Page 96 of Tempted Hearts

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I pulled out my phone.

Cole

good morning!

Deleted.

Cole

how’s it going?

Deleted.

Cole

are you busy this afternoon?

Deleted.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket.

“So… you texted her?”

“Not quite. But I will.”

“You should. Just be honest. Let her decide if she can handle something casual—assuming that’s what you want.”

“If I knew what I wanted, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you on a run.”

Beck stood. Talk time was over.

“Let’s go.”

He took off, and there was no way in hell I was letting him beat me downhill. Trail running was one of my favorite things, but today it was more than getting steps in. I needed to clear my head.

It came down to the last twenty feet, but I pulled ahead.

“And that was with you having a head start.”

“Head start, my ass.”

We jogged back, our argument continuing until we reached the pub.

“I’ve got cold beer on tap,” Beck said.

“On a Monday morning?”

He unlocked the door. “Some of us work nights. This is my 9a.m.”

We sat at the bar. One beer turned into two. Then three.

“Did you text her yet?”

I pulled out my phone. “Going to now. Staying open?”

Monday was the only day O’Malley’s shuttered.

“You want me to?”

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