Page 7 of Cupid's Shot

8

Did someone tell her I’m her secret admirer? I’m stunned by her directness and not stupid enough to fumble this opportunity, but I don’t want to start a feeding frenzy having all these women in line thinking they can also get my number. I slide my phone out of my back pocket, unlock it, and hand it to her.

“Take this back to your table,” I say, low so only she can hear. She grabs it, and I steal the cute sunglasses she’s wearing, putting them on. “Add yourself to my contacts. Don’t let anyone else see.”

“You don’t have to be so bossy about it,” she sasses, trying to grab her glasses back from me. I playfully grab her wrist, not letting her take them. She squints at me before winking, and I let go. Watching her walk back to her friends, I’m loving that little moment we just shared.

While smiling photo after photo, I’m internally in a state of panic. I still hadn’t thought of my next move.

Now what do I do?Ask her on a date? Tell her I was the one who bought her drinks?

“I’m so happy I took tonight off of work,” Anna, one of my regulars, says, placing her hand on my chest.

Getting felt up by the local ladies … it was bound to happen. I wrap an arm around her for the photo, unsure how else to respond. Anna’s smiling up at me, and I know she has a crush, but she’s barely twenty-two. Too young. I don’t want to lead her on.

“The guy in the corner,” I say, trying to shift the attention. “He’s been checking you out all night.”

She glances over. “Not my type.” Anna winks before walking away. I barely have time to exhale before another girl slides in for a photo.

Looking back at Sarah, I think sticking to my original plan is best—keep the secret admirer thing going a bit longer. Besides, I want to see what happens when the bar finally calms down. I endlessly replay her little rhyme of “so I can flirt with you.” It’s too cute. She’s always been so creative.

“My phone,” I say, approaching her table. Rachel and Emily’s eyes widen, and I hope they support this idea of me and Sarah testing the waters.

“Please,” she says, sassy as ever. “Please, give me my phone.”

I extend my hand. “Please.”

“I need these back,” she says, grabbing for the heart-shaped glasses.

“No way!” I chuckle, grabbing her hand mid reach, not letting her take them. “Cupid needs these.”

She laughs before saying, “Third person, really?”

I shrug, trying to play it cool. Glancing down, I spot a candy heart on the table that reads “UR Cute.”Perfect.I slide it across the table to her.

She bites her lip, smirking before she sticks her tongue out and puts the candy on it. She teasingly lets it rest there before pulling her tongue back into her mouth.

Fuck.She’s serious about flirting with me.

“You have my number now,” I manage, turned on and a bit rattled. “It's your move.” I wink and walk back to the bar.

9

“You better follow up on this,” Rachel says with a little arch in her brow.

“Only to get my glasses back,” I say, trying to bring my heartrate down from that little moment we just shared.

“Right ... the glasses.” Rachel rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t get in your head about your ‘I’d never date a townie rule’ nonsense.”

I take a deep breath and another look at Cupid. “One date.”

“One date!” Emily cheers.

Looking at my phone, it’s nearly 11:00 p.m. “I should go home. I have a Valentine’s wreath making class at my studio tomorrow.”

Hugging the girls goodbye, I’m more than happy I accomplished both of my goals for the evening: banter and a free drink.But why didn’t my secret admirer reveal himself?

10

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