Page 58 of Tattered and Torn

My mind races as I try to make sense of what he’s saying. How in the world did we go from waking up together in my bed to this? Then it dawns on me. Hannah, asking me about an admirer. I assumed she meant John, but what if she was thinking of the sheriff? Chris was there, too, this morning. “Did you talk to Hannah just now? In the restaurant.”

His jaws clench tightly, and when he refuses to answer me, I know I’m right.

And then I start laughing. I can’t help it. And my laughter pisses him off even more.

“Why the fuck are you laughing? Do you think this is funny? I’m sorry, but I don’t.”

“No!” I stop to catch my breath. “It’s not one bit funny.” I try to stop smiling, but it’s impossible. “This is all one big misunderstanding. You see, Hannah thought I was talking about Chris, but I was talking about you.” I shake my head. “I swear, sometimes my life is like a bad romcom.”

His brow furrows. “What are you talking about?”

“Hannah asked me if I knew I had an admirer, and I thought she was referring to you, but I think she meant Chris. She asked me if we were dating, and I said yes. Dating you, that is. Not Chris. It was just a stupid misunderstanding.”

“We’re dating?” He looks truly gobsmacked.

Hell, yes, we are. At least I hope so. “Aren’t we?”

He stands there staring at me like I’m off my rocker.

Now I’m starting to get mad. “Do you really think I go around sleeping with random guys just for the fun of it? Is that what last night was to you? Just another hook-up? A fun way to blow off steam? Do you honestly think I would sleep with you if I was dating another man?”

“We’re dating?” he repeats, sounding utterly dumbfounded.

And right there, my anger dissipates. He finds it incredible that I might want to date him. “Yeah, we are.” There, I said it. “I mean, if you want to.”

He stares at me for the longest time before he finally cups my face, so very gently. The fingers of his right hand slide into my hair. “I’ve known since you arrived that Chris has a thing for you. Why do you think he keeps coming to the restaurant? It’s to see you. Before you came, he always ate in town at Jennie’s Diner. Then you show up, and bam! He becomes a regular fixture around here. So when Hannah told me you two were dating, it made perfect sense. And why wouldn’t you want to date him? He’s closer to your age. He’s good-looking. Hell, he’s a great guy. Everyone likes him. You should want to date him. If you asked him out, he’d jump at the chance to say yes.”

I cover his hands with mine. “You’re a great guy, too, John. And you happen to be the one I want. Not Chris. Not anyone else. You.”

His dark eyes bore into mine, searching for the truth. He seems half afraid of what he’ll find. “It feels too good to be true. Guys like me don’t get girls like you.”

“Maybe I don’t want a blond-haired, blue-eyed sheriff. Maybe I want a dark-haired, dark-eyed cowboy.” And then I pull his face to mine and kiss him.

We jump apart when Nora clears her throat. “The horses are ready, and you’ve got an impatient crowd waiting outside.”

John looks at Nora. “Thanks. I’ll be right out.” Then he turns back to me and nods. “Just so we’re clear, yes, we’re dating.”

“Congratulations,” Nora says, rolling her eyes. “Now, can we get a move on? Folks outside are getting restless.”

I help John carry the supply packs out to the yard. As he loads them onto a horse, Nora helps the guests mount theirs.

“You could come with us,” John says to me.

“Thanks, but I have a meeting later this morning to present my menu to Hannah and Killian. How about a rain check? How about dinner when you get back?”

“I’d love that,” he says. Then he pulls me close and kisses me right in front of a rapt audience. “We’re dating,” he says to the onlookers, as if we need to explain ourselves.

* * *

When I’m done cleaning up the kitchen and dining room after the breakfast rush, I grab a cup of coffee, head up to my apartment to grab a copy of my proposed menu, and join Hannah and Killian in their office behind the front desk.

“Sorry I’m late,” I say as I rush into their office. They’re seated together on a brown leather sofa.

“You’re not late,” Killian says. “You’re right on time.”

“Here’s a copy of my proposed menu,” I say as I hand them each a printed copy. “I opted for an eclectic mix of different cuisines since we’ll be getting guests from all over. I tried to include something for everyone—everything from pasta to Mexican to American. Popular items, as well as beloved comfort foods. Some vegetarian options, as well as vegan.”

They both take a few minutes to read over the menu. There are separate offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with sections for appetizers, sides, and desserts. I even included a wine and beer list. “I think we should highlight Colorado brews.”

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