“I don’t think wild horses would keep her away. She turned fifteen last week.”
If the event is something everyone goes to, I can understand the girl’s excitement. There is nothing quite like being accepted as an adult for the first time.
“I’ll probably just drop her off, get some work done for a few hours and then come and pick her—”
“No, please don’t!” I’m not sure who is more surprised at my sudden outburst, Alice or me. I pull myself back and resettle my words. Perhaps those emails are making me feel more alone than I’d thought. “Sorry, what I mean is… You’re the first woman I’ve met here who I might be able to go to something like this with. You know, as girlfriends?”
Technically, this isn’t true. I had met a trio of ladies our age only a few days ago. But one of them—a bartender they called Lacey—was the leader of that little pack and she had kept her nose in the air the entire time she’d been booking her car in for its annual service. I’d heard the warning loud and clear: ‘We’re not taking applications for friendship from the new blonde in town.’
“You want to go to the dance, with me?” The uncertainty in Alice’s voice is heartbreaking.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?” She’d been nothing but nice to me since I’d walked in the door. Surely someone so kind had friends? “I know it’s a bit out of the blue but, if this is the only thing where the whole town gets together, I’ll have to wait a whole year for the next one. And I don’t like going to these kinds of things alone. Please. I’ll owe you the world’s biggest favor.”
I feel a little bad at the trapped look in Alice’s eyes but I’m fairly confident there’s also a little light of excitement in there. Nervous anticipation, of a sort.
“Um… alright, I’ll… I’ll think about it.”
“Yay!” I raise my hands in dramatic effect and that smile of Alice’s makes a reappearance. “Now, about that book you were reading—”
A horn suddenly honks from outside. I check my watch, surprised at the time.
“Oh shoot. That’ll be Jace.”
“Jace?” Alice blinks.
“My boss at the auto shop. He’s giving me a lift.”
“Jace Winters?”
I pause. I have only to look at Alice’s wide gaze, her flushed face, and the way her nails suddenly sinking just a little too violently into the cover of her romance novel to know the truth.
Alice the Librarian has something for Jace the Mechanic.
“Jace and I are friends,” I say, careful to make the distinction. “He’s just helping me out today with a lift back to where I’m staying.”
...with the man I have something for.
Not that there’s anything wrong with Jace. He’s tall, handsome, and so full of easy banter and sexy charisma. He’s a natural ladies’ man. I can see why Alice—and half the female population of the state—might fall for Jace Winters.
Unfortunately, my job has always axed such men from my radar. I just spend too much time hanging with them as a friend, laughing over the toolbox, or listening to their buddy-banter about girls, to be able to see them in a romantic light.
I get on with Jace because he’s familiar and I can chat easily with him. Like a brother or a cousin.
Instead, when it comes to physical attraction, I’m always drawn to the dominating, silent type. The ones who own the air around them with power over charm.
Aaand my mind is back on Caleb.
Damn girl. You’re like a teen with a crush.
I hear Jace honk his horn again.
“I have to go but how about I call you here at the library about the festival? We can meet up together, before we go. Do the dress-up thing and all that?” The idea seems to strike terror into Alice but I’m already rushing for the door, adopting her into the plan along the way. “Have a great day, Alice! We’ll talk soon!”
I hurry across the parking lot, aiming for Jace’s old station wagon on the roadside. I feel bad about bullying Alice into being my date for the festival dance, but the guilt is quickly overridden by my excitement.
I’d made a friend!
Jace’s attractive, smiling face only boosts my mood further. I picture Alice’s blush. Perhaps I would have the opportunity for a little vicarious romance over the next few weeks? Which is kinda thrilling, I decide, slipping into Jace’s passenger seat. My libido has latched on to someone in particular, and since that someone is ignoring me, nothing will be happening any time soon. So, I figure my sex life is now on a depressingly lengthy hold.
I can at least hope for a little sweetness for my new friend.