Page 58 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
“I see you”—she raised her glass in salute—“but no. That’s not what I mean. We had a team meeting before deciding to offer you a spot onShortcake. Stephen put it in perspective for me: friendly with everyone, flirting with Maverick.”
“Uh, no?” If anything, it was the opposite. The first few days around Maverick she’d been a damn disaster. Skills she’d developed from years of reading and people-watching suddenly flew out of her brain like a murder of startled crows. Something about him consistently knocked her off her game.
“Uh, yeah.” Georgia laughed. “You’re different with him than you are with the rest of us.”
“Different?”
“You’re softer. More serious. You talk to him like you mean it, like if you had to lie to one hundred people in a row, you’d only get to ninety-nine if he was in line. That’s howyouflirt for real—painfully earnest with your heart so far down your sleeve it’s almost in your hand.”
Lucky opened her mouth to object, but no words came out.
Georgia full-on witch-cackled, snapping her fingers. “Finally got you, bitch. I knew it.”
But Lucky still hadn’t recovered from the revelation. “Is that what’s happening?”
“Yes. I might not have ESP, but this is my lane. I can spot it from a mile away,” Georgia said. “Anyway, the only rule we have is no dating between employees and upper management. You two are good to go.”
“We’re not dating.”
“Well, when you are it’s fine. Super Dad is way too perfect and uptight. He needs someone like you to shake things up—what?! You look like you’re struggling to remember how to blink.”
Lucky focused on her drink, taking a hearty chug. She needed time! Lots of it! Slow was not dating! “We’re not dating.”
“Fine, you’re exclusive.” Georgia winked and grinned. “Same difference, babes. Get over it.”
There was nothing to get over. Lucky cleared the reluctance hurdle but got tripped up on nerves. Shewasnervous, which was perfectly okay.
But people like Georgia expected Lucky to move the same way, and at the same speed, as everyone else. She knew the expectations—at her big age, dating shouldn’t be a big deal. They rolled their eyes, gave pitying looks, hit her with theGirl, it’s not that serious. Except it was.
Lucky finished her drink, hoping to take the edge off.
“Do you want another one?”
“No, I’m good. I should stick to water now.”
“Suit yourself.” Georgia was on her second of what would probably be many.
“I know that’s not Georgia,” someone called out.
“Something tells me you’ve been spotted,” Lucky deadpanned.
Georgia smiled into her drink and then whispered, “Watch this.” She set her glass down and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Who’s asking?”
“You’re gonna act like you don’t recognize me?” A tall sunburned white man wearing a plaid shirt, blue jeans, and cowboy boots approached their table.
Lucky winced. Did no one in this town invest in sunscreen? She’d never experienced sunburn a day in her life, but it always looked so painful. Maybe they’d just gotten used to it.
“It’s not an act.” Georgia laughed, flirtatiously delicate.
He grinned. “You move away, leave us all behind, and suddenly you’re too good for us.”
“Speak for yourself,” Georgia chided. “I was too good foryouwhile I was here.”
“I thought you didn’t know who I was.”
“I don’t.” Georgia shrugged. “Don’t be rude. Introduce yourself to my friend.”
He ran a hand through his thick dark brown hair, which had a healthy sheen to it. The color even matched his kind eyes and noticeably wispy eyelashes. “Excuse my bad manners, I’m Randall. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…”
