Page 11 of Sunkissed Colorado

Oh, shit. Had I already slept with her before?

Or maybe I’d hooked up with her best friend or sister or something, and she didn’t approve. Whatever the answer, I trulydidn’t recognize her, though I racked my brain for some trace of her in my memory.

There wasn’t much I could do except take the blame and shrug it off. Something I had no problem doing. When I screwed up, I was man enough to admit it.

“I guess I don’t,” I said apologetically. “Which I find shocking. Wouldn’t think I could forget someone like you.”

“You think you’re charming, don’t you?”

“I try to be. Some people think I am.”

“They must be easy to impress.”

Oof. We had a live one here.

“I take it you’re not?” I asked.

“Not so much.”

Tapping the menu on my palm, I backed away a few steps before turning away.

While I helped other customers and made her drink, I was thinking. Pondering. Trying to figure out where I might have met this woman.

She was in her early thirties or so. Sexy. Smart, at least from what I could tell so far. Playing hard to get, a favorite game of mine.

Obviously not a local. Otherwise I’d have seen her around.

After a few minutes, I returned and set her drink in front of her. “Okay, I must know you from somewhere, but it’s not coming to me. Any hints?”

“Nope.”

I groaned. “This mystery is going to bug me.”

She leaned forward, elbows on the bar top. “Bet you a hundred bucks you can’t guess it.”

“A hundred? Steep. But you’re on.” I rubbed my jaw, which was rough from my five o’clock shadow. “Are you a friend of my sister? Grace?”

The brunette shook her head, that little smirk firmly in place.

“Did I meet you outside Hart County?”

“No, it was here in SilverRidge.”

“What year?”

“I’m not just going to hand you the answer.” She sipped her vodka soda. “You’re never going to get it.”

My jaw clenched. This was going to drive me crazy. I had to know.

After several more rounds of guessing, I came back around to the obvious. Tugging off my ball cap, I brushed back my hair and fit the cap back into place. “Did we, uh…” I gestured between us. “Did we hook up at some point?”

If we really had slept together and I’d forgotten her, it would be embarrassing.

But her reaction was even worse. She barked a laugh, making a few other heads at the bar turn. I couldn’t help but detect a hint of mockery in her expression. Maybe more than a hint.

“Absolutely not. I’ve never slept with you, O’Neal, nor would I.”

“Okay. Sheesh.”