Page 10 of A Little More

“I’ve been eating my Wheaties,” he said.

She gave his arm a squeeze. “Or Ms. Peggy’s cooking and working out.”

“Just working on the farm. You look great.” And she did. Some people handled city living better than others. He’d lost twenty pounds living in Jacksonville and had finally started to gain back some of the muscle mass that the city had sucked out of him.

“I’m just ready to come home.” She looked around the area. “I thought you were letting me meet your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” he snapped.

Juliana’s green eyes, identical to Cameron’s, widened. “Sorry.”

“It’s a business relationship.” Despite where his thoughts had taken him. “I thought you two would get along. She’s the architect that’s designing my store.” He took out his phone, checking for missed calls as he caught Juliana up on the progress of the store.

“There she is.” Nash rubbed a hand over his chin as Lexi, in her tidy business suit, waited for the light to change.

Juliana whistled low.

“She’s pretty. I know.”

“And the complete opposite of Catherine.” She bumped her shoulder against his. “Be sure to use your nice truck if you ever have to drive her around.”

“Too late.”

Lexi crossed the street, a polite smile in place as she shouldered her purse. “Hi.”

Exactly how to greet her felt off. Did they hug? Shake hands? “Hi,” he said, without doing anything and feeling stupid just the same.

Juliana took over. She held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Nash held back, letting them walk ahead and get to know each other. Lexi sent him three or four quick glances that kept him baited, waiting for the next one. His attraction had simmered, Lexi always in the back of his mind, since meeting her the first time. Tonight, each time their eyes met, it turned the heat up one more notch.

“How was work?” Nash asked as they sat down at their table at some fancy place he’d let Juliana pick out. She swore they had good food, even for the city.

“Fine,” Lexi said. “Did you get what you came to Atlanta for?”

“Yes. I came here for two reasons. I picked up a fuel pump for the tractor, and I got to see the two prettiest girls in Georgia.”

She snapped her focus to her menu.

Juliana grimaced. “Nash, uh, you know, Becky recommended this place…”

Nash glimpsed at the menu. Thirty-five dollars for a piece of chicken. Forty-two for a steak. Add a baked potato for an additional seven. He lowered his menu, staring at Juliana until she glanced up.

“Sorry.”

He shook his head. Leave it to Becky to send him to an expensive as hell restaurant.

Lexi folded her hands on the table. “So, Juliana, are you seeing anyone?”

“No. Dating is complicated for me.” She and Nash looked at each other for a few moments. He understood what she meant. Calling Juliana’s father, Hugh Campbell, a tyrant suited his personality. That was one reason Juliana had to waityearsbefore finishing her degree in Journalism.

“I’ve tried a few online dates since I started back at school.”

Lexi’s forehead creased. “Online dates?”

“You know. The websites you sign up for, and they match you with various men. Are you seeing anyone, Lexi?”

After a short pause, Lexi settled on “sort of” as an answer. Probably the amazingly boring Charlie. Piece of crap.

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