Chapter 2
2
DELTA
M y hunkalicious next-door neighbor was coming over, and I’d actually set out TV trays.
My college roommate would have just said this was part of my quirky personality. It went with my love for vintage clothing and my collection of gnomes. But if this Kingston guy was going to write me off as “weird,” may as well get it out of the way early on.
I barely had time to change out of my work clothes before Kingston was knocking on the door. Not his fault. I’d deliberately chosen this time, figuring it would work out perfectly. I’d planned to come home, shower, change, and then go down and get the food, but there had been a rush of early dinner orders, and I needed the money. That meant I was rushing to pick up dinner and get up the mountain before he showed up at my door.
I stopped in front of the mirror and checked my hair one last time. I was not having the best hair day, but I’d tamed it as best I could. I had the type of hair that looked really good when the humidity was high, but there was a fine line between wavy and frizzy.
My heart was beating fast as I pulled open the door, and one look at him sped it up even more. I’d been delivering bear claws to his front door for a full two weeks, and now I was his neighbor. It wasn’t all that big a coincidence, actually. When I was given a variety of cabins to choose from, I picked the one on Memory Lane, not realizing it was directly next door to him, but I figured that out before I moved in.
After my first night here, I’d smiled when I got an order from my neighbor. And now, I was inviting him into the cabin where I’d be staying for the foreseeable future.
“You weren’t kidding,” he said.
As he stepped inside, he got a look at the two TV trays I’d set up in front of the couch. This place had come fully furnished, down to the TV trays, which I’d discovered last night when I wanted to watch my favorite game show while I ate.
“This is how we did meals when I visited my grandma growing up,” I said.
My hands were shaking. My whole body was shaking. I found myself breathing in bursts. There was something about this guy. His presence filled the whole room, and not just because he was massive—tall and built. Something about him just twisted my insides…in a good way.
“I’ll go get the tacos,” I said, rushing toward the kitchen. Only then was I able to breathe a little clearer. “I have beer. I wasn’t sure what kind you liked.”
Between deliveries, I stopped by the grocery store and guessed at what he’d like. I now realized I should have texted and asked some of the basic questions I had. I just grabbed the most popular brand and a bottle of wine for myself.
“Sounds great,” he said. “Can I help with something?”
“No, just have a seat. I’ll be right there.”
He was already on his way toward the kitchen, though. My words didn’t stop him. He kept coming.
Oh crap. I was sure to drop the sheet pan of tacos I’d pulled out of the oven if he was nearby.
“I just got home, so they’re still fresh,” I said.
I’d been home about ten minutes before he showed up. Just enough time to touch up my makeup, change into jeans and a sweater, and pace nervously for a half minute or so. Thankfully, the oven had a warming drawer, and I’d used that, hoping the food would still be in good shape by the time he arrived.
“I’ll pour you some beer,” I said.
He waved me off. “Just hand me the bottle, and I’m good. In fact, I can grab it. Is it in the fridge?”
I nodded. “It hasn’t been in there long, though. I had it in my trunk. Maybe it’s cold enough outside that it stayed chilled?”
It wasn’t all that cold outside. I’d walked around in shorts all day and had only been a little uncomfortable. But I’d been in my car most of the day, and the chill in the air was nothing compared to what I’d dealt with over the winter months.
“Lukewarm beer beats any cold beverage every day of the week,” he said.
I straightened the sheet pan in my oven-mitted hand and looked at him. “Is that the right brand?”
He shrugged. “Works for me.”
“But it isn’t the brand you would have chosen.”
“It’s not my usual brand, but I’ll drink it. You want me to grab you one?”
I shook my head. “I’m having wine.”
Much to my surprise, he retrieved the bottle of wine from the fridge, then opened cabinets until he found my wine glasses. He balanced all three and headed over to the TV trays, where he set things up.
A man who helped out. I might swoon here and now.
I plated the tacos, adding the beans and rice that I’d kept in the microwave in case I needed to zap them a little longer. But the food was still warm enough. I spooned a generous helping of each onto our plates and carried it all over to the trays.
Only as I approached did I realize I’d forgotten something. “Did you want chips and salsa first?”
With a smile, he shook his head. “That’s just something we eat when we’re stuck in the restaurant waiting for the food to come, right?”
“Right,” I said. “Like bread. By the time the food actually arrives, you’re not even hungry anymore.”
“Exactly. So, do we watch TV while we do this?”
I looked at the screen. “My grandma always had us watch a quiz show.”
“Quiz show?” he asked.
“She said it would sharpen our minds.”
“Fire it up,” he said. “Let’s sharpen our minds.”
I sat down on the couch behind my TV tray, which was set up next to his. There was a cushion between us, though—plenty of distance. This wasn’t officially a date, but even if it was, it was our first date, and we were still getting to know each other.
I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. I was pretty sure there was no way I’d be able to find that exact quiz show on right now, but I was a little embarrassed to reveal that I’d set it to record. It was one of the first things I did after turning on the TV.
Kingston didn’t seem to think all that much about it, though. He was busy sipping beer. It became clear that he wouldn’t take a bite until I started eating, so I needed to move things along.
But as the show kicked in, I regretted the idea. There was a tiny table just off the kitchen. I should have set us up there. But this was unique and fun and…me. It was just that if I wanted to impress a guy, maybe a little less me would be in order.
But a few minutes later, I’d forgotten all that. The show was in full force, and I was on my third bite of taco. More than once, I’d had to quickly swallow so I could call out an answer.
Kingston’s gaze darted over to me. Was he surprised? He didn’t expect me to be such a sharp cookie? He was older and wiser, for sure, but I was damn smart. Always had been. Especially when it came to things that didn’t translate to real-world skills.
It was exactly why I was a college dropout making money on food delivery. My skills in any one thing were lacking, but I was mediocre at just about everything. And I was great at random knowledge.
Suddenly, though, my trivia skills were coming in handy. If I could impress this guy, maybe it would be worth it. Something about him had my insides heating up, and my insides hadn’t heated up this much over a guy in my entire history on this Earth.
For that, I’d study trivia every day for the rest of my life.