Page 1 of Almost True
CHAPTERONE
THEN
18 Months Ago
Maddie
The twenty-something guy slinging drinks nodded my way as I slumped into a seat at the polished wood bar.
“What can I get you, beautiful?” He winked and squared himself to me from across the bar top. His name tag saidBrandon.
“G and T, please.”
He couldn’t have noticed my forced smile, busy as he was with my order and whatever else he was doing back there.
Did I even really want to be here? No. But had I promised myself and my best friend that I’d leave my hotel room for a solid two hours and enjoy myself before returning to reality tomorrow?Unfortunately yes.
“You got it, lovely.”
He spun away and began composing the drink, thankfully missing my eye roll. Not that I didn’t appreciate that his job as a bartender made a certain amount of flirting necessary. It was just so… campy. And I had enough snark stored up after having to work nonstop on what should’ve been a nice little getaway that I had to keep my response locked down or I’d end up in the headlines for being an ungracious priss or who knew what else.
Bonus? He clearly didn’t recognize me.
With a flourish, he set down aSilver Ridge Resort – Welcome Homecoaster and nestled a crystal highball on top. “Alrighty, gorgeous. Here you are. Lemme know when I can get you a refill.”
A snicker two seats over had me glancing to my right.Whoa.Tall, broad shoulders under a plaid shirt rolled at the forearms, all of which happened to be my kryptonite—but for some reason, especially those forearms. Dark hair longer on top and cut short on the sides, with almost startling contrast of salt-and-pepper gray that told me he must be at least a decade older than sweet Brandon, who was at most twenty-five.
No clear sign the gorgeous, towering man sitting there had laughed at the bartender’s words, but apparently Brandon wasn’t going to let it slide.
“What’s so funny, Aid?”
The man’s head popped up from studying his beer and pinned the bartender with a look. “Just wondering how many more endearments you were going to toss out.”
“You saying this nice lady isn’t beautiful, lovely, and gorgeous?” Brandon asked, notching his chin in my direction.
Years of being impervious to comments about my appearance, at least in the moment and in front of the public, came to play as I didn’t react to his words. I averted my eyes and sipped my drink—well made, though it was hard to screw up a gin and tonic.
Something pulled my eyes toward the man and when I glanced up, I met his gaze.
My stomach swooped low becausewow, this man was handsome. What one might call aspecimenof manhood, and even thinking that would make me roll my eyes if I wasn’t sitting herelooking at him.Not in the polished, Wall Street way I’d grown tired of. Not in the manicured look of Hollywood. In just a bone deepthis is how we keep the human race alivekind of way. Some essential part of me recognized a gut-level attraction in an instant.
His eyes flicked over my face, and he shook his head ever so slightly. “I’d be a fool to say that.”
* * *
Aidan
Brandon had the awareness to shoot me a smirk and walk to the other end of the bar, clearing the way for an interaction between me and the woman. Meanwhile, I internally scrambled for what to do. When was the last time I’d found myself in a situation like this?
Honestly? Never. I didn’t just go out by myself. I didn’t accidentally end up complimenting a gorgeous woman I’d never met but suddenlyreallywanted to get to know.IfI got out, it was with my cousin and other male friends for the express purpose of being out of my house, or it was on a date with yet another woman I’d known too long and who already had me cast in her Tragic Hero Project.No, thanks.
“He wasn’t going to let you off the hook, was he?” the woman said, reminding me I’d just overtly indicated I agreed she was beautiful. And obviously, she was. She had to know it just as well as I did, though I suspected it didn’t punch her in the gut like it did me.
“No. Looks like he wasn’t.” I let my eyes find her again. My stomach dropped. “I didn’t mean anything by it—not about you. I just…” Her expression didn’t say she was mad, but I didn’t want to insult her.
“I took no offense. And honestly, I’d been rolling my eyes atlovely, so by the time he got togorgeous, you sort of took the words out of my mouth.” Her lips pressed together in a pretty, amused smile.
Here’s where I’d normally nod in agreement but stop talking. Let the conversation die with me and go back to sipping my beer and drowning in the frustrations of the day.
