A Billionaire's Cabin Love - Posey Parks Page 0,8
Including me.” He slipped his fingers through his short blond hair.
I held his gaze a little longer. “Oh, Peter, that’s sweet of you to say.”
“Sorry it took me so long.” Collin placed his hand on the back of my bar stool.
Peter stepped away and helped another customer.
A shiver shot up my spine and I felt a little uneasy. Peter peered at Collin and me while he prepared a drink for a customer. The guys in my hometown wanted a chance to date me. Collin blew into town, and they probably felt he destroyed their chances. In my eyes, he didn’t. I think I was looking for something different. That was why I was interested in driving to Anchorage. Maybe I needed a change of scenery.
“What happened?” I tried to ignore Peter’s creepy stares.
“A guy at the pool table closest to the door noticed me earlier today when I arrived. He asked how I was enjoying Talkeetna.”
I looked down my nose at him. “What did you say?”
“That the rugged princess shared beautiful highlights of this cool town today.” He sipped his Guinness.
A huge smile took my lips. “Thank you.”
His eyes darted to the large TV hanging on the wall over the bar.
“I’ll let you enjoy the game. If you need me, you know where I’ll be.”
Possessively, his hand remained firmly on the back of my chair. His big brown eyes fell on mine. “Don’t worry about me, Kara. I’ll have you all to myself later.”
My eyes widened.
He chuckled. “No, I just mean, I’ll have the chance to talk to you a little more. We’re walking back to the hotel together.”
I laughed. “Oh, right.” My fingers massaged the skin between my brows. “Sorry, my mind was in the gutter.” My face twisted.
“Go enjoy your friends.”
“Ok.”
He removed his hand, then pointed it at the screen. “Oh, come on, ref,” Collin growled.
I strolled over to my friends, drink in hand. I pondered on my interaction with Peter tonight. He was an average looking guy. His heart was always in the right place. But sometimes I felt uncomfortable around him.
“Head over heels for the city slicker, huh?”
I sank into the dark wooden chair.
Christy tugged at her coily locks. They sprang back into place.
“What are we ordering for dinner?”
“She was flustered at the store earlier.”
Michelle’s eyes danced between us.
“Told the guy she had a boyfriend. He didn’t seem to care.”
She stared at me. “He wants you bad, girl.” Michelle smiled.
Chrissy leaned over her drink. “Michelle, a couple of weeks ago I caught our friend here.” She pointed her thumb in my direction before continuing. “She was hovered over the computer, scrolling through pics of her client.”
“You two know I get a glimpse of everyone before they arrive.”
“Girl, who you fooling? It definitely ain’t me. Kara, I watched you smirk at the screen several times before I glanced over your shoulder, and saw the cluster of pics you stashed in a folder labeled ‘research’.”
I rolled my eyes. “What do you want me to say? So what, I find him attractive?” I sucked down the remaining contents in my glass.
“He likes you, too. But I think his goal is to get you in his bed before he leaves. That will probably make his trip complete.”
“Chrissy, I don’t know. I’m not saying he doesn’t want to have sex with her. But he may want more.”
“Where is he from again?” Chrissy stared at me.
“L.A.”
She threw her head back in laughter. “Yeah, he won’t leave sunny So-Cal for you.”
Her words stung, but she was right. I knew a future with Collin was bleak. We barely knew each other and got under each other’s skin already.
“Ready for another round of drinks, ladies?” Shelly appeared. She was one of the four waitresses who worked at the bar.
Her long dark hair laid in a single braid over her shoulder.
“Yes, we’ll take another round and I’ll have butterfly shrimp and a house salad.”
Chrissy and Michelle rambled off their orders.
“I’ll return shortly with your meals.” Shelly darted into the kitchen.
CHAPTER THREE
KARA
This bar was our little piece of heaven. My friends and I have frequented this place since we were eighteen. We weren’t old enough to drink, but we could play pool and darts. The rancid smell of cigarette smoke encased our hair and clothes by the end of the night. Still the best place in town to listen to music and talk trash. I peeked across the room. Dressed in a camel-colored sweater, jeans, and expensive rugged boots, Collin fit in. Well, in an upscale sort