“You have my favorite sandwich along with my usual sides and then this.” I hold up the strawberry shake. It’s what I always order because I can never pick between fries and onion rings, so why choose when you don’t have to?
“Let’s not forget Veda’s sticky toffee pudding,” he says as he pulls it out of another bag.
“Who told you?” This is my order down to the last crumb.
“That information will cost you.”
“You think that I’d give you my mountain for whoever the snitch is over at the diner?” The list is short. It wouldn’t take much to figure it out myself.
“No, I want something else. A dessert of my own.” His eyes flare with desire. I’d wonder if he’s flirting with me to get his way, but can desire like that be faked? I wouldn’t think so, but what do I know about dating?
“What does that even…” I gasp. “You think I would—”
“Just a kiss,” he cuts me off quickly.
“No.” I sip my strawberry shake, needing it to cool me down and help with not letting my cheeks flush. “You better have ketchup or this meal is ruined,” I say tartly.
“Veda gave me a whole bottle. She said I’d need it.” He pulls that out of the bag too.
What the hell? He’s got everything in there. “So it was Veda!”
“Nope, and I’ll still be collecting that kiss.” I roll my eyes, unable to keep from wondering what it would feel like for his lips to be pressed to mine.
“Don’t hold your breath.” I smirk. “Or maybe do.” I pick up a French fry, and Walker gives me a generous dollop of ketchup.
“We’ll see.” His charming smile makes my heart flutter, but I ignore him.
I’m pretty sure I’m doing it to push him away, but it’s not working. This was a bad idea. I never should have come into his room. He’s too tempting, and as much as I want to hate him, I’m smitten too. I’m wondering what he’s going to say or do next, and it’s all too much.
When he tossed me over his shoulder, heat flooded my body unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. The simplest of his touches consumes me because they’re so overwhelming that I don’t know if I should run away from him or fling myself in his arms.
“There’s nothing to see. Bear Mountain isn’t for sale and neither am I.” I pick up my sandwich and take a giant bite, trying to be as unsexy as possible.
“There’s something here. A magic in the air.” His face actually grows serious for once,
After I swallow, I grab a napkin and wipe my mouth. Without looking at him, I find myself asking the question that’s been plaguing me. “You feel it?”
“Yes, I feel it. It’s very…settling,” he finally finishes.
“It’s priceless.” Maybe he’s getting it now that he’s here and has seen a piece of this place. Maybe even seen me too and felt the connection.
“Everything has a price, Natalie.” His words are the slap of reality that I need, and they actually sting my heart.
“Right.” I put my sandwich back down and push back from my chair. “I think I should go.” His hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me. “Let go,” I order, but there’s no power behind my words. What is wrong with me? The second he touches me, my resolve goes right out the window.
He scoots back his chair, and I think he’s going to get up, but instead he tugs, and I fall right into his lap. “It was a stupid thing to say. I’m starting to see that not everything is for sale.” I stare into his eyes, wondering if he’s only feeding me a line or if he believes what he’s telling me. “That’s what I’ve been taught my whole life, but up here, I think things are different.”
“Where did you grow up?”
“I grew up in Florida where my father raised me.”
“Your mom?” I ask, finding it strange he didn’t mention her.
“She took off when I was little. I don’t remember her.” He says it so easily, with no emotion on his handsome face.
“Oh, Walker.” I reach up and stroke his cheek. I could never imagine growing up without a mom. That’s heartbreaking. Worse, to think she walked away.
“It was just my father and me, and if I wanted to spend time with him then I worked at his side.”
“Wow, that’s…” Gosh, I don’t know what to say to that.
“Sad?” he offers, but he’s smiling as he says it. “He taught me a lot before I lost him.”
“I’m sorry. I lost my father too, but I have my mom and brother to lean on. You’re alone, aren’t you?” I can sense it in how he speaks.
“I keep busy.”
He shrugs it off, and I find my anger slipping away from the whole conversation. I think it really is all he’s been taught. What if I could show him something else here?