Page 7 of About Last Night

“I’m an outdoor guide. That kind of dirtbag.”

“I knew what you meant. But the expression on your face when you thought I didn’t was priceless.”

Toni relaxes and smiles. “Well, you did make the comment about how many women I pick up.”

I wave my hand. “I don’t judge that. I haven’t always been in a relationship, you know. How did you get into guiding?”

“I grew up in the mountains. Skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer. I started guiding when I was young, with my dad. Eventually I led my own tours. I’ve been doing it ever since. I love being outside, which is why I’ve resisted taking over from my parents. It’s a bunch of paperwork and I’m going to hate it, but my family thinks it’s time I join the family business properly. And Mom and Dad want to transition from semi-retired to fully retired.” Toni shrugs. “I’ll still be a guide, but only as a fill-in, and there is always the weekend.”

“Good point.”

“I’m definitely not going to be a workaholic like my sister. Are you a workaholic?”

“Sometimes it comes with the job, unfortunately. That’s why my sister and I decided to start our own consultancy business, so we could take the jobs we wanted, for companies we believe in, and if we want to take a month off between projects, we can.”

“Good for you.” Toni drubs her fingers on the table. “Do you want to talk about it? Your ex and singing and all that? I did come here to talk, to be an ear if you need one, not to pick you up.”

“How disappointing,” I say, staring straight into Toni’s hypnotic blue eyes.

“I wouldn’t object if it led to that, of course,” she clarifies.

“Hmm,” I say again. “Your eyes are beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She smiles politely, as if she’s heard this compliment a thousand times before, and she probably has, but I mean my God. Her eyes are a clear, bright blue and framed by long, dark eyelashes and dark brows. With her olive skin, dark curly hair, and strong jaw, Toni is nothing short of striking. Complimenting her eyes is low-hanging fruit, I know, but I can’t very well tell her I want to trace the muscles in her forearm with the tip of my tongue, now, can I?

No, really. Could I tell her that?

No. I used up my reserve of courage on that stage tonight, and implying I wanted to go down on her.

I clear my throat. “I heard Alanis Morissette on the radio and I remembered listening to her album when it first came out, all that rage and anger on full display, with no apologies. I remembered how empowered I felt listening to it and I wondered where my empowerment went. In my personal life, at least. I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of months, but never thought I’d get the courage.”

“Well, you sure picked a good night for it. Go big or go home.”

I chuckle and watch as I twist my mug around on the table. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

Toni hums noncommittally.

“What?” I asked.

“Are you sure Shae won’t be waiting at home to beg you to take her back?”

“She’s already texted me. Somehow taking credit for how well I did on stage tonight. I ignored it. She’ll arrive home to a half-empty apartment. My sister and four moonlighting firemen just moved my stuff out and into our new place.”

“So you weren’t waffling for those two months, you were planning.”

I grin and shrug one shoulder before sipping my coffee.

“My sister would totally do that, too.”

“Oh, Willa wants to do much more than humiliate Shae. She wants to punch her in the face.”

“Could she?”

I laugh. “She’s scrappy and got the attitude to match, so yeah, probably.”

“She sounds awesome.”

“She would agree. So do I. Are you close with your sister?”

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