Paige desperately tried to think of a way out.
“Take my seat,” Ashley offered. “I’m heading out. Hank should be home soon, and I have stalls to clean.” The woman gave Justin a quick hug. “Nice to meet you, Paige,” she said.
“Likewise.” Paige watched the tall, slender woman leave then turned to Justin. “I really need to crawl into bed and sleep for about twelve hours, so I’ll only sit a minute while I wait on my food.”
“I’ll tell them to take their time.” He shot her a wicked smile.
Feeling that smile seep through every weary muscle in her, she let him take her arm and settle her on the bar stool. He made himself comfortable beside her. “You still walking with Jillian?” she asked.
“Nope. Stan’s home. I’m back to running.”
“I used to run.” She took a chip from a basket and munched on it. “Can’t seem to find time these days.”
“You look in good shape to me. You must go to the gym.”
“No gym,” she said. “But I do enjoy running. I’ve had a lot of early morning births the last couple of months, and that’s when I usually run. Lately, by the time I get off work, I’m too tired.”
“By the time I get off work, it’s the middle of the night,” Justin said, taking a chip for himself and then ordering more salsa from the bartender. “You trying some of our Irish specialties tonight?”
“I ordered steak again, but you can tell me what’s an Irish favorite here for the next time I come.”
“Glad there’ll be a next time,” he said casually. “Irish stew and soda bread is a favorite. Can I talk you into joining me for dinner, if I promise not to keep you long and let you taste my Irish dish?”
“How could I refuse an offer like that?” she asked, surprising herself. Something about this man had her letting down her guard. The blue shirt he wore brought out his eyes and made his blond hair seem even blonder, but it was his friendly, easy manner that pulled her in the most. He reached for another chip and she couldn’t help but notice his muscular forearms, dark from being in the sun and sprinkled with light hair. A shiver of awareness skimmed down her back.
He motioned to the bartender and ordered his own dinner, then told the guy to bring Paige’s take-out to the bar.
“Did you always want to manage a restaurant?” she asked.
“Nope, but I’ve wanted to own an Irish pub for a long time. My mom was Irish. She used to make some interesting dishes. Some of which I didn’t appreciate growing up.”
“Such as?” Paige had very little idea what constituted Irish food.
“Fried pickles.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Fried pickles?”
He nodded. “Pretty good actually, but shepherd pie is my favorite.”
“What exactly is that?”
He chuckled. “To put it simply, a mixture of lots of veggies topped with even more mashed potatoes. A great winter meal that would fill up anyone. And then there’s Irish whiskey.” He licked his lips and she had a hard time pulling her gaze away from his full mouth. “I’ll give you some whiskey with your meal. It’ll help you sleep tonight.”
“I doubt I need any help sleeping.” She studied him a minute, intrigued. He seemed like such a jock, yet he obviously loved owning this place. And he even cooked. Or so he’d said the night she’d met him. “Did you major in restaurant management in college?”
One side of his mouth quirked up. “Majored in partying. Minored in restaurant management. Actually, sales was my major,” he added with another one of his heart-stopping grins. The man was a professional charmer. A good reason to stay away from him. Her ex-husband had been a professional charmer too, which should have her running out of here. “Where did you learn to cook?” she asked in spite of her internal alarm going off.
“Mom made us all learn to cook, and I found I actually enjoyed it. Not a bad way to unwind at the end of the day. Sometimes I go in the kitchen and help my chef. Not that he needs help, but it’s relaxing for me. And fun,” he tacked on. “How about you? You like to cook?”
Paige all but snorted. “I don’t like it, and I can’t do it very well. Hence, my dining out most of the time. I know my way around a microwave. That’s about it.”
Justin clasped a hand over his heart. “And I had you pegged as perfect.”
She laughed and had to admit it felt good. “Far from it,” she finally said, leaning back as her dinner was delivered to her. She peeked in the sack and breathed in the smell of juicy steak and baked potato. “Yum,” she said as she pulled the steaming dinner out.
The bartender brought Justin his dinner, and without preamble he picked up a rib and took a huge bite. “Perfect. Nothing like fried ribs.”
“Fried?” Paige asked as she watched him devour his first bite.
“You want a taste?” He served her a rib without waiting for her answer.
She took a bite of the rib and closed her eyes on a sigh. “This is delicious.”
Justin leaned close, and she could smell his clean scent mixed with the smells of cooking in the kitchen. “So now that I have you by yourself—so to speak—tell me about this home-birthing thing. I’m curious even though Jillian won’t be doing it now.”
“Home birthing is wonderful. Very bonding for mother and baby. Someday your wife might want to do a home birth. I hope you’ll be supportive.”
He grimaced. “I’d have to do a lot of research. That’s why I’m asking you, so try hard not to be biased.”
“But I am biased. It’s much more comfortable for both mom and baby. Being in warm water when you’re in labor helps you relax, thus it’s less painful. It’s also much less traumatic for the baby. Remember, they’ve just come from warm water.”
“I’m eating here,” he muttered, holding up a hand.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You asked.” They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes.
He grabbed his last fried pickle and stuffed it into his mouth. “Let’s change the subject. I’ll let you choose.”
