Lincoln
My heart feltlike it was going to bust out of my chest.
Tell her! a voice in my head was shouting at me, but I couldn’t find how.
How the hell was I going to explain the truth when the truth felt too coincidental?
I had let my buddies Rafe and Rowdy talk me into heading into the Gaslamp District with some of the guys from our team. They wanted to have a drink to celebrate my discharge. Since it was a weekday, the bars hadn’t been crowded, and it had been nice. We’d drunk, bar hopped a little. Then I’d received an alert on my phone. She had posted something on her Instagram. Yes. I followed Joy on social media. Her posts always made my day better. When I checked it out, I noticed the brewery she was at was only down the street from where I’d been with my team.
She was so close, I hadn’t been able to stop myself. Something came over me, and before I knew it, I was telling the guys I’d be back and hurrying out on my own mission.
As my feet ate the pavement, I had told myself I would only be watching her from afar. If I approached her and told her who I was after she had texted she was hanging with her sister, I would have looked like a stalker. A creeper. I didn’t want to freak her out.
I was only going to steal a glimpse of her in real time even though her picture was folded in my pocket, never far from me. Just a small taste for myself.
I should have known better.
Hell, carrying her picture in my pocket no matter where I was should have been a hint that seeing her for reals would have wrecked me. Ruined me. But I’d been stupidly short-sighted when it came to what seeing her would do to me.
I’d stood in the background and watched her.
I doubted I’d blinked once since I’d spotted her at the back, too afraid to miss an expression or smile. The more I watched her and her sister talk, the weaker I became. Foolish, really. I’d spent my life after my parents’ passing keeping my distance from people.
But Joy was my very own brand of kryptonite.
A weakness I would happily give in to, to have her soft gaze on mine. Just looking at her had breathed life into me in a way I had never felt. Not only was I turned on by her curvy frame and sexy hair that tumbled down her back, but fuck, I just wanted to be around her. Right and center to have all her attention.
I’d watched the multitude of expressions wash over her, but when the delicate slope of her shoulders stiffened from whatever they were talking about, something came over me. Protective possession washed through me. Before I knew what I was doing, my feet were taking me right over to her, and when her eyes connected with mine, I’d offered to buy her a drink.
I had never been so damn unprepared. The moment our gazes locked, I was thrown for a roller coaster of a loop. I’d known she was beautiful. I’d stared at her picture for countless hours, watched her social media like a hawk. But fuck me, when her eyes locked with mine, my knees buckled.
Not only that, but I’d been certain she recognized me even though there was no way that was possible. She had no clue what I looked like, only what I sounded like over the phone.
“Are you from San Diego?” she asked softly, snapping me out of my thoughts as we ate.
She’d led the way to a parking lot full of food trucks. Each one looked better than the last. It’d been a tough choice, but we had settled on kabobs and falafel from a Mediterranean spot.
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m from up north. Uh, Gratitude Peaks.”
“I know where that is!” She smiled brightly. Of course, a girl like her would have heard of it. “They have a single’s week a town over.” She smiled, and I had to stop myself from scowling like a jealous lover. I didn’t like the idea of her knowing that area because of that. Has she gone?
“Yeah,” I mumbled, “that’s a new attraction in Kismet Cove.” I remembered my brother mentioning something about it.
“Those cities sound…”
“Made up?” I guessed and basked in the light sound of her laughter.
“A little bit. Like something off the Hallmark channel.” She squished her nose adorably before she took a bite of her falafel. I watched as her eyes shut and she let the sexiest tiny little moan slip past her perfect lips.
Fuck!I could have easily come right then and there in my pants like a damn teenager.
“So good,” she groaned, opening her eyes. Her brown ones locked with mine, and I watched as her olive skin took a golden hue. There was my girl, blushing in front of me, and I loved the sight of it. “Sorry.” She shook her head, breaking eye contact as she avoided meeting my eyes.
“Nothing to be sorry for. Foods meant to be enjoyed.” I picked up my beef kabob and took a bite, groaning as the bold flavors blossomed on my tongue. It was delicious, yet I knew she would taste better.
“What do you do?” she asked. I coughed as I picked up a napkin and wiped my lips.
“A little of this and that.” God, I was terrible at avoiding a subject. I hated lying. “I’m on vacation right now.” R&R technically, but it was the same thing.