Yep. I blurted that right out there like a preteen talking to her first crush. Considering the attraction singing in my veins, that wasn't very far from the truth.
The corner of Ben's mouth lifted. "Thank you. I was just thinking the same thing about you."
Ah, shit. I could feel the heat rising in my neck toward my face. Yep, I was just about to blush. It wouldn't be a pretty pink flush like Colette's. Oh no, it would look more as though I'd just been boiled like a lobster and my skin would be just as hot. I could practically feel the rush of heated blood as it crept up from my chest all the way to my forehead.
"Um, thanks."
Before I could make things worse by telling him how great he smelled or how much I liked his short, messy brown hair, Cameron, my most favorite bestest friend in the entire world, saved my bacon by calling my name.
"Hey, Sierra! I have to get a move on. I need to drop by the house before we go to the shop."
Ben released me when I stepped back but asked, "Will you have dinner with me this week?"
I froze. "Uh—" I wanted to say yes in the worst way but a little voice that sounded suspiciously like my ex whispered You get off on hurting men. You're distant and cold.
"Sierra?" Ben prompted.
"I don't think it would be a good idea," I blurted. And there I went, shooting off my mouth again. I inhaled sharply. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so blunt. I think I would enjoy spending time with you but I'm only here for a month and a half. I don't think it would be wise to get involved."
Ben nodded. "I appreciate your honesty."
Crazily enough, it sounded as though he was sincere.
"But it doesn't have to be that complicated," he continued. "We could have some fun, keep it casual."
I blinked. That was actually a...tempting offer. If he was talking about what I thought he was. I liked sex and I was definitely beginning to miss it. And maybe this would help me get out of this funk I'd been in ever since Brian and I broke up.
"Sierra!" Cam called, her voice getting closer.
I opened my mouth to tell him I'd think about it and ask for his number but all that came out was a squeak.
I cleared my throat but before I could try to speak again, Ben said, "Just think about it. Cam's got my number. Just let me know what you decide."
He stepped out of the room, heading down the hall toward the back of the house. A few seconds later, Cam appeared from the opposite direction and stopped in the doorway.
"Hey, didn't you hear me calling you?" she asked.
I shook my head. "Sorry, I was getting the washer started and it must have drowned out the sound of your voice."
"Oh. Look, I'm sorry but I have to go home and change before I head to Crave. My clothes aren't going to be dry in time so we need to head out."
"No problem," I said.
And boy, was I sincere. This way I could avoid Colette's interrogation. For now.
I was also pretty sure I'd be thinking about Ben's offer until the wee hours of the morning.
I hate it when I'm right.
2
Sometimes a girl needs to drink by herself.
Unfortunately, I didn't want to be completely alone. Yes, I know that's a conflicting statement, but it's true.
Cam was working and I'd promised her dinner, so I compromised by picking up something from the diner and leaving it in the fridge at her house. I'd also written a note in huge block letters on the dry erase board hanging on the kitchen wall. She would see it as soon as she walked in. Was it a chickenshit way to go about it? Definitely, but I needed to stew, not talk, which was exactly what I would wind up doing if I was there when Cam got home from work.
That was how I ended up at The Red Boot on a Sunday night, just a few hours after the late lunch with Cam's family. Despite the name, it wasn't so much a honkytonk as a town watering hole. Which explained why they were open on a Sunday.
There was a stage, but tonight it was empty and the jukebox was playing an eclectic mix of country music and rock from the '70s