Paige’s mind went totally blank. She grasped for something to say. “I don’t do well under pressure,” she finally managed.
His eyes widened. “Don’t say that. You deliver babies. If that’s not pressure, I don’t know what is.”
“I don’t do well under social pressure,” she amended. “I excel under professional pressure.”
Those blue eyes of his narrowed on her. “You’re a smart, beautiful woman. Why does social interaction bother you?”
Her heart raced like a Thoroughbred’s in the home stretch. “I’m not sure. Maybe because I’m an only child. And shy,” she added. “I’m certainly not a party person.”
“He took a sip of wine. “I’ll be glad to give you lessons.”
She couldn’t hold in a laugh. “Was that supposed to be a smooth line? If so, you flunked.”
“The thing is,” he began as he picked up another rib. “If you want to learn how to play, you have to at least try and be playful, even if my lines are bad.”
“What should I have said to protect your ego?” He narrowed his gaze on her and leaned close, so close she could see a darker circle of blue around his eyes, smell the wine on his breath. She gulped in much-needed air and fought for composure.
Taking her hand and turning it over, he traced the lines on her palm with a fingertip. She could barely breathe. “You could have said, ‘When’s my first lesson?’” He winked at her, and she hated that it actually worked. She pulled her hand away and he frowned. “It’s no big deal that social pressure is not your forte, Paige, but I can help with that. Seriously. Hang out with me, and I’ll have you loosened up in no time.”
And probably in bed. “I don’t think hanging out with one of my patient’s brothers is in the cards.”
“You hide behind that professional demeanor quite well.” He leaned into her space again. “She’s no longer your patient, so come out and play, Paige.”
She took a bite of baked potato rather than re
ply, and tried to figure out how to make a smooth getaway as soon as she’d finished eating.
“I can see your mind spinning.” He took another bite of his dinner. “Having fun is good for people. Everyone needs relaxing, fun times in their life.”
She knew he was right, but she wasn’t about to admit it. “I have enjoyable times,” she lied, barely able to remember the last time she had anything resembling fun.
He arched a brow. “Enjoyable and fun are not synonymous. You need more. You, yourself, admitted that.”
“I did not.”
“Fine. You said you froze up in social situations. The thing is,” he went on, turning toward her and offering her a sip of his whiskey, “Practice helps. Really. I’m offering you a no-strings attached deal to hang out and have some laughs. I would think being in a business that can be filled with pressure, that you’d need a way to let down.”
She almost choked on the burning liquid and felt her face heat up like a torch, but that had little to do with the whiskey.
He nudged her with his shoulder. “I can tell you want to. Come on, Paige. Hang out with me Saturday. Then we’ll come here for dinner. What do you like to do?”
She had to think hard to come up with anything. She truly was pathetic. “I used to dance,” she offered.
“Then we’ll dance. What else?”
She frantically searched for something. “I enjoy live concerts.” Although she could barely remember the last one she attended.
“I’ll serenade you.”
She laughed so hard she snorted. Okay, this was kind of addicting. In fact, she didn’t even feel tired anymore, but she did have an early morning. She took the last sip of her wine and scooted back from the bar. “Thanks for cheering me up, but I really do have to leave.”
“Wait.” He pulled out a card and gave it to her. “In case you change your mind,” he said, handing the card to her.
Without giving him a chance to say anything else and possibly change her mind, she set money on the bar for her dinner and hurried away. No way was she willing to put herself in a situation she wasn’t ready to handle and run the risk of making an utter fool of herself. Besides, all she could ever be with this man was friends, and she had no doubt he wouldn’t agree to that.
Justin was right about one thing though. She needed to learn how to socialize again. How to laugh and tease. But no romance. No real involvement, she promised herself as she got in her car and sped toward home, where she could hide from the world and figure out if she had the guts to take Justin Coleman up on his charming but unsettling offer to wade into territory that she feared might be too deep for her to handle.
* * *
Justin watched Paige hurry from the restaurant and tried to shove down his disappointment, then reminded himself that while he liked a good challenge, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t get involved with Paige Dillingham. Unfortunately, he was attracted to her. Big time attracted to her, and it wasn’t simply her dynamite body and gorgeous red hair and green eyes. The woman had no idea how sexy she was, and that made her even more potent.
He went around to the inside of the bar and poured himself another jigger of Irish whiskey, swallowed all of it and felt the burn clear to his belly. He was disappointed Paige had left, but he wasn’t giving up. He needed a plan but his mind was mush at the moment. He’d never had the need for a game plan to get a woman to go out with him, which made enticing Paige to go out a top priority, even though he’d sworn she was not a priority at all. If he were smart, which he had his doubts about right now, he should make her totally off limits. Nothing good could come of this. They were too different.
He thought back over their dinner. The desire to know how it felt to kiss those full lips of hers, savor her taste, feel her warm breath as her lips parted, rolled through him like a runaway freight train. For the first time in years, maybe ever, he yearned to know what motivated a woman, what her dreams were, and what goals she had in life besides delivering babies.
