simple ponytail, she aroused him.
They washed up, locked the house, and climbed into the truck. Since she voiced no preference where they ate, he drove to the closest joint and parked. While walking to the entrance, she favored her left leg.
“You hurt yourself yesterday, didn’t you?” he asked as he opened the restaurant door for her.
The scent of burgers caused his stomach to rumble, but the sounds of screaming teenage girls invaded his ears. So much for a quiet dinner. The high school softball team took over more than half the dining room.
Bridget either ignored his question or didn’t hear and stepped up to the order line.
He stood behind her. “If it’s too noisy, we can go someplace else.”
“This is fine.” She glanced behind him and frowned.
“Are you sure? You don’t look fine.”
She assured him she was, breathed deep, and turned her attention to the front of the line. Something had upset her, but what? He searched the dining area.
The screams and giggles had turned to whispers.
Teenage girls. He hadn’t understood them as a teenage boy; he certainly didn’t understand them now. Could they be the reason Bridget had become upset?
She ordered a plain grilled chicken sandwich, a salad with low-fat ranch dressing, and a cup of water. He went with a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a Coke. After acquiring napkins and straws for both of them, she sat at a table as far away from the girls as she could get, yet she faced them. He grabbed several ketchup packets before sitting across from her.
He opened his burger and, near starving, tore into the ketchup packet. Red stuff squirted everywhere, including all over his shirt. Way to impress the lady, Rob!
Laughter bubbled out of her and set his heart alight. He needed to make sure she laughed more often, but not at the expense of his shirts.
“Guess you can’t take me anywhere, huh?” He grabbed a napkin and proceeded to wipe up the mess, leaving orange spots in his wake.
She cleared her throat. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed.” She opened her sandwich and cut the meat into tiny pieces. Then a snicker escaped. “But your expression was priceless.”
He spread his arms wide. “I aim to entertain.”
After popping off the lid to her salad, she dumped the chicken on top, leaving the bun alone.
“Why didn’t you just order a grilled chicken salad?”
She tore open a packet—managing to keep the dressing off her clothes—and drizzled the mixture on her salad. “I didn’t want all that other crap on it. Lettuce and tomatoes are enough. I don’t need cheese, nuts, and fruit, too.”
He took a bite of his burger, the more stuff on it the better. He probably should watch what he ate, he wasn’t getting any younger, but as long as he worked it off, he should be fine.
She eyed his french fries. Maybe she wasn’t actually a health-food nut. Using his finger, he turned the opening her way. “You’re allowed.”
“I shouldn’t,” she said as she reached for one. “But it has been a while. I guess one won’t kill me. Thanks.”
“You didn’t answer me earlier. Did you hurt yourself yesterday?”
“I overdid it on the bike, yes. I think every muscle I own has screamed at me at least once today. So much for thinking I was in shape.”
Her shape looked fine to him. In fact, he wouldn’t mind seeing more of it, which he shouldn’t even be thinking since his boner already strained for release. Better to eat and not think.
“Hey, Rob!”
The high-pitched voice triggered an involuntary groan from Rob’s mouth. And the hard-on he had sported? Gone. Unfortunately, he hadn’t escaped seeing Tori Masters again.
* * * *
Bridget stared at the one cousin she could never be friends with. How did Tori know Rob? Was he why Tori had pulled that U-turn outside?
Rob stood and smiled. “Hi. What brings you here?”
Bridget could have sworn he groaned earlier, but he seemed pleased to see her. Was he only being nice, or was there
They washed up, locked the house, and climbed into the truck. Since she voiced no preference where they ate, he drove to the closest joint and parked. While walking to the entrance, she favored her left leg.
“You hurt yourself yesterday, didn’t you?” he asked as he opened the restaurant door for her.
The scent of burgers caused his stomach to rumble, but the sounds of screaming teenage girls invaded his ears. So much for a quiet dinner. The high school softball team took over more than half the dining room.
Bridget either ignored his question or didn’t hear and stepped up to the order line.
He stood behind her. “If it’s too noisy, we can go someplace else.”
“This is fine.” She glanced behind him and frowned.
“Are you sure? You don’t look fine.”
She assured him she was, breathed deep, and turned her attention to the front of the line. Something had upset her, but what? He searched the dining area.
The screams and giggles had turned to whispers.
Teenage girls. He hadn’t understood them as a teenage boy; he certainly didn’t understand them now. Could they be the reason Bridget had become upset?
She ordered a plain grilled chicken sandwich, a salad with low-fat ranch dressing, and a cup of water. He went with a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a Coke. After acquiring napkins and straws for both of them, she sat at a table as far away from the girls as she could get, yet she faced them. He grabbed several ketchup packets before sitting across from her.
He opened his burger and, near starving, tore into the ketchup packet. Red stuff squirted everywhere, including all over his shirt. Way to impress the lady, Rob!
Laughter bubbled out of her and set his heart alight. He needed to make sure she laughed more often, but not at the expense of his shirts.
“Guess you can’t take me anywhere, huh?” He grabbed a napkin and proceeded to wipe up the mess, leaving orange spots in his wake.
She cleared her throat. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed.” She opened her sandwich and cut the meat into tiny pieces. Then a snicker escaped. “But your expression was priceless.”
He spread his arms wide. “I aim to entertain.”
After popping off the lid to her salad, she dumped the chicken on top, leaving the bun alone.
“Why didn’t you just order a grilled chicken salad?”
She tore open a packet—managing to keep the dressing off her clothes—and drizzled the mixture on her salad. “I didn’t want all that other crap on it. Lettuce and tomatoes are enough. I don’t need cheese, nuts, and fruit, too.”
He took a bite of his burger, the more stuff on it the better. He probably should watch what he ate, he wasn’t getting any younger, but as long as he worked it off, he should be fine.
She eyed his french fries. Maybe she wasn’t actually a health-food nut. Using his finger, he turned the opening her way. “You’re allowed.”
“I shouldn’t,” she said as she reached for one. “But it has been a while. I guess one won’t kill me. Thanks.”
“You didn’t answer me earlier. Did you hurt yourself yesterday?”
“I overdid it on the bike, yes. I think every muscle I own has screamed at me at least once today. So much for thinking I was in shape.”
Her shape looked fine to him. In fact, he wouldn’t mind seeing more of it, which he shouldn’t even be thinking since his boner already strained for release. Better to eat and not think.
“Hey, Rob!”
The high-pitched voice triggered an involuntary groan from Rob’s mouth. And the hard-on he had sported? Gone. Unfortunately, he hadn’t escaped seeing Tori Masters again.
* * * *
Bridget stared at the one cousin she could never be friends with. How did Tori know Rob? Was he why Tori had pulled that U-turn outside?
Rob stood and smiled. “Hi. What brings you here?”
Bridget could have sworn he groaned earlier, but he seemed pleased to see her. Was he only being nice, or was there
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