Page 4 of Blind Date with a #MOUNTAINMAN

I shook my head in complete disbelief. But I found myself saying yes anyway. “As long as we grab a bottle of wine on the way there.”

CHAPTER THREE

Jace

Despite the coldexterior radiating off Iris, for some reason, I enjoyed her company. In the short twenty minutes since we’ve met, there was something about her that set off a spark inside me.

But I pushed it down and ignored it. This was nothing more than a fun evening together. A favor for my Nan. Besides, Iris would get some much-needed dating practice, not that I was any better at this whole dating thing, while I had fun trying to break down her walls. Kindness was such a killer after all.

“What do you do for work?” I asked Iris as we climbed into the taxi she hailed for us. I wasn’t much of a city boy, hell I wasn’t one at all, but she made it look so easy, flagging down the first taxi that took notice.

“I work as a marketing executive for a big company downtown. Long hours, but I love itandthe money.” Iris shifted in her seat, our bag of dinner in between us along with the bottle of wine we picked up.

“Money is great. I know all about working long hours. When you run your own business, sometimes it seems like you never get a day off.”

“You run your own business?” Iris raised an eyebrow in question.

I laughed. “Do I not look like a business type guy or something?”

She shrugged, a small hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Not really. I mean…okay, fine, I’m judging. Based on appearance alone, no. But most of the businessmen around the city wear suits. I take it you’re not from around here, are you?”

“How could you tell? The New England accent? Or the flannel shirt?”

Iris giggled and the sound was sweet music to my ears. So, the grumpy girl does laugh. I loved it. “Definitely the flannel. But I love the accent.” Her eyes lit up and the unexpected happiness on her face filled me with a joy I couldn’t explain. She looked away quickly, her cheeks turning pink, and my heart rate doubled.

Is she actually flirting with me?

“Wasn’t too shabby for a blind date, huh?” When she turned her head back towards me, I winked, causing her cheeks to flush more. I fucking loved it.

“What business do you run?” Iris asked, skipping right over my flirty question. Dammit.

“The family one my grandfather handed down to me. We make applesauce in a little mountain town in Vermont called Appleridge. Sounds silly, but there’s a very precise process to making applesauce. Just the right amount of sugar and cook time equals perfection. Plus, youmustpick the best apples.”

Iris watched me with amusement, and I knew exactly how I looked. Like an idiot who loved applesauce too much.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you would a person who makes applesauce for a living.”

Iris laughed, the sound even better than her giggles and I wanted to make her laugh all the time. “What brings you all the way out here? And on a blind date no less?”

“I’m here visiting my grandma. Nan moved out here a year after my grandpa passed, the small town too full of painful memories. She also wanted to see the world, having never left Vermont before. The blind date thing is sort of a favor. Apparently, your grandma, Mimi, told Nan, you needed help in the dating department.”

“I’m going to hurt her.” Iris muttered under her breath. “I don’tneedhelp. I just don’t have time. My job is my life. And that’s how I like it.”

The taxi pulled over in front of a large, high rise apartment building. I offered to pay, holding out a couple of twenties but Iris insisted, pushing my money away. “You paid for dinner. I got the cab.”

“Thank you.” I watched as she slid out of the cab, reaching behind her to grab the bag of takeout and bottle of wine. Her full figure of curves made my damn mouth water and suddenly all I could think about was getting her naked. Her perfect ass pointed to the sky as I railed her from behind.

“You coming?” Iris peaked her head back inside the taxi.

Shit.

“Yes, sorry. Got a little distracted there.” I winked and climbed out of the taxi, closing the door behind me, the driver barely waiting for the door to be closed before he sped away.

“By the food?” Iris held up the bag. “It does smell yummy.”

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