Page 15 of Nate

He touched his hat, then walked toward the cash register. He smiled when he saw Rissa returning with a bag. She set it on the counter, and Nate handed her cash. He waved away the change.

“How’s that little boy of yours?”

Rissa smiled. “He’s wonderful and being so spoiled by his daddy.”

Nate chuckled. “I bet. Have a good day.”

“You too.”

Nate nodded and without looking at Markie, he left the diner, walked toward his truck, then drove back to the ranch.

Chapter Three

Markie watched him walk out the door without even a backward glance. She should have apologized but he still came across too cocky for her liking.

“Here you go, Markie. Enjoy,” Deidra said as she set her salad in front of her.

She picked up the Ranch dressing, poured it on the salad, then ate. She loved the meal, but it could have been sawdust for all she knew. Nate hated her now and who could blame him. She had jumped to conclusions about him, but he had an air about him that just shouted, ‘look at me, I’m gorgeous!’ She snorted out a laugh and when Rissa looked at her with a frown, she shook her head.

Markie knew she wasn’t being fair, but Jarrett came across the same way and she despised that man.

The first time she met him was right after he came to dinner with her father. She’d thought he was nice, but that sure changed when he hugged her and slid his hands down her back. She stepped back from him before he could touch her inappropriately. When she looked at him, he winked, and she felt sick knowing what type of man her mother had married. Any time after that, he was constantly trying to touch her, but her mother said he was just being friendly. He was waytoofriendly for Markie.

She’d made it clear, several times, that he needed to keep his hands to himself, or she’d tell her mother. He laughed and told her to go ahead, because he knew her mother would believe him over her. And she had.

When the bell jingled above the door, she glanced over and smiled when she saw Sydney enter.

“Hey, I didn’t know you were coming here for lunch, we could have met up,” Markie said.

“Well, we kind of did,” Sydney said with a laugh, then gave Deidra her order.

“True.” Markie sighed. “You just missed Nate.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

“I think I ran him off.”

“Why do you think that?”

Markie explained what had happened and Sydney shook her head.

“Markie, you have got to stop judging him. He’s a great guy.”

“I didn’t judge him. I sat beside him, and I was going to tell him how sorry I was, but he told Rissa to pack his lunch up to-go.”

“Boy, you really botched it up with him.” Sydney smiled when Deidra placed her salad on the counter. “Thanks, Deidra.”

“I suppose I did. But he’s just so… cocky.” Markie sighed.

Sydney turned on the stool to look at her.

“You’re confusing cocky with confident. He knows his abilities and strengths. He accepts his flaws, and feels comfortable being himself. Cocky is him thinking highly of himself and coming across as boastful or smug.He’s not like that at all. Everyone likes him. Well, everyone but you. Even his ex-wife, and her husband are friends with him.”

“You know him better than I do.”

“Yes, and you jumped to conclusions about him. Shame on you, Markie.”

Markie sighed. “You’re right. If I ever see him again, I’ll apologize.”

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