Page 18 of Grumpy Spring Sunshine
He grabbed me by the waist and then hauled me to him for a kiss, making my head spin. I’m sure plenty saw us and I had no doubt the rumor mill would be going crazy soon enough.
I touched my lips when he finally released me and his smile at my reaction damn near took my breath away. It was not fair
He didn’t play fair.
With another grin, he helped me in the truck and drove us the whole three minutes to the bar and grill, helping me out again.
We walked into the building, his hand on my back and I felt like the whole place had just gone quiet. And why not?
No one saw Keith with a girl.
And no one saw me with a guy.
“Well, shit, this is awkward.”
“They’re staring at your hotness,” I told him, making my way to a corner table. He chuckled the whole way through the crowd made me feel far too giddy.
“Burger and beer?”
“No,” I answered, shaking my head. “But I’ll take a burger and a pina colada.”
He made a face and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“No getting drunk tomorrow, I have an all day shift tomorrow.”
I watched as he placed the order for us and then rested my arms on the table, looking at him.
“What?”
“Why did you bring me out, Keith?”
“To talk. To enjoy your company. To figure out a way to get back into your pants.”
“Know how to wine and dine a lady.” I sat back as the drinks came, taking a sip. “Speak, since you said to talk. Only way you’re going to get into my pants again.”
“You confessed about your past; guess it was time to share mine. I don’t do relationships.”
I covered up the slice of pain at his words. I mean, I didn’t do it either, but it still kind of stung to know that this would be nothing more than a fling. Because what I felt went beyond that, even though I was fighting it the best I knew how.
“I gathered. Why is that?”
“I’m a jerk, can’t you tell?”
“Sure, doesn’t mean you were born that way. In my experience, if people are jerks, it’s because they had a reason to be.”
“You weren’t one, Brittani, and you could have been.”
I swirled my straw around the drink as I nodded.
“True, but I choose not to be. So, why are you the way you are?”
He took a swig of his beer before setting it down, almost as if he had to figure out what to say. Which, I guess, would be his case given he didn’t do a lot of talking or confiding.
“I don’t believe in love. I think it’s a notion that people say but don’t really mean. Not that it’s silly, it’s not, but I don’t think true love is real. I’ve seen far too many relationships fall apart to believe in it. I guess that’s made me jaded about relationships. Also has left a chip on my shoulder.”
“Huh, but not yours. Someone you saw in a relationship, but it didn’t work. Who?”
“My parents. When I was younger, rather than splitting up a ‘happy home’ they had an open marriage. That was my first view of true love.”
