Zero Forks - Cat Johnson Page 0,53

and walked to open the back door. “Stewie. Come on inside now. I’m taking you and Auntie Sarah out to the bar for dinner.”

“To the bar,” he repeated as he carried his truck indoors.

I glanced back at Sarah and saw her brows rise.

“It’s not a cuss,” I defended, as I closed and locked the back door.

“No, but it might get us a call from child services if he repeats it.”

I waved away her concern. “Nah. Besides, it’s not just a bar. There’s a full menu. The wings were voted best in the county two years running.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Mmm, hmm. I’ll be sure to tell them that when they come to take him away.”

Those kissable lips and that smart-mouthed attitude combined were irresistible. I moved toward Sarah, cornering her between the counter and me, before I pressed a long hard kiss to her lips.

When I pulled back her eyes were wide. “You shouldn’t do that here. Now.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Stewie’s right there,” she hissed.

“Hey, Stewie. Is it okay if I kiss your aunt?” I asked.

“Yes.” He didn’t even look up from his truck, which he was pushing slowly but steadily across the floor toward the front door and dusting the floors with his knees as he went.

Luckily, I’d swept up this afternoon. I didn’t want to take the time to change him into something else. I was taking my girl out on the town. Or as close as you could get in Mudville.

“Thanks, bud.” I grinned and looked at her. “See?”

She drew in a breath. “Yes. I see you’re insufferable.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment—and google exactly what it means later.”

That won me a small smile as she shook her head. “Don’t play dumb with me, Boone Morgan. You are far smarter than you let on.”

“All part of my plan to win your heart.”

There was that blush again. That alone was enough to make me fall for her. That coupled with what had happened between us last night—and again this morning—and I was a goner for this woman.

I pressed a kiss to her lips then offered her my arm. “My lady.”

She hesitated but finally looped her hand through the crook in my arm.

“And off to the Muddy River Inn we go,” I said, happier than Romeo with a bone.

“This is going to be an experience, isn’t it?” she asked.

This citified woman inside the best—and the only—dive bar in town? Yup. I had no doubt.

“Oh, yeah.” I grinned.

And I couldn’t wait.

NINETEEN

Sarah

There were a few things I’d never thought I’d do in my life. One, take a three-year old to a bar. Two, go out to dinner with a man thirteen years my junior. And three, have such a good time doing both of them.

I hated to admit it but Boone was right. The place was as much restaurant as it was bar. And in spite of the presence of all the usual bar elements, such as the pool table, juke box and dart board, it felt pretty family friendly.

At least at this early hour it did. Stewie wasn’t even the only kid eating dinner there tonight.

That was the good part of the evening.

Then there was the bad part.

Boone was apparently well-known—and well-liked—in this town. Everybody seemed to know him. Almost everyone said hello to him. And those who didn’t still stared as we walked in together and sat at one of the tables.

I—or rather Boone and I being there together—was definitely the topic of the hissed conversations going on around us, judging by the looks I got from young and old alike.

They were staring at me, making assumptions, but I had to admit that I did some observing and assuming of my own.

Such as I assumed the hot young thing in the corner with her girlfriends all shooting daggers at me with their eyes had a thing for Boone.

Hell, maybe she’d even dated him. She was the right age, which I—I reminded myself—was not.

Then there was the old couple seated nearby. She spent the night alternating between watching me and leaning in to whisper to him, only to have him tell her, loudly, that he couldn’t hear her and she needed to talk louder. After which she’d glance at me then tell him it was nothing and that he needed a hearing aid.

But there were friendly, kind people too.

Boone introduced me to the owner, Lainey, who couldn’t have been sweeter. She offered to make Stewie anything he wanted, whether it was on the menu or not.

As it