Chapter 6 #3
Wes’s smile turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry to hear that. My maternal grandmother passed when I was pretty young. I’m sorry to say I don’t fully remember her. But my dad’s mom is here in town. She lives in the assisted living facility, and I have lunch with her once a week.”
“That’s really sweet. What’s your favorite thing that she makes?” Andrea asked before taking the final sip of her wine. It wasn’t going to help her win the bet, but the taste and subtle buzz was irresistible.
Wes drummed his fingertips along the top of the bar as he weighed his options, his eyes growing a bit distant, and Andrea wished she had a window into the memories he was recalling.
She’d never met her father’s mother, as her father barely stayed around after her birth.
Her mother’s mom had been somewhat distant, the kind who wanted little to do with dirty diapers and sticky toddler fingers, and by the time Andrea was old enough to really form a relationship with the woman, she’d retired to Scotland, a lifelong dream of hers, so Andrea only saw her a handful of times before she passed away.
“I don’t remember what she calls them, but she makes these little pecan things—tarts, maybe? Anyway, they’ve got this buttery crust and a filling that’s sort of like a caramel, but not as sweet, and there’s some kind of glaze on top.”
“Pecan tassies?” Andrea asked, her professional interest piqued.
Wes shrugged one shoulder. “I’d have to ask her. All I know is they disappear within minutes whenever she brings them to family gatherings.”
Andrea took another sip of wine, considering the wager. “Actually, I don’t think I want to make you get your hands dirty in the kitchen.”
Wes raised an eyebrow, his pint glass pausing halfway to his lips. “No?”
“No.” She let the moment hang, enjoying the way his eyes darkened slightly, and the way he leaned just a fraction closer. “I want something else instead.”
The silence stretched between them, charged with possibility. She could practically see the thoughts flickering behind his eyes, and she had to bite back a smile at how easy it was to fluster him.
“Which is?” he asked, his voice dropping half an octave.
“An extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning,” she said, breaking into a grin at his expression. “Start at ten-thirty instead of nine-thirty. I’m on vacation, after all.”
Wes threw back his head and laughed, the sound rich and genuine. “Here I was wondering what I’d gotten myself into.”
“Disappointed?” Andrea asked, running her finger around the rim of her empty wine glass.
His smile sent her mind spiraling down a path that would undoubtedly land her on Santa’s naughty list, and she loved the thrill. “Surprised,” Wes said. “Though I have to say, my crew won’t mind a late start. We’re actually running a bit ahead of schedule anyway.”
“Perfect. So we have a deal?”
“We have a deal.” He stood and gestured toward the dartboard. “But only if you can actually beat me. Fair warning—I’ve been coming here since I was old enough to drink legally.”
“And how long ago was that?” Andrea asked, sliding off her barstool.
“Long enough to know every quirk of that board,” he said, leading her toward the corner where the dartboard hung. “The cork’s a little loose on the upper right, and the lighting casts a shadow if you’re too tall.”
“Damn. I should have worn flats,” Andrea teased, glancing down at her heeled boots. Even with her three-inch boost, Wes was taller than her, likely somewhere around six-foot-three.
Andrea smiled and accepted the set of darts he handed her. Their fingers brushed during the exchange, and she felt a little jolt of electricity that had nothing to do with magic.
“Ladies first,” Wes said, stepping aside with a gallant gesture.
Andrea weighed the darts in her palm, testing their balance. “How many rounds?”
“Best two out of three? Standard rules—closest to the bullseye wins the round.”
“You’re on.”
She stepped up to the line marked in faded tape on the floor, very aware of Wes positioned just behind her right shoulder. When she drew back her arm for the first throw, she could feel the warmth radiating from his body, and wondered what would happen if she were to lean back against him…
Focus, Andi.
Her first dart landed in the outer ring, respectable but not impressive.
“Not bad!” Wes said, flashing her an encouraging grin.
She couldn’t help but frown, her competitive side wrestling for the driver’s seat of her mind as she stepped aside.
As Wes brushed past her to take his turn, his hand briefly touched her lower back—a casual, steadying gesture that set loose a flurry of butterflies in her stomach. She watched the way his shoulders moved as he lined up his shot, the confident set of his jaw.
His dart landed dead center in the bullseye.
Andrea swore, but gave him a smile as he stepped aside. “Show-off.”
“I did warn you I’ve had some years of practice,” he said with another flash of a grin. “Plus, I really want those cupcakes. I have a bit of a sweet tooth.”
“Really? I never would have guessed,” she teased, taking in his athletic build. “Honestly, you look like you live on protein shakes and raw eggs.”
