Page 35 of Hit the Ground
“Nothing like this. All the fun I had happened in books.”
“So you’ve always been a bookworm?”
She shrugged and ducked her head. “I guess.”
“Makes sense to me. I’ve always been a cowboy. My dad put me on a horse with him before I could walk, and the rest was history. Guess we both ended up where we were supposed to.”
“That’s a nice thought.” She glanced at me. “I’ve never ridden a horse.”
“And I’ve barely read a book.”
A laugh burst out of her, like buds in the spring—full of life, promising something beautiful. “I don’t believe you. After all, you’re a certified library cardholder now.”
“True. I’m a changed man.” I tipped toward her. “You’ll have to come out to the ranch sometime. Me and Jess will get you riding in no time.”
“Maybe I will.”
I was surprised at how easy our banter was. Like this was normal. Like we did it all the time. Maybe after all that had gone down, we’d end up being friends. Stranger things had happened.
When the next round ended, Jesse and his team ran back to their table to start prepping again. I watched him for a second, pride burning in my chest, then turned back to Alice.
“We’re probably gonna go out for pizza after this,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Would you like to join us? Jesse’d be pleased if you did.”
Her smile faltered for a split second. “Oh. I…I can’t.”
I frowned. “Are you working tonight?”
She hesitated. “No. I don’t work Saturday nights anymore. I have other plans.”
“Plans?” I echoed. “What kind of plans?”
It was none of my business, but her evasiveness had me curious. What did Alice Clark get up to on her nights off?
“Just plans. It doesn’t matter.”
The way she wouldn’t meet my eyes set off a warning bell in my head. I narrowed my gaze.
“Alice,” I uttered lowly, “what plans?”
She sighed, finally telling me, “I’m going out to dinner.”
I sat there staring at her, trying to make sense of what she’d just said. Then understanding dawned.
“A date,” I said flatly. “From an app?”
She chewed on her bottom lip, nodding.
“Christ,” I breathed. I didn’t like that. Those apps couldn’t be safe. Meeting up with strange men whose intentions were unknown… “You know that’s not safe.”
“We’re meeting at a restaurant. It’s perfectly safe.”
I didn’t say anything for a long moment. My jaw clenched. My chest tightened with a wave of dread too big for the situation. Alice wasn’t mine. She could do what she wanted. But I did not like this idea. Not at all.
I faced the floor, watching Jesse work with his team, something sour churning in my gut. I had no say here. I couldn’t tell her not to go. Even if I did, she’d probably laugh in my face.
Dating apps have been around for a long time. It wasn’t something I’d ever do, but I was old-fashioned in a lot of ways. Alice wanted someone in her life, and when I thought about it, Icouldn’t name a single man in town I’d match her with. Maybe trying another method made sense for her. My approval had no bearing here.
“Well,” I said finally, my voice gruffer than I intended. “Hope it works out for you.”
