Page 21 of Outside The Wire

“That’s one example.”

I shoved past her and continued my morning. “That’s exactly what you asked for. He also paid for my dinner.”

“As any good stalker should.”

“And he was sweet and kind. There were no weird vibes from him.”

“Again, anyone can be sweet and kind if they want to get something.”

I stopped walking and spun around suddenly to face her. She came up short, nearly crashing into me. “I almost threw a milkshake in his face.”

“Why?”

“Because he had on a wedding ring.”

“That cheating bastard!”

“He had two wedding rings. One was around his neck.”

“Oh.” Then her eyes widened and she understood. “Oh.”

“So, you get why I don’t think he’s a stalker.”

“Well…it’s less likely,” she frowned, gnawing at her lip.

“Completely unlikely.”

“But that doesn’t mean he gets off the hook from an interrogation from me.”

“I would expect nothing less,” I grinned. “Now, can we finish getting the shop ready?”

She eyed me curiously. “Is this just because you want to bask in the glory of your night for a few more minutes in private?”

“Maybe,” I grinned.

“Fine, but when we’re done opening up, I want details.”

I smiled wide at her and then rushed off to finish getting ready for the day. Images of Asher’s dark hair and mysterious eyes floated through my mind as I went about my morning. It seemed like no matter how I tried to stop thinking about him, I was stuck in that never-ending loop of daydreaming about the man. I couldn’t help it. He snuck up on me and caught me by complete surprise. He was handsome and charming and totally real with me.

The last thing I did was flip the sign on the door. We still had twenty minutes before we opened, but if I didn’t do it now,I would forget and potentially turn people away. I rushed over to the counter and plopped down on the stool right as Noelle skidded to a stop in front of me, panting like she’d run a marathon.

“Okay, tell me everything.”

“Well, he’s a mechanic?—”

“Ooh, I love mechanics. So sexy.”

“I know, right? And he’s got longer hair. Like, maybe down to his cheekbones.”

“Dark or light?”

“Dark. Nearly black. Silky,” I sighed. “So freaking beautiful. And a scruffy jaw. But not ugly scruffy. He’s got a beautiful face. Supremely beautiful. And his smile…” I grinned just thinking about it. “Amazing. Just so, so beautiful.”

“Yeah, I get it,” she rolled her eyes. “Everything about him is amazing. What else?”

“I don’t know,” I said, unable to hold back my smile. “He was funny and real. He was charming, but not cocky. We just ate dinner and talked. He was genuinely nice.”

She was smiling back at me, a dreamy look on her face as if she was sitting right beside me in that restaurant, drooling over him. “And what about the whole dead wife thing? Did he seem heartbroken over her?”

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