Page 50 of Love Deep

“Well, neither of us is seventeen.” I reach across and tuck a curl of his hair around his ear. “But you’re not so far off with the rest.”

He turns his head and places a kiss on my palm.

“You definitely want to go to Grizzly’s?” I ask.

“Have you had their wings?” He casts a glance over to me, like he thinks I might be insane.

I laugh. Looks like we’re going to Grizzly’s. “You know the entire town will be there.”

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“Have you had their wings?” I say, and he laughs. “I’m just saying, this town is pretty protective, so brace yourself ifyou think you’re not going to be given the side eye by a couple of people.”

“Will anyone challenge me to a duel?” he asks. “Ex-boyfriends?”

“My only ex is in Florida, so no need to worry about him.”

“He’s your only ex? You’ve been split up for how long?”

“Seven years.”

“Phew,” he says, turning what could be an awkward conversation into something that’s no big deal. “I’m really not in the mood for a duel.”

“Glad I could help out.”

We pull up in front of Grizzly’s. “Let’s go get us some wings. Then I vote we go find a place we can make out. Or if you wanted to come back to my place or…”

I try not to grin at the idea of going up to the Colorado Club with this beautiful man. What will I learn about him? I know it’s not his place, but I’m sure there will be signs of who he is around his room or lodge or whatever it’s called.

“Sounds good,” I say, reaching for the door handle.

Grizzly’s is busier than usual. When we walk in at least half the place cops a look at the two of us arriving together, but they do their best not to gawp. Some more successfully than others.

We grab the same booth I was sitting in when I first laid eyes on Fisher. He was with two friends and they’d rolled into town in an RV. “What happened to your friends who you came to visit with last time? You know, when you came in the RVs.”

“Oh, word gets around, doesn’t it?”

“Kinda. I mean, those RVs were the talk of the town, and I was in Grizzly’s the night you turned up to see Byron.”

He narrows his eyes at me across the table. “You were in here? How the fuck did I miss you?”

My heart flips, and I can’t wipe the smile from my face. I slide my leg against his under the table, and he reaches for my hand.

“Now what can I get you two lovebirds?” Eva asks. “You want a beer?” She looks at me.

“What are you having?” I ask Fisher.

“Wings,” he replies, and I laugh.

“You don’t want a drink?”

He shrugs. “Sure. As long as it comes with wings, I don’t mind.”

Eva nods at Fisher. “You got a hungry one there. Two portions of wings?” she asks.

“At least,” Fisher says.

Eva pats him on the arm. “Let’s start you off with two. You can always order more. And I’m going to grab you two beers, too.”