Page 17 of Forever After All

When she attached his quiet kindness, hard work ethic, and fierce protectiveness to it, his looks were beyond compare.

At least, they didn’t compare to any man she’d ever met, and the pickin’s were slim in Blackwater.

“He still hasn’t looked up. You think he’s been brainwashed?” Linc asked.

“Hanson is a nice guy. Cut him some slack.”

“Don’t settle for a guy you have to give slack. He doesn’t seem bothered that you’re over here talking to another man.”

Jess glanced at the table, and sure enough, Hanson was watching them. He gave them a little wave and a friendly smile.

Fair enough, but Hanson’s new position as her friend meant she didn’t have to care if he was giving her all of his attention or if he cared that she was talking to another man.

Linc waved and gave Hanson a daring grin.

“Stop that. Once again, what are you doing here?”

“Like I said, waiting for my food.”

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my table.”

She started to walk off, but Linc straightened.

“Wait.”

“Yeah?”

“Will you meet me at the barn later?”

“Is something wrong with one of the other horses?”

“No, they’re fine. I just wanted to talk to you about something.”

There weren’t many things Linc would need to tell her. Her first, second, and third guesses all had to do with the horses.

“Sure. I’ll be there.”

Linc relaxed back against the wall and jerked his chin in farewell.

She turned and headed back to the table where Hanson waited. She’d started the evening nervous about her date. Now, she couldn’t stop wondering what Linc wanted and why she was still completely flustered.

Not because of her date but because of Linc.

Chapter5

Linc

Linc paced next to Kiwi’s stall. He hadn’t considered how long he’d have to wait for Jess’s “date” to be over when he asked her to meet him after.

If things were going well, sparks were flying, chemistry was happening, he could be left waiting for hours.

He checked his watch. Shouldn’t it be over by now? Wasn’t two hours enough time to figure out if you liked someone or not?

Linc huffed and paced, and Kiwi did the same.

“I feel you, girl. You think she needs help? Don’t women usually have a signal they send their friends when they want to get out of a date?”

He lifted his hat, pushed his hand through his hair, and propped an arm on the wall beside the stall. “She’ll come back to us, right?”

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