by Elaina John
****
R.J. slammed the torn paper bag onto his dish-cluttered countertop. “Great job, dude. You freaking ran her away again.”
Now he was taking up the habit of talking to himself. Who was this Denise woman and why did she send his heart into overdrive?
His black and white border collie bounded over to him, hoping he had a treat from the store. R.J. scratched Barkley behind the ears and unwrapped a honey bun. He tossed it and watched his old friend chase after it.
He’d been so shocked to see Denise today. She looked incredibly sexy jogging toward him with her toned stomach and long, lean legs that he stood there like an idiot with his feet glued onto the cement and allowed her to plow right into him.
She hadn’t paid him any attention. Didn’t even recognize him at first. So much for making a lasting impression. R.J. supposed it was all for the best anyway. She was a super hot, super successful government agent. He was a bartender who hadn’t had a serious relationship in five years. What could he bring to the table?
Not that he was thinking of starting a relationship with Denise. R.J. simply appreciated her outward beauty. He didn’t know her. He didn’t want to get to know her or anything remotely close to it.
But he did.
He laid awake hours last night thinking about the mystery woman from Bolt, her musical voice playing like a record in his head. That blonde from the club—Keri—did nothing for him. When he was with Keri it wasn’t her face he saw but Denise’s. He promptly sent Keri home, positive she would never call him again. As it was, he was surprised he even remembered her name. His mind was so consumed with Denise.
R.J. didn’t understand how he was pining over a woman he barely knew. She clearly wasn’t interested in him. A woman like her probably had a boyfriend or a husband. If her guy was the person who had her at the bar last night drinking away her sorrows, no doubt he crawled back to her this morning, groveling on his hands and knees for Denise to forgive him and take him back. That’s what R.J. would have done.
Denise was much lighter today, more pleasant. Something occurred to change her attitude. No doubt that something was another guy.
Good for him. Now R.J. wouldn’t ever have to see Denise again. He preferred it that way. And he’d keep telling himself that until he believed it.