Tequila Rose by Willow Winters (any book recommendations .TXT) 📗

Her small hands come back to rest on top of the table as she squares her shoulders, dead set on telling me whatever it is that’s on her mind.

“Look,” I say, cutting her off before she can speak again. “I want a chance, Magnolia.” I don’t know why I’m begging her. I question my own sanity. There’s just something about her. There always was. And I see how she smiles when she looks at me. That has to mean something. “All I want is an honest chance. I’m a different guy than I was back then and there are things you don’t know about me. Just get to know me, give me a shot before you say whatever you’re about to say.”

“How do you know what I’m going to say is bad?” Magnolia asks me, but she can’t even look me in the eye. Instead she lifts the menu on the table and stares at it. The one with the chef’s specials for the evening.

“Because it takes your smile away … Because you look like you’re going to tell me no.”

With a gentle shake of her head, the loose curls sway slightly as she says, “It’s not a no.”

“But it’s not an honest shot.”

She doesn’t deny my statement. A moment passes and Nathanial comes back with her drink and then takes out his pen and paper. Before Magnolia can ask for more time, I order. Appetizer included. Which gets a mumble of something from Magnolia, but I don’t make out exactly what she says.

She follows my lead, ordering the item on the menu I was kicking around getting, but I decided on the ribeye instead. The second he’s gone, Magnolia glances at me, really debating something.

Setting the menu down, Magnolia leans forward, her forearms braced on the table, looking all types of businesswoman as she stares at me.

“All you want is a chance but you don’t know what you’re getting a chance at,” she finally says.

“Then tell me about yourself. Tell me what I’ve missed. And I’ll tell you the same. Just don’t shut me out before it’s even started. Because the way you look at me, it’s like you have something that’s going to end this thing. And we haven’t even gotten started.”

My plea is just that. Griffin would laugh his ass off if he saw how much this woman had me by the balls. Shit, any grown-ass man would. That weekend Griffin called me up to watch his place … I know he did it because I needed to get away. And there she was, the distraction I needed.

A second passes and then another. She takes a sip of her drink and leans back in her seat.

“I’ll be honest. I don’t remember much from that night, other than I really felt good next to you. I remember laughing and I remember kissing you and everything after,” she reminisces with a softness to her voice, like she longs to go back. “So tell me everything, Brody. You tell me first and then I’ll tell you.”

“Back and forth. Tit for tat,” I say.

“Tit for tat,” she agrees, taking another sip.

“I came here because I wanted to sail,” I offer up first. Sailing is something I did with my grandfather. I leave that part out. I know eventually I’ll tell her, because he’s why I was there all those nights ago at the bar. She doesn’t know it, but she saved me that night. I’ll tell her, though. I’m saving it for whenever she tells me what she thinks is so damning.

“You sail?” The pep in her voice makes me grin. With a nod I tell her I love it.

“I do too.” Her response comes complete with a little wiggle in her seat as she seems to settle back. “I’ve always lived here. Except for when I was in college, of course.” She stirs her drink as she adds, “So I’ve been sailing more times than I can count.”

“Same … well, not about living here.” I guess she likes the way I add in the correction because she laughs and leans in, ready for more. The conversation is easy, the atmosphere gentle and coaxing. Any tension that was present before vanishes. She kept her word, giving me my chance.

“I’m going sailing this weekend. Come with me,” I say, inviting her with all the confidence I have and that requires a sip of beer and then another as she hesitates to answer.

“Sail away with you?” She laughs softly into her drink and the waiter comes back just then. Nathanial asks if she’d like another drink.

I know I have her when she nods a yes.

“My buddy Griffin is coming, but it’s just us. Soaking up some sun and maybe taking a dip.”

“Mm-hmm.” Magnolia’s attention leaves me as a rectangular plate of bruschetta is placed in front of us.

She’s more than eager to take a piece and I join in. The crunch of the toasted bread and drizzle of balsamic is addictive.

“Good, right?” she says and grins around the last bit from her small piece, then pops it in her mouth.

Something about her smile, about the way she licks the tip of her finger afterward has my cock twitching in my jeans. She makes me feel like I’m in high school all over again. Like I’m some puppy dog she already has on a leash.

“Damn good,” I respond and let my gaze fall a little south of her chin. Her laugh brings a wide smile to my lips and she pretends like she’s going to toss her napkin at me.

This is exactly what I remember from that night. Not the conversation, but the feeling that stirs