Page 39 of No One Wants That (Blitzen Bay)

“Don’t get me all excited if you’re not going to follow through,” I say, pointing my bottle at her.

“Oh, sweetie,” Izzy says, taking my hand. “Were you hitting on Gabi? Don’t feel bad. Almost every guy that comes in here hits on one of us.”

“That’s not hard to believe,” I say, looking between them. “You’re very beautiful women.”

“Thank you,” Izzy says, squeezing my hand. “Now tell me why your day has been bad. We can’t have that. I can already tell you have a sweet soul under all of this outer bravado.”

I look from Izzy’s pleading eyes back to Gabi. “Does the counseling come no charge with every beer?”

“It does. And don’t think you’ll get away without answering her. She’s about as persistent as they come.”

Izzy closes her hands over mine. “Tell me. I’m the best listener. I promise.”

“And I’m the worst sharer. I promise.” I pat her hands before I pull mine away. “But I appreciate the offer.”

“I’m here every day if you need me.” As she turns around, she looks over her shoulder. “And by the way, Gabi’s tattoo is right below her belly button. It’s a little flower.”

“I already told your wife not to tease me. That goes for you, too,” I say, watching Izzy disappear back into the kitchen.

“Are you here on vacation?” Gabi says as she refills the wine glass of the woman sitting a few stools away from me.

“Yeah, I guess, if that’s what you want to call it. I’m staying down the street at that Holly House place until Sunday.”

“Wait,” she says, turning back around to look at me. “Are you part of Nash and Noelle’s group from San Diego?”

“Yeah, we got in this morning.”

“You served with Nash, right? I thought he said your name was Mason.”

“Mason was my team leader. And yeah, our team had some missions with Nash’s group.”

“He said Mason and his wife were coming in with their friend who’s dating Alex Molina.” She taps her fingers on the bar. “Where do you fit into the group?”

“I don’t. That’s the problem,” I say, letting out a long sigh. “I’m the single guy tagging along on a happy-couples trip. That’s why I’m drowning my sorrows with you.”

“Well, you’re not the only single person in the group. I think Noelle’s cousin Kit is single. At least, she is now.”

“Oh, yeah?” I say, trying to act casually uninterested. “Did she just end a relationship or something?”

“Yeah, she was supposed to be in for the week with her boyfriend, but he didn’t make the trip. She told Izzy they broke up. Have you met her?”

“Yeah, I met her this afternoon.”

“Oops. I think you’re about to meet her again.” Gabi nods her head to something behind me.

I turn around to see Kit walking toward me. She’s wearing jeans, a very low-cut white tank top, and flip flops. Her hair’s twisted on top of her head and she’s wearing black-rimmed glasses. She looks like a really sexy librarian. When she leans on the bar next to me, I try not to look too long at the beautiful curves that are pouring out of her shirt.

“How long have you been standing behind me?”

“Long enough to see you get rejected by not one, but two, lesbians.”

“Did you know they were lesbians?” I pull out the stool next to me and motion for her to sit.

“I did,” she says, sliding onto the stool.

“How are you not going to save me from that humiliation? Especially after I rescued you on the trail today.”

“I thought about running over here to stop you,” she says, grabbing her backside, “but I’m still not walking very well.”

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