Page 17 of Break My Heart (The Haydon Falls #2)

‘But why? Like you said earlier, we’re competitors. I would think that would make you want to stay away from me, not have me over for dinner.’

‘I was just being friendly, that’s all. You’re new here and I’m guessing you haven’t had time to make friends yet.’

‘I’m friends with Aria. You met her. She’s on my staff. The girl with the reddish-blonde hair? We were friends back in Green Bay. She decided to come here and work for me when I told her I was opening G’s.’

‘You’ll still want to make friends in town.’

‘And you want to be one of those friends.’

‘Maybe.’ He smiles a little. ‘I don’t know you well enough to say.’

I can’t figure Sawyer out. I can’t tell if he likes me or if he’s just pretending to in order to get me to tell him stuff.

I’m used to guys being obvious when they like me, to the point that they’ll grab my ass or try to force a kiss on me.

Ryder never did that, which is how we ended up together.

We started out as friends and gradually became more.

‘I’ll take the cheeseburger.’ I hand Sawyer the menu.

‘Anything else?’

‘What do you have for beer?’

He smiles. ‘Was that you’re attempt at an insult?’

‘It was my attempt at a joke. But it was really bad.’ I get up. ‘I’m going to go downstairs and get myself an IPA. You want anything?’

‘I’ll get it. You wait here.’

‘You don’t trust me behind your bar?’

‘I don’t make my guests get their own beer.’ He walks to the door. ‘I’ll call in our food order on my way down.’

When he’s gone, I go over to the curtain and move it aside to see Sawyer’s bedroom. There’s a king-sized bed covered in a gray-and-black plaid comforter. The headboard is made of a dark wood that matches the nightstand. Looking to the side, I see a small door that leads to the bathroom.

‘That’s the bedroom,’ I hear Sawyer say.

I whip around, embarrassed he caught me snooping. ‘I was just looking for the bathroom.’

‘It’s just past the bed. Go ahead and use it.’

‘Actually, I don’t need to. I just wondered where it was.’ I walk up to him. ‘That was fast.’

‘This is yours.’ He hands me my beer. ‘Have you tried this one?’

‘No. I had the stout last time I was here.’ I take a sip. ‘It’s good.’

‘You really like it or are you just saying that?’

‘I really like it.’ I take another sip. It’s got a good flavor and isn’t overly bitter. It might even be better than my IPA. Out of all my beers, I struggle with IPAs the most. They tend to turn out too bitter.

‘The food will be here in about ten minutes.’

‘Where do you eat?’ I ask.

‘Downstairs, or I’ll just sit on the couch.’ He looks around. ‘I don’t have a table, do I? I just realized that.’

‘Am I the first person you’ve had over?’

‘For dinner? Yeah. If I’m having dinner with someone I usually go out.’

‘We can just eat on the couch, unless you’re worried about me spilling.’

‘You can spill all you want. I don’t care. Let’s go sit down.’

We go over to the couch and take a seat.

I sat on the end, but Sawyer took the middle.

It feels like we’re too close. Just being in his apartment feels too close.

I’m quickly realizing my attraction to him is far stronger than I thought.

I keep thinking about him in ways that I shouldn’t, and glancing down at his body and the curtain that hides his bed.

It could be because it’s been so long since I’ve been with a guy.

I broke up with Ryder last March and now it’s September.

Maybe these feelings have nothing to do with Sawyer and are more about me not having sex in months.

‘So how do you like Haydon Falls?’ Sawyer asks.

‘I’m not sure. I’ve been working so much I haven’t had much time to check out the town.’

‘There’s not much to see, but if you want, I could show you around.’

‘If you wouldn’t mind, then yeah. Maybe next week sometime.’

Why do I keep making plans to see him? Tonight should be it. I’ll find out what he’s up to, then leave him alone. I don’t have time to hang out with him. I have a business to run.

Speaking of that, my phone rings with a call from Aria. ‘I need to get this.’ I get up and walk toward the door as I answer the call. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘How’s your date?’ she asks, sounding excited.

‘It’s not a—’ I look over at Sawyer, who’s leaning back on the couch, drinking his beer. ‘That’s why you called?’ I whisper. ‘There’s nothing wrong at G’s?’

‘G’s is fine. What did he make for dinner?’

‘Aria, I can’t talk now. We’ll talk tomorrow.’

‘Okay, bye!’

I end the call and return to the couch.

‘Trouble at work?’ Sawyer asks.

‘No. It was Aria. She just had a question.’

‘About us?’ He smiles a little.

‘Why would she call about us?’

‘Because she’s wondering what this is, why we’re together on a Saturday night.’

‘I told her we were talking about work stuff.’

‘And she didn’t believe you.’

‘No, but that’s just Aria. She’s a romantic. She’s always trying to fix people up.’

‘You’re saying she thinks this is a date.’

‘Yes, but I told her it wasn’t like a million times.’ I gulp down my beer, hoping the alcohol kicks in quickly because this conversation is putting me on edge.

This isn’t supposed to be a date, so why does it feel like one? I should leave before this night ends up going somewhere I promised myself it wouldn’t. I can’t get involved with the guy who could destroy everything I’ve worked for.