Page 9 of When to Call a Blitz

“Drop it.”

“You’re the one who brought it up.”

Before he can argue back, something behind me catches his eye. “Hey!” he calls, waving his arms.

I look over my shoulder and watch as Isla walks into the room, Mila right behind her.

And I can only guess who’s in tow…

“I’m gonna go get another beer, you need anything?” I tell Cooper as the redhead makes her way through the door.

I feel like a crocodile attempting to flee Steve Irwin—may he rest in peace—as I leap out of my seat, moving around the bodies that found their way into room. When I think I’ve put enough distance between us, I risk a look back.

But Heidi is on her way to the bar too.

Fuck.

I didn’t think that one through very hard, did I? Of course the women would want drinks.

Looking around over the bar, I see the bartender hand a man at the far end a beer and I make a beeline for the newly vacant spot, immediately raising my hand.

“What can I get ya, Gardner?” Lucy asks as she wipes her hands on the white cloth on the counter.

“Just a beer,” I say quickly, watching Heidi make her way over from my peripheral.

“The usual?” I nod, my eyes widening in hopes she’ll get the message.

It’s not that I can’t talk to her. I just don’t want to. I freaked out and stopped talking to her after weeks of texting back and forth. It was all innocent. Nothing was ever bad. But there was something about her that I just couldn’t place, and my draw toward her scared me.

“Here ya go,” Lucy says as she hands me my beer. I give her a quick smile as I spin just as Heidi nearly reaches me.

I’m a big man, as hard as I may try, it’s nearly impossible for me to blend in here, so instead of trying to hide, I take a moment to watch as Heidi rolls her eyes, smiles at Lucy, and orders a drink before I grab the handle to the back door and fling myself through it.

It only takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the bright lights along the back of the bar, and when I finally allow myself to relax, all I can think about is how god damn juvenile this whole thing has been.

I’m an adult.

Why am I running away from a woman? A pretty woman? A woman I spent an evening with on the beach, watching the kids?

Heidi is far from someone I need to protect myself from. I know her enough to understand that.

I’m so deep in thought that I almost don’t realize the back door is opening, and before I know it, the redhead is standing in front of me, a fruity drink in hand as she watches me processing all of it.

“Hey,” she says quietly, looking down at her feet.

“Hi,” I respond simply, suddenly having no idea what to do with my hands… or my feet. Why do I feel shaky on my feet?

“Can I ask what that was back there?”

“What are you referring to?” I ask with an awkward chuckle.

Heidi glances behind her, brows furrowed. “Did we experience the same thing back there? You running from me?”

I purse my lips before thinking of my next response. I could admit it all. That would probably be the correct choice, honestly. Or I could make up a quick excuse that’ll get me out of here quick.

Just as I open my mouth to give her an explanation—a bad one—Leo’s head peeks through the door.

“There’s my beautiful bitch,” he beams. “I bought you shots big boy, let’s go.”