“Damn,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair and lowering himself onto a bar stool. He should let this go now. It was distinctly possible this woman had been wise to hold him at bay, because he had a sinking feeling he might get himself in too deep and too fast with her, and then what? He liked her. He liked her a lot, but they were so far from being on the same page it was ridiculous.
A patron hollered at him from the end of the bar, and he was glad for the distraction. Smiling, he headed toward the rowdy group of people, ready to pull his thoughts away from a pretty redhead and do what he did best—enjoy the familiar crowd that kept his pub alive with good times and great profits.
Chapter Three
Paige finished her last mile of jogging through the tree-lined streets of her neighborhood and slowed to a walk, welcoming a morning breeze that cooled her damp skin. She’d made herself a pledge to begin jogging again, and it had still taken all the self-discipline she’d had to drag herself out of bed this Saturday morning and head out for a run.
But she’d done it, and now the entire day stretched out before her with nothing to do but errands. Normally, she loved her quiet Saturdays, but today she was restless and edgy without an inkling of how she would spend the day. She wished she’d had the gumption to take Justin up on his offer to hang out with him, but she hadn’t, so she needed to quit thinking about what it might have been like to spend the day in the company of a sexy man who was not only hot, but seemed like a decent guy.
Of course, her ex-husband, Derrick, had seemed like a nice guy, too. All that charm just oozing out of him, and then once they got married nothing—not even sympathy or understanding when she’d needed it the most. It had taken her a long time to figure out Derrick’s charm was a cover for his inability to put anyone first in his life but himself. Her father had been the same way. Walked out on her mother when Paige was only twelve, had gone merrily on his way and only visited her on rare occasions. Her history with men sucked. No wonder she hadn’t allowed herself to get involved in years, and if she were being smart, she wouldn’t even be thinking about Justin Coleman.
She let herself into the house, took a quick shower and washed her hair. After blowing it dry, she applied a coat of mascara to her eyelashes and some light pink lipstick, then slipped on a pair of white shorts, a yellow knit top and a pair of sandals. Grabbing her purse, she left the house, not sure where she was going, but feeling the need to get out and do something. Anything to take her mind off what she’d turned down today.
She scooted into her red convertible, put the top down and backed out onto the street, deciding to head toward the nearest mall. A new outfit might be just what she needed to perk her up, and it would be fun to wear something new if she decided to hang out with Justin at some point. Just as a friend, though, she reminded herself, no matter how much she wanted him to kiss her senseless.
Knowing she would never let that happen made her spirits sag, but she still headed for the mall for a shopping spree, hoping to fill up at least part of her day.
By the time Paige left the mall several hours later, she had two bags full of clothes and a new pair of white sandals with just enough of a heel to make her legs look even longer.
She tossed her new purchases into the back seat, hating that she still felt restless and bored, and hating even more the reason she felt this way. She did not need or want a man in her life. She had a rewarding career and plenty of friends.
And nothing to do the rest of the day.
Determined to snap out of her funk, she grabbed some take-home Chinese food and headed to a nearby park, which was practically empty, and the minute she stepped out of her car, she knew why. Heat mingled with humidity, had sweat rolling down her back within minutes. Fine. She’d go home, finish her lunch, and clean her house.
Then she’d get cozy on her sofa and watch a movie or read a good book.
Perfect.
Except when she finally curled up on her couch to read later that evening, she couldn’t keep
her mind on what she was reading. Cursing herself for letting Justin get to her, she made a bee-line to her car and headed toward his pub, part of her hoping he was there while part of her hoping he wasn’t, so she would come back home and act like the sensible woman she normally was.
* * *
Justin slid another glass of beer down the bar and his customer caught it right before it flew off the end. “Good catch.” Justin grinned and filled another glass with beer. He was on a roll, determined not to brood over Paige never following up on his invitation. His life was full, and he could have a date anytime he wanted one. Take that sexy brunette at the end of the bar. She’d been flirting with him all evening and, dang, she was cute. He should get her name and number.
The band started playing Mustang Sally, and his foot tapped to the beat of the music. The brunette stood. “This is a great song for dancing. Come on,” she said, holding out a hand.
Why not? he thought. He had enough energy in him tonight to dance for hours and still be ready to run a marathon. He was only here out of boredom. His bartender, Brian, was perfectly capable of handling this all on his own. He stepped around the end of the bar and guided the woman onto the dance floor.
“I’m Carolyn,” she said with a smile.
“Justin,” he answered as he took her hand and swung her around. She followed his lead with ease, and when the song ended and a slow dance started, she snuggled close.
“You’re a good dancer,” she said after a few minutes of gliding around the small dance floor.
“Thanks. You too.” The music ended and he led her back to her bar stool and then walked behind the bar, only to freeze at the sight of Paige sitting there pretty as a picture. All thoughts of the cute brunette flew out his brain when Paige smiled at him. He headed toward her and leaned across the bar. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” His gaze coasted over her scooped-neck, tight yellow top and then back up to those emerald-green eyes of hers.
“I surprised myself, too,” she said with a touch of shyness.
Since I Found You (Crystal Springs Romances: The Wedding Chapel Book 2) Page 3