“Don’t tell the guys, but I keep a stash of mini chocolate bars in my truck’s glove compartment.”
She laughed and took her place at the line. “Your secret is safe with me.”
The urge to use a tiny bit of magic flickered through Andrea’s mind as she took her place at the line. It wouldn’t take much. Just a pinch.
She took a deep breath and released the urge. She threw the dart, the tip landing just outside the bullseye—close, but not close enough.
“Tough luck,” Wes said as he went to collect the darts. “That was a good throw.”
Round two went similarly, with Wes taking an early lead while Andrea’s throws stayed frustratingly just shy of perfect. When it came time to take her last shot at winning the round, and thus moving into a tiebreaker, she hesitated, spinning the dart between her thumb and forefinger.
On her exhale, she fed a spark of magic into the dart and let it fly.
The dart streaked through the air, curving slightly to correct for her spell’s pull to the center of the board—but just as quickly, a wave of guilt crashed over her.
Mid-flight, she mentally yanked back the magic, causing the dart to wobble wildly in the air. It struck the dartboard with a dull thud, and fell to the floor with a clatter.
“Oh!” Andrea sucked on her lower teeth.
Wes winced sympathetically. “Tough break. That looked like it was going to be a good hit, too. I was preparing for a tiebreaker!”
Andrea smiled, hoping the heat in her cheeks wasn’t obvious in the low lighting. What had she been thinking? Cheating at darts? That had to be a new low.
“Now, about those cupcakes…” Wes teased as he collected the errant dart and those lodged in the board. He flashed that dimpled grin as he turned back to face her.
“A deal’s a deal,” Andrea agreed, matching his smile. “Any flavor preferences? Allergies?”
“No allergies. As for flavor, what’s your signature recipe?” Wes asked as they returned to the bar.
“That depends on the season,” Andrea replied, settling back onto her stool. “For winter, I make a chai spice with brown butter frosting that people seem to love. Or there’s always the classics: red velvet, double chocolate, chocolate with fluffy peanut butter frosting—”
“How am I supposed to choose?” Wes asked with a laugh. “I guess I’ll have to challenge you to a rematch before you leave town.”
Andrea glanced up at him, surprised by the offer. “A rematch, huh? Maybe we should try pool next time, though that’s not really my game, either.”
Wes chuckled and reached into the back pocket of his faded jeans to retrieve a well-worn leather wallet. “Now why does that sound like the start of a hustle?” he asked, one brow cocked.
Andrea laughed and reached for her purse.
Wes noticed her and gestured with his hand. “I’ve got this. Winner pays.”
“No, that wasn’t part of the deal,” Andrea protested with a shake of her head, still rummaging for her own wallet.
Molly arrived with their tab, and before Andrea could react, Wes had already handed over his card.
Andrea frowned and set her purse on the bar. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Molly swiped Wes’s card and handed him the printed receipt and a pen. He signed and added a generous tip—a factoid Andrea added to the rapidly growing list of things she liked about the man.
“You two be careful out there,” Molly said after she slipped the signed copy into the drawer. “They probably haven’t salted the sidewalks just yet.”
“Thanks, Molly. You take care,” Wes called.
Andrea echoed the sentiments and followed as Wes gestured for her to go ahead of him as they walked to the door. Andrea fidgeted with the strap of her purse and the buttons on her long wool coat as Wes moved to open the door for her.
They stepped outside into the December air, crisp and sharp, their breath forming small clouds as they walked down the sidewalk. “Where are you parked?” he asked.
Andrea hit the key fob for the rental SUV and its lights flashed in response from the parking space a few yards away. “That’s me,” she said. “Thank you for dinner,” Andrea said when they reached the front bumper. “This was really fun, and the food and wine were just what I needed.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Wes stepped closer, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to look at him properly. “I’m glad you came out. I needed a fun night, too.”
The air between them seemed to thicken despite the cold. Andrea became very aware of how close he was standing, how she could see the individual snowflakes catching in his dark hair.
A gust of particularly bitter wind whipped around them, and Andrea shivered involuntarily.
“Oh no, you’re freezing,” Wes said, immediately stepping back and reaching for her car door handle. “Get in before you turn into a popsicle.”
The moment broke, but the warmth in his eyes remained as he held the door open for her.
“Drive safe,” he said once she was settled in the driver’s seat. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Nine-thirty,” he added with a smile.
Andrea smiled up at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow to pay off the bet. Though you never did tell me what flavor you wanted.”
His grin widened. “Surprise me.”
She nodded as she got behind the wheel, thinking that the handsome man waving at her in the cold was the biggest surprise of all.