Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
I quickly realized I was clenching my hands into tight fists. I slowly relaxed them as I watched Ensley walk toward Doug. “Dinner sounds good.” She glanced back at me. “I’m assuming you’re going to the hospital?”
“I was, yes.”
She smiled again, but it didn’t reach her eyes this time. “Perfect, then I can go after dinner with Doug and hopefully avoid being in the same room with you.”
Doug’s brows shot up, but he remained silent.
“I don’t think we’re going to be able to avoid each other for the next few days, Pippa.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to call me that ever again. It’s Ensley. And you clearly don’t know me very well. Then again, how could you, since you’ve been gone for ten years? Besides, avoiding seems to be your specialty, doesn’t it?”
I rubbed at the instant ache in my neck. I hadn’t been prepared for what it was going to be like to run into Ensley. I knew I’d see her soon enough if I was moving back home…just not on my first day.
Without saying another word, she wrapped her arm around Doug’s, and they headed toward the exit.
Interestingly enough, all the years I’d spent regretting my decision to leave were nothing compared to the pain I felt watching Ensley walk away from me with another man.
Ensley
My heart was beating so loudly, I was positive Doug could hear it. He’d placed his hand on my lower back and guided me over to his truck. When he opened the passenger door, I practically threw myself into the cab.
Once Doug was in the truck with me, he started it, then glanced over. “Are you okay?”
I turned and looked at him. He had concern written all over his face.
Why, oh why, can’t I be in love with him? Why?
If I opened my mouth to speak, I was positive I would start crying, so I simply nodded.
“I know a place we can go. It’s low-key, but they have the best pizza and local beer.”
“Yes, beer. That sounds good.”
We drove to a little dive pizza place on the other side of town from the hotel. Neither of us spoke on the way there, which I was glad about. I needed a few minutes to gather my wits. First from seeing Colt—again—and then after the damn elevator stopping like that. I was legit about to freak out.
Once we got inside Lou’s Pizza, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was.
“I’ve never been here before.”
Doug chuckled. “Probably because it looks like a hole in the wall. This place is Granby’s best-kept secret. The tourists haven’t even stumbled on it, and the locals keep it pretty close to their chests.”
We slid into a booth, and a waitress was right there with two menus.
“What can I get you to drink?” she asked with a bright, friendly smile.
“Do you have whiskey?” I asked.
She laughed—then quickly said, “Oh, you’re serious.”
I nodded.
“Um, no, we just have beer.”
“I’ll take whatever’s your most popular craft beer.”
Doug smiled at the waitress. “I’ll have the same.”
“Sure thing. I’ll let you look at the menu while I go get these.”
Once she walked off, I sat back in the booth. The tightness in my chest had been present ever since I’d turned to see Colt in Jacob’s hospital room, and it hadn’t eased up at all.
“I have to ask again. Are you okay, Ensley?”
I could feel the damn tears pricking the back of my eyes. I swore I would never cry for Colt Owens again, but here I was, on the verge of doing just that.
Clearing my throat, I whispered, “Not really.”
“I take it you had no idea he’d be here.”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure why I thought he wouldn’t. It’s his father. I still wasn’t prepared to see him, though.” Glancing at the menu, I drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out before asking, “So, what’s good here?”
“If you’re in the mood for pizza, the spelunker is my favorite. Their fettuccine alfredo is my favorite dish overall, though.”
My stomach was too upset for something heavy, even if the alfredo sounded amazing.
“As good as fettuccine sounds, I think my stomach needs something lighter.”
Doug went back to looking at the menu.
Our waitress returned with the beer and two waters.
“Are we ready to order?”
Doug looked at me, and I nodded. “I’m ready.”
“I’ll have the spelunker, small.”
“No changes?”
He flashed her a dazzling smile. “Nope, just as it comes.”
She winked at him, then looked at me. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll just have a house salad with the house dressing.”
“That’s all you want?” she asked.
Handing her the menu, I replied, “Yes, please. I’m not that hungry.”
Once she was gone, Doug reached across the table and took my hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Want to talk about it?”
I dropped my gaze to our hands. Why didn’t I feel anything? A spark. A tingling feeling. My stomach swooning at his touch?