boy who loved the outdoors and never wanted to cause trouble.
Unlike his father.
Erika let out a sigh as she watched a couple walk into the bar. They took a seat at the other end of the bar and immediately grabbed a Happy Hour menu. They looked so happy, so in love.
She thought back to Scott’s dad and wondered if she’d truly been in love, even back then. It certainly wasn’t reciprocal if she had been.
The woman at the bar caught Erika’s gaze and nodded, so Erika quickly went over to take their food and drink orders. It wasn’t until she’d gotten their drinks delivered and was wiping down the bar that she noticed the man by the window had left. Her heart sank a little before relief filled her. She didn’t need to fall for any one-liners.
Erika quickly made her way over to the table and grabbed the bill folio that Daisy had dropped off. He’d left a crisp hundred-dollar bill for only a few items that didn’t even total twenty. She shook her head and smiled at Daisy. Whatever she said to him must have made quite the impression.
Erika wiped down the table and brought the bill to the register, where Daisy hid a yawn.
“You definitely made a fan,” I whispered, showing her the hundred.
Daisy’s eyes widened. “Holy smokes.”
“You must teach me your technique,” Erika teased, and Daisy blushed.
“I don’t think you’d like it very much.” Daisy's cheeks reddened even more.
Erika grinned. “What I don’t know won’t hurt me.”
“Good.” Daisy gave a quick nod and started toward the latest customers who took a seat across the room. “Because he asked when you work next.”
Erika’s mouth dropped, and she started to say something but nothing came to mind.
She’d barely said a word to the man.
Should she be flattered or worried?
She twisted her mouth into a scowl as she glanced at the clock. She’d managed to work right through her shift without her break, and now it was time to meet Scott at school. He was presenting on his family tree and was beyond nervous about it since not much was known about his dad’s side.
Erika hated assignments like the one Scott had. They seemed to come up every year, and every year, she prayed that Scott wouldn’t ask too many questions about his dad. Her worry wasn’t because she didn’t want Scott to know who he was. Erika’s worry stemmed from the fact that his father didn’t want him and didn’t want her. She’d always tried to protect him from all of that pain.
Daisy walked over and waved out the door. “Aren’t you going to be late?”
“Probably.” Erika smiled. “Are you just trying to get rid of me so I don’t come unglued when I let myself think about what you did to get that money?”
“Maybe.” She beamed, and Erika let out a little groan. “You’re just lucky I like you.”
“I thought you loved me,” Daisy teased.
Erika gave her a quick hug and walked out of the bar through the resort.
Drew North waved from the lobby and stepped toward her as she grinned and managed to crash right into the science experiment from earlier. Her purse fell to the ground with a thud, and her hands moved to his chest to steady herself.
When she glanced up at the stranger, her heart skipped a beat the moment his eyes connected with hers.
She knew she was in trouble, so she did what any woman would do.
Erika scowled at him and bent down to pick up her purse with the contents that had spilled all over the place.
The man was immediately by her side as she attempted to gather her loose makeup, credit cards, and change.
“I’m so sorry.” The gruffness in his voice made Erika glance at him as he handed her a stack of cards.
She laughed and shook her head. “It wasn’t you. I fully blame my boss for distracting me.”
Erika stood, stuffing everything into her purse and glancing at the time on her phone.
“I’m sorry. If you’ll excuse me, I’m late for an appointment.” She cleared her throat and attempted to step around him.
“Let me make it up to you. I’d love to buy you a drink later.”
Chapter Two
When Slade Tenison saw the bartender behind the counter, he’d almost forgotten why he was foolishly sitting in the bar like a buffoon, hopelessly waiting for someone to stand him up.
Again.
But Slade was a romantic at heart, and when his old high school girlfriend started messaging him on Facebook, he got all nostalgic,