“Yeah, I guess you could say that. I haven’t had much time to go sightseeing with moving and getting Gracie situated and started with school then starting a new job.”
“How about I show you around? There’s a nice little restaurant we could go to dinner.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, but thank you.”
“Why not?”
“Jonah, you seem like a nice guy and all-”
“There’s something here. And I get that you’ve been through some things and you might not be able to see it yet, but there’s something between us. Can’t you feel it?”
“Jonah, please leave it alone. Trust me, you don’t want to date me.”
“Why is that?”
“I just got out of a messy divorce. It's not like I’m some single woman you can whisk away and make all of her dreams come true. I'm complicated. I have baggage.”
Jonah looks upset but doesn’t say another word while I finish up the deposit. “Have a nice day,” I say, handing Jonah his receipt and empty envelope.
Jonah nods and starts to walk away, then turns around and comes back to my station. “Maddie there’s something you need to know about me. I don’t give up on the things that I want.”
“You don’t?”
“No.”
“And what is it that you want Jonah?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You,” he says, then walks out of the bank.
As soon as he’s out the door the girls at the other teller stations all let out a sigh. A few of them come up to me throughout the day and tell me how cute Jonah is. How lucky anyone would be to get a date with him since he’s one of the most eligible bachelors in town.
They’re right, any girl would be lucky to be with him. From what I know at least, but then again it’s hard to really know somebody. I probably just dodged a bullet. I tell myself that, but it doesn’t make me feel any better because what I really wanted was to say yes. I wonder what would’ve happened if I did? I’m not even in the right frame of mind to start dating again, it’s too soon. Isn’t it?
Chapter Three
Jonah
It’s beentwo weeks since I met Maddie and Gracie at Winterfest. Two weeks of me constantly thinking about them, wondering what they’re up to if they need anything. It’s more than just an attraction. This is something on a completely different level. I’ve even started going into town a lot more than I usually do, hoping to run into her, and it’s worked. Crazily enough I’ve seen her at the grocery store and each time I do I make it a point to talk to her and ask her if she’s changed her mind about me showing her around town, and each time she tells me no. I swear she wants to say yes. I just want to wrap her in my arms and hold her, hell, just be there for her. But she won’t let me, not yet. I’m not giving up. I know Maddie is supposed to be mine and one day soon she will be.
It’s Saturday night and I’m meeting my friends for a game of pool at Mulligan’s bar to get my mind off of the beauty that I can’t get out of my head. What do I need to do to get her to give us a chance? I know she likes me and wants to give us a chance, but there’s something holding her back.
My buddy Tucker is already at the bar when I walk in, so I order a beer for myself and sit down next to him. “How’s it going man?”
“I can’t complain,” Tucker says before downing his beer and lifting his empty glass for the bartender to see. He’s a great guy, if not a little lonely.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice my dark-haired beauty sitting at the bar next to her sister Liz sipping on some fruity girly drink, looking about as out of place as ever. She looks even sexier than the last time I saw her, wearing a skintight black long sleeve T-shirt that molds to her perfectly pert breasts showing a small amount of cleavage. I’m tempted to walk over there and pull her shirt down to shove my face between her tits, while at the same time wanting to get her out of this bar so no one can look at her the way I am.
I do neither of those things. Instead, I play it cool for the time being, while keeping my eyes on her.
“Ready for that game, Tucker?” I ask, clapping my hand on his back.
“You betcha,” he smiles and stands from the barstool he was sitting on.
As soon as I stand, Maddie’s eyes connect with mine, but she quickly looks away as if she wishes she wouldn’t have seen me. I’m beginning to believe she isn’t interested in me and my attention is starting to piss her off. It wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t half in love with her already. Then I see her look at me out of the corner of her eye and bite down on her bottom lip before looking back at her sister. I smile, maybe I’m affecting her more than I thought.
Tucker and I head over to the pool table and play around while I constantly keep my eyes trained on Maddie. For the most part, the guys in here tonight have left the girls alone, which I’m thankful for. I’ve seen a few guys go up to them and try their hand but they leave as soon as the girls dismiss them. As the night goes on a few of my friends trickle into the bar and I get distracted talking and laughing with them. It's been a while since I’ve let loose and I have to say it feels good.
“Friend you might want to have a look over there,” Tucker says, nodding his head in the girl's direction.