Status Updates From Chasing Home (Cherry Peak B...

“You don’t know a damn thing about me yet, and I don’t know much about you. I want to change that,” I say, putting it all out there.
“And I’m supposed to care about what you want?”
I nod. “I’d prefer that, yeah.”

“Well, how old are you? Twenty-three?” I ask slyly, shifting the smallest bit closer to her, just enough to face her more fully. Her cheeks pinken up at my question, and my chest lurches.
“Not even close.”
“It doesn’t matter either way. Twenty-three or thirty-three, my interest stands where it is,”

“It’s a big deal to me that you’re here.”
“What’s your play?”
“My play?”
“Yeah. The reason for the flirting and interest. Is it a bet or something?”
“I’m not a teenager, darlin’. I don’t make bets where women are involved.”
“How old are you?”
“22.”
“You’re a baby.”
“How does the saying go? Age isn’t anything but a number?”
“Yeah, and 22 is a very low number.”

“It’s a big deal to me that you’re here.”
“What’s your play?”
“My play?”
“Yeah. The reason for the flirting and interest. Is it a bet or something?”
“I’m not a teenager, darlin’. I don’t make bets where women are involved.”
“How old are you?” I wrangle back a smirk at her interest. “Twenty-two.” Her lips part, a quick inhale following closely after. “You’re a baby.”

I’m rolling my lips, struggling to keep my laugh inside, when I see her. Suddenly, laughing isn’t a concern for me. Breathing is. 😩
I wasn’t expecting her to come tonight. But I was hoping she would. I’m already desperate to dance with her again. On the dance floor or in the aisle between tables again, it doesn’t matter. I’d even settle for a single song out back behind the bar.

“Guess you’ll have to give me a try. Let me prove that I’m serious.”
“Do you know anything about cars?”
“Enough to know where the door hinges are so I can oil ’em for you.”
“You’re such a smartass,” she blurts out before clamping her lips shut and glancing guiltily at everyone watching on the porch.
Poppy’s the one to reply.“Don’t look so guilty. You’re not wrong. He is a smartass.”

“Do you like coffee?”
“What?“
“I’m wonderin’ if I should have brought you some.”
“I don’t need coffee. I don’t need anything.”
“That your coffee on the desk there?”
“Don’t touch that! God, you are relentless,”
It’s already in his hand, he reads the printed white label stuck to the side of it.
“A caramel macchiato with extra caramel, you got a sweet tooth just like me.”

“…managed to push my start time at the ranch this morning just in time to make my appointment.”
“Appointment?”
“My hair appointment, Rory,”
“You’re here to get your hair cut?”
“Course I am. Did you think I came here just to see you?”
“No.” 🙄
“Well, I won’t lie. It was actually a bit of both.”
“You weren’t on the schedule.”
“Were you looking for me on there?”