Chapter 6
Hi.
Allie looked down at her phone, shocked to see a text from Carson only a few minutes after he’d left. Hi. Did I forget something in your truck?
No.
Then why was he texting her? Did you need something?
No, do I need a reason to talk to you?
No. I don’t know. She started to type then erased it to try again.
I just assumed… She deleted that one too.
What’s up? There, that sounded better. Allie shook her head at herself.
This conversation was not starting out well.
Carson was going to think she was weird.
She needed to calm down and not act like the guy wanted something from her.
Nothing, I was just continuing our conversation.
You could have called. She preferred phone conversations to text. It took too long to type what she wanted to say. Plus, it was easy to misinterpret something someone said because you couldn’t read a tone of voice.
But then you’d be on the phone with me instead of calling the tow company.
The tow company she had yet to call because she’d been busy putting groceries away.
She should do that now before it got too late.
Allie called them and told them where the spare key hiding spot was.
They said they’d get to it when they could and deliver it to the auto shop.
She had some time before that happened. Allie had a new text from Carson when she got off the phone with them.
She quickly sent one to Sandy asking for a ride to the auto shop later before looking at Carson’s text.
I’m really glad I saw you at the store today.
Allie bit her lip, feeling a warmth spread in her belly.
She couldn’t remember the last time someone had been happy to see her.
I had hoped not to see anyone there. I look a mess.
Allie looked down at herself. Not her best outfit.
As far as second impressions, she couldn’t say she was dressed any better than her business suit.
Not that she looked grungy, but it was far from sexy.
I didn’t think so.
Allie rolled her eyes as she plopped down on the couch and typed out her reply. If you try to say I looked beautiful, I will hit you.
More threats?
Promises.
Allie laid back on the couch, her head resting on a throw pillow, her face pulled in a grin as she waited for Carson to text her back.
She had other things she should be doing, like making plans if she needed a rental.
Her house still needed cleaning. There was laundry to be done too.
Allie could think of a bunch of other things she should be doing right now, but she was enjoying herself bantering with Carson.
Who would have thought? Sandy. She supposed she owed Sandy an apology for all the horrible things she’d said about Sandy’s friend. Allie had first pegged him as an inconsiderate asshole, but now she was seeing that she had been wrong about him. Maybe Sandy hadn’t been off in her initial assessment.
So, you never answered my question.
Yes, I did. I said yes.
Not about the date.
I don’t remember another question. She typed and waited. She pulled her lip between her teeth. She knew what he was referring to. She had purposely ignored that question earlier. Mainly because she hadn’t made up her mind about him yet. Now she was getting a better idea of who he was.
Do you forgive me?
I wouldn’t have agreed to a date if I hadn’t forgiven you. By the way, are you texting and driving? She didn’t know where he lived, but she didn’t think it was right around the corner.
Why? Are you worried about my safety?
More like I’m worried about others on the road. Texting and driving was one of the leading causes of traffic accidents. She was having fun talking to him, but not at the expense of other people’s safety.
I’m a safe driver. I got you home safely, didn’t I?
Allie sent him an angry face emoji. Carson! Tell me the truth, are you driving and texting?
If I said yes, what would you do?
Stop texting you until you are off the road. Texting and driving were a hard no for her. If that was the kind of driver he was, she would never ride with him again. She’d seen him super glued to his phone last week. If he did that and drove, she would tear him a new one.
Well, I am driving, but I have my phone plugged into my truck so I can talk text. Very safe. Happy?
Her car was old enough it didn’t have that feature, but Sandy’s did. It was pretty handy. Very. It was safer than texting while driving. At least he could keep his focus on the road.
Well, as long as madam is happy.
She is, and it’s Your Majesty. It has a better ring to it. Better than the other lame title he’d given her.
Well, if I wasn’t driving and worrying about others on the road, I’d bow down to you.
That gave her a visual. Carson bowing down to her. Worshipping her. With his hands, or better yet, his mouth. That man had a sensual mouth. Woo, she had to fan herself after that visual. Lucky for you I’ve never cared for titles.
And what do you care for? Besides rescuing families?
Allie had had to wait to text him back until after she’d picked her car up from the auto shop. When Sandy had asked how she’d gotten home, she couldn’t hide her surprise when Allie said Carson. Sandy was even more shocked they were texting each other.
Of course, after that, Sandy demanded details, but Allie stayed tight-lipped. Mainly because there wasn’t anything to share. They had only been texting for a little while. This was the most they had spoken to each other since they’d met.
You there?
Allie cursed. She’d put her phone on silent while Sandy was waiting with her, not wanting to be rude with her friend, and completely forgotten about it. It had been a few hours since she’d last texted Carson. Yeah, sorry. Sandy came and got me. I just got home.
Did you get your car back already?
She supposed it would be soon for some, but she’d had enough trouble with her car over the years, she knew the mechanic well enough that he’d gotten her in quickly. Burt was a sweet older guy who treated her like a daughter. Yeah. Good as new. Well, good as she was going to be.
As much as Allie may not want to, she was going to have to consider buying a new car sooner rather than later.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford a new car, she just liked her car.
She’d bought it used when she’d moved out here and thought it had a lot of personality.
She didn’t want to have to break in a new car.
To answer your question, beating you at paintball.
Ha! You wish.
Don’t underestimate me.
A mistake I won’t repeat.
Do you take a lot of women out for paintballing? She was curious if she was the first or one in the long line of many. She couldn’t say it was a typical date for adults, but she was still looking forward to it.
You are a first. Honestly, I haven’t been in a long time.
Why now? Why choose that as our outing? She wasn’t sure she could call it a date yet.
He had a lot of redeeming still to do in her eyes, even though she’d already forgiven him.
Paintballing didn’t seem like a get-to-know-you activity, but then again, the standard, boring movie was hardly a date setting to know anything about someone without being shushed for talking above a whisper.
Sandy said you were adventurous, and the idea just popped into my head.
She did? That didn’t sound good. Not that it wasn’t true, but still. Telling people about their misadventures in life, especially in college, was not suitable for new relationships. Did she say anything else?
No, just that you were more adventurous than she was. Why, something I should know?
She could almost see the smirk through the phone. Nope, nothing at all. At least, nothing that I would admit to.
If it makes you feel any better, I like adventure. Stale and boring gets old.
She’d tamed down a lot over the years, but Allie did like having an adventure every once in a while. She normally had to drag Sandy out with her—reluctantly, she might add.
Oh my God. I hadn’t noticed the time. I need to get to bed.
She had just happened to glance at the clock on her bedside table and saw it was close to eleven p.m. There was a sales pitch tomorrow for a new pharmaceutical company.
Their company could really use the contract.
She hadn’t gone over the final pitch today like she normally would.
She would have to get up early tomorrow to do it.
I lost track of time too. Well, sweet dreams, Allie.
Night, Carson.
Allie set her phone on the charger and snuggled into bed with a smile on her face. She hoped the week would go by fast. For once, she was excited about a date. She wasn’t sure she would call paintballing a date, but she was excited for it regardless.