“Do you actually even want to hit the board?” Matheus turned to look at me, his arms full of used beer mugs.

“Maybe if we just moved the target to where the darts are hitting?”

“Look.” Matheus put the glasses down on the bar and turned back to me. “It’s really all about the way you move. The way you hold your wrist. When you let it fly, it’s all about grip, curve, and release.”

“Why when you say that, does it not sound at all like playing darts?”

Every woman in the bar wanted him. I was no exception, but I didn’t try to overstep my boundaries. I knew my position in this town. I was the crazy animal lady who lived in the cottage down the street. I was okay with that. Guys like Matheus, besides being much hotter than me, were also younger than me. They were just not in my ballpark. Nobody in this town was interested in me. I was unlikely to ever have a romantic relationship again if I stayed around here, and I was highly unlikely to ever leave this town. Cougar Creek was where I was born and raised It was where my business was and it was my home.

Matheus sidled up behind me, reaching his arms around me. I jumped, but he smoothly surrounded my hand with his and changed my grip on the dart. He pressed his body up against me with a bulge in his pants up against my butt. I froze.

“You’ve got to relax.” He moved my arm like a noodle, trying to wiggle relaxation into me. “Then you pull your arm back.” He released my arm and showed me the motion. “Move it forward and let fly right there. Okay, here. You try.”

He stepped away like it was no big deal he’d been snuggled up against me, but I was having a hot flash like nobody’s business, with beads of sweat dripping from my forehead. As I held the dart, All I could do was imagine Matheus’s body folded up against mine. It seemed to work just fine, because as I brought my arm back, like I could almost feel his arm guiding me. I let fire. To my delight, I hit the board! It hit the board about two inches from the center. “Bull’s-eye! Bull’s-eye!” I cried

“That’s not a bull’s-eye,” Matheus chuckled. “When you hit the red dot, that’s a bull’s-eye.”

“This time!” I lined up my next shot.

“What’s got you coming down here this time of night anyhow?” Matheus asked. “I don’t usually see you on a Friday night.”

“Oh my God. I just need to get out more.” The whiskey sour warmed my center, loosening my moves. “I’m stuck in the warehouse with the dogs and I just need to try to do something.”

“Whatever happened to Mae, that new chick?” Matheus asked. “The bad ass one you were in here with earlier in the month.”

“She’s got some other things going on. Not available,” I muttered, letting a dart fly, hitting the outer edges of the board. Matheus and I both cringed.

“ I’ve got some time off tomorrow,” Matheus said. “I’m not doing anything. Do you want to go down and check out the hot springs? We can hang out there and grab a bite to eat over at The Crown, or somewhere else.

I stared at him blankly. “You’re inviting me to go and hang out with you?” I didn’t understand that term.

“Hang out,” he said. “Spend time with you. You know.”

“No, I don’t know. You mean as friends? What exactly is it?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking bluntly, because I was just too old to go through life wondering what the hell someone’s intentions were.

“Fair enough. I have an idea,” Matheus said with a sly grin. “Let’s call it a date. It will be daring.”

“You know I’m like forty-five,” I said. “And you’re like… how old are you?”

“I’m thirty-two.”

“You do not look thirty-two,” I pointed out. “You look about eighteen.”

“Thanks,” he said. “But I’m thirty-two. Well, okay, I’m actually thirty-one.”

“See, I knew you were lying. You’re younger than you say you are.”

“But I’ll be thirty-two in two weeks, which isn’t too young for you. Let’s have a date and be done with it.” He lowered his chin and shot me with a look I couldn’t deny.

“Fine,” I said, pulse racing. “We’ll go on a date.”


Chapter 3

“The sheriff said I would find you here.” Mae’s voice rose above the barking dogs as I stood in the middle of the yard, surrounded by the beasts angling for a piece of food.

“Mae?” I said in surprise. I hadn’t expected to see her here. “Did you go down by the police station first?”