Page 20 of Fate Will Bring You Home

“You ladies are sassy. I like it.” He put his arm over the back of the booth behind me, which made me shiver a little. “What are you ladies getting into tonight? Are you getting up there to sing?” I sipped my drink so Callie would answer.

“Nope. I suck, and she’s too chicken to sing without her guitar.”

I practically spit out my drink. I was so embarrassed. I swallowed hard. “Callie!”

“What? That’s why you won’t get up there, isn’t it?” she challenged.

He smiled and turned his head. “You scared? Or do you suck too?” I caught the innuendo.

I cleared my throat. “I just don’t want to sing tonight, that’s all. I’m enjoying the music and food.”

He kept that sexy ass smirk on his face, and I was sure he knew I was lying, but he didn’t push any further. “What are you up to tonight?” I asked, trying to get the subject off me.

“I’m just here with some buddies, blowing off steam.” He used his beer bottle to motion over to the bar where they were sitting. “We usually sit at the bar, but I like this seat a lot better. I think I may want to sit here all night.”

“Is that so?” Callie questioned.

He just smiled and sipped his beer. “So, what are you ladies doing in town? Here for business or pleasure?”

“How do you know we don’t live here?” I asked.

“I would know if a pretty girl like you lived here, darlin’.” I blushed. This man is making me do that a lot today. Luckily it’s dark in here, so he probably can’t see it.

“How could you possibly know every girl in this town?”

“I would just know.” He smiled again. I had to look away and sip my drink. I looked over and Callie was smiling from ear to ear.

“Maybe you should get back to your friends,” I said without looking at him.

“They are fine. I see them all the time.” He waved to his friends at the bar, and they nodded back. His friend gave him a look kind of like the one Callie gave me, Lincoln gave a thumbs up back, then turned his attention back to me. “Plus, wouldn’t you miss me too much if I left?”

He is trying hard to get his flirt on, but I still don’t know if this man is related to me, so I need to do some recon. I ignored the question and changed the subject again.

“How is it that you know August?” He looked surprised that I didn’t respond to the flirty banter. He sat up a little straighter and removed his arm from behind me.

“He’s my dad.” My heart sank. “Not biologically, but he’s the closest thing. He and my mom became my foster parents when I was fourteen, and I just never left. I guess you could say I’m their son without the paper to say so.”

Oh, thank you, Jesus, there is a god.

“That’s awesome,” Callie said. Her smile was getting even more prominent. She gave me a nudge under the table and then stood. “I’m going to head to the bathroom.”

“Oh, Cal, I can come with you.” I tried to get up, but she pushed my shoulder down.

“It’s all right. I’ll be fine.”

I know damn well she doesn’t have to use the bathroom.

He moved to the other side of the booth as soon as we could no longer see Callie. He leaned in looking me up and down with his gaze lingering on my lips.

“So, clearly, she’s taken. What about you?”

At that moment, a beautiful redhead stopped at our table. I immediately started having a flashback to when I caught Max cheating. This girl was beautiful, but also knew it, which was annoying already.

“Linky poo! I didn’t know you would be here tonight.” She leaned down and gave him a two-cheek kiss. I tried my hardest not to react with an eye roll, but I’m one of those people whose face tells you what I'm thinking. “Come sit with us outside. Some of us are going to sit by the bonfire for a while. You can warm me up a little.”

She winked at him, and I raised my eyebrows. Could she be more desperately obvious? She was acting like she didn’t even see me. Not that I’m anything to him, but still.

Lincoln turned toward me. “Kayla, this is Aubrey; we met today at the music shop. She’s staying in town for a bit.”

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