aidan Brackston. He was gainfully employed, polite . . . and he had the most amazing blue eyes. The chemistry between them had been palpable.
And, boy, did she need some chemistry in her life.
She was being ridiculous though. She'd met the man once. He probably had no interest in her at all.
She sighed and stabbed a chunk of hardboiled egg with her fork.
Though she often told people she didn’t need a man, that was a lie. Even though Steve had been immature and foolish, she missed being married. The need for a man, a partner, was like an ache buried deep within her chest. She wanted someone to go out to eat with, someone to go to Toby’s football games with, someone to warm her at night.
Wilder wasn't exactly a hotbed of action for a single woman like herself. She didn't go to bars, she didn't want to do the online dating thing. That left her with very few options.
Maybe that was why Aidan Brackston made such an impression on her. He was mature and responsible, if how he completed assignments for his boss was any indication. He had walked into a scrapbook store, generally considered women's territory, asked her opinion and listened to her suggestions. Even though he was totally out of his element, he had been charming and pleasant and carried on an intelligent conversation.
She wondered how he treated his girlfriend. More importantly, she wondered if he had a girlfriend. For whatever reason, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. Maybe because he was a cowboy. She’d always had a thing for a man in a cowboy hat and boots.
She sighed heavily. Dreaming did no good. Aidan was good looking, and probably had a beautiful girlfriend. Probably one of those barrel racers, with long dark hair pulled back in a braid, skin tight jeans and cowboy boots. Besides, why would he want to have a relationship with a single mother? She had given up on having a life of her own when she decided to file for divorce and raise her son alone.
Though she didn't regret the decision, it was hard to live with sometimes. After all, she wasn’t dead. She still had desires. She still felt a stirring deep within her.
She still hoped for a fairy tale ending, wanted to be swept off her feet by a knight in shining armor.
And, though she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, even Midge, she still wanted a man in her bed.
No, it was more than want.
It was a primal need.
“Refill?” The waitress looked at her expectantly, holding the coffee pot out.
She peeked at the booth she’d been spying on, just as Steve and the pig tailed woman scooted out of their seats and strolled toward the cash register.
Gina shook her head. “No. Just the bill please.”
The woman ripped the ticket off her pad and laid it on the scarred table, then bustled on her way, dodging from table to table, refilling off-white coffee cups at tables and booths as she went. Steve and his companion paid separately, then walked toward the door together, still talking.
Gina slipped her hand into her purse, pulled her billfold
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