Page 14 of Love By a Landslide

As if she heard his query, she paused and looked directly at Jonathan. Heat bloomed in his chest and wound its way up his cheeks.

Caught red-handed.

Or rather, red-faced. His blush likely put Zac’s ridiculous sunburn to shame.

Briefly startled, the woman composed herself and gave him a smile and gentle nod, and then looked down to her menu.

Chapter seven

Jonathan

“Earth to Jonathan.” Frankie’s chirpy voice and finger snap broke him from his trance.

Half irritated and half grateful for his little sister’s interruption, Jonathan shook his head, trying to dislodge the new arrival from his mind. “Sorry, got distracted for a moment.”

The entire group turned overtly to see what had captured his attention. Or rather,whohad captured it. Beer glasses dropped onto the table, and metal chair legs scraped jarringly against the concrete floor as his friends swiveled in their seats to get a better look. Jonathan rolled his eyes and rubbed a hand down his face. “Way to go, guys. Super subtle.”

“Ooooh. Pretty lady.” Kristen turned back to Jonathan, wiggling her eyebrows. “I approve. Go talk to her.” She flicked her hand, dismissing him from the table.

“Yeah. She’s cute,” Frankie agreed with a broad grin.

“Ladies, ladies. Keep it down. We don’t want to scare her off before Johnny has a chance to make a play,” Zac joked, salivating at the mystery woman as though she was a walking steak and he was a cartoon wolf.

“You’re all the worst,” Jonathan said, chuckling despite himself. He grabbed the dwindling pitcher of beer and topped off the abandoned pint glasses sitting on the table. Best to ignore the group of meddlesome pains-in-his-ass who he called friends.

“I think the consensus is that you should go talk to her. She’sby herselfandhas glanced your way at least twice since sitting down,” Kristen stated, quite matter-of-factly.

“She’s probably waiting for someone. Besides, I am here withyouguys,” Jonathan reminded his friends.

“Well, if you aren’t going to talk to her, I’ll introduce myself and invite her over,” Zac purred as he slid his chair back. Jonathan sat back and crossed his arms, calling his friend’s bluff. They stared each other down for a moment, a game of chicken entirely in play. Zac stood.

With a very uncharacteristic tone, Jonathan hopped up and barked, “Sit.” Zac returned to his chair, a feisty smirk dancing across his lips.

Not a physically aggressive man, Jonathan still entertained the urge to smack the smugness right off his friend’s broiled face. Knowing the sting would be magnified due to the SPF negligence increased the temptation.

Ugh. I don’t have time for this.

“Fine, if I go say hello,will you get off my back?”

They all nodded emphatically.

“Ok, then.” Jonathan threw back the last gulp of beer and slammed down the glass. Sliding back his chair, he rose to his feet and strode across the room. Knowing his friends, they were all shamelessly watching him as he walked toward the mystery woman. She glanced up. Surprise painted across her face along with something else. Trepidation? The sparkle of her evergreen eyes offset the rosy glow spreading across her cheeks. She was nervous. Why did that make him feel a little giddy?

No, that’s guilt.

He feltguiltythat he was using her as a pawn in his cleverly evasive trick. Or maybe it was from knowingly leaving her open for Zac to swoop in and bother her. Jonathan weaved purposefully around tables, continuing in her direction. At thelast moment, he veered left toward the exit. Turning at the door, he gave his friends a little wave accompanied by anI-got-yougrin and left the tavern.

Lucy

Lucy strolled back to the Wilhelm Haus Inn. The sun had fully set an hour ago. The darkened sky shrouded above like a black hood pulled up over the town. Only pinpricks of light speckled the dome overhead, stars in a spray of sparkling glitter. The streetlamps lit her way back while other tourists scurried from one restaurant to another. Most of the shops had closed for the night, only the establishments serving beer and other libations remained open. Shouts of laughter and merriment traveled out of every beer garden. And for a little town, there were a lot of beer gardens. Front Street was beyond charming this time of night. Despite it being June, the evening was still brisk. She pulled her jacket tighter around her to ward off the unseasonable chill hanging in the air.

Lucy patted a hand on her stomach; Gunther hadn’t steered her wrong. The Rooftop Tavern made a damn fine burger. The atmosphere of the bar was lively without being raucous and quaint without being a hole-in-the-wall. It was just what she needed for her first night in Leavenworth.

The scenery wasn’t too bad either. Lucy thought about the attractive guy wearing flannel sitting at the opposite end of the room. Tall, dark blond, clearly the outdoorsy sort. Just her type. Typically, she didn’t have a type, but after dating someone like Brodan, she thought an overcorrect was in order. For a momentthere, it seemed like the mountain man was coming over to talk to her until he changed directions and exited through the door. She shrugged; she would have chatted with him, sure, but with her early morning, there was no way she’d be willing to stay out late.

Oh, god, I sound old.

Either way, the food, the atmosphere, and theviewwere an excellent start to her soul-searching vacation.

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