Page 19 of Rescued Love

The thought surprises me so much I jolt backwards a little bit and almost trip over my own feet. Where the hell did that thought come from?

I couldn’t leave everything behind that I’ve been building and move to Sweetwater Valley. Right?

Some of the worry and anxiety loosens in my chest, a feeling I haven’t experienced in a long fucking time.

I shake off my thoughts just in time for Grandpa to toss the keys to his truck at me. I catch them and give him an incredulous look.

“I wasn’t ready.”

Grandpa’s eyes glint and he shrugs. “You looked lost in thought for a moment.” With a dismissive wave of his hand he adds, “I didn’t want you to hurt yourself over there.”

I purse my lips, but don’t say what I’m thinking.

Telling Grandpa to fuck off, when he’s the man I’ve always respected the most in my life, would probably be a bad idea.

I simply give a small wave and head out the door. As I start up the truck, I do a quick search to find directions to The Goose and then I’m off.

Honestly, I was surprised when Ansel and Dixon asked me to join them tonight. It’s clear they’ve been friends for a long time, and I was a little jealous of the ease between them. I used to have a best friend like that, but then we went to different colleges, and we lost touch.

Maybe we weren’t that close if it was so easy to do. I’ve thought about tracking him down on social media throughout the years, but then life would speed up again and I’d allow it to take me away.

The longer it’s been, the more it feels like the chasm between us, between the friends we used to be, and now just gets bigger.

I’m friendly with people I work with, but I wouldn’t call any of them friends, especially Marcus. Fuck that guy.

I let out a small snort of laughter as I pull into The Goose. It’s busy, not like I was expecting anything less for a Saturday night. From what Dixon said, this is the place to be for a drink and some good food.

I teased him a little bit about wanting to go to the place where he works when he’s off, but he just shrugged and flashed me a smile before drawling, “Not many other places to pick up a woman.”

I couldn’t blame him for that.

Fuck.

How long has it been since I’ve gone out and picked up a woman?

I really have let my job rule my life. The fact that I’ve missed that for so long is both sad and disconcerting. I should have realized it a long fucking time ago.

The memory of Kimball’s curves and the way she filled out her jeans comes to mind, unbidden. Yeah, it’s been far too fucking long. Even as pissed as I was, I wanted her.

I doubt she’d be interested in me after I was such an ass to her, but it doesn’t hurt to fantasize a little.

When I step inside, I take in the large room and bar in one swoop. It’s rustic and industrial, but it’s clean and a lot nicer than I was expecting. As I take the room in again, looking for Dixon and Ansel this time, I find them quickly. They’re sitting at a table with a guy who has his armed draped around the shoulder of a woman with auburn hair.

But that’s not who holds my attention.

Not even a little bit.

My entire body goes on high alert as my vision fills with Kimball, her brown hair swirling around her head as she throws her head back and laughs. Jealousy has my heart pumping harder in my chest just to help my hardening cock along when just seeing her is more than enough.

I wasn’t prepared to see her, not now, not tonight. I’m not prepared to see her next to another man.

Which just makes me an even bigger asshole.

At least it’ll be easy to apologize to her now.

Ansel notices as I start to head their way and shouts, “Hey, man.”

My heart sinks when Kimball’s head whips around and the light in her brown eyes dim. I want to see that sparkle; I want it to be there because of me.