"The new usual?" The bartender asked.

"Yep, just a water tonight. Thanks Nate."

"You know, usually when a guy gets his heart broken, alcohol is the elixir; the way to forget." He said as he poured me a glass of water, setting it down in front of me. "This lady must be pretty special to get you changing your ways."

"That's because I don't want to forget Nate. Not anymore." I took a drink, setting it back down. I turned my head toward the door and then looked back at Nate to say something, but I almost gave myself whiplash as I turned to do a double take. I blinked, looking around.

Had I imagined her?

"Nate, what's in this water?"

But then I heard it, the voice I could never forget. I turned back around, searching the room. There she walked, in route to her seat. As if feeling my presence, she looked up, her eyes connecting to mine. She stopped in her tracks, almost causing someone behind her to run into her. She quickly apologized, her cheeks turning that cute crimson shade whenever she got embarrassed or flustered. Then her eyes locked back on mine, and it was as if we were the only two people in that room.

I slowly stood up and she hesitantly walked toward me, leaving a very confused hostess.

"Grace-"

"Colt-," we said at the same time.

She looked down, biting her bottom lip, and tucking her hair behind her ear before looking back up at me.

"It's nice to see you. How have you been?"

She was acting shy and reserved. She hadn't said but a couple words to me, but I could already tell she was holding back.

"I've been...good. How-"

"That's really great." She responded, cutting me off. "Um, so how's the food today?"

How's the food? Hell no. Not gonna work.

"How's the food? Would you like to talk about the weather too Grace?"

"Well I--I," she stammered, narrowing her eyes. "I don't know Colt. What about you? How is the weather, hmm?"

Now we're getting somewhere.

"Can't complain. It's getting colder, but I suspect that's what happens when the seasons change." I winked, teasing her now.

She pursed her lips to the side, glaring at me and shaking her head.

"I don't know why I bothered coming over to say hi. I should have known you were just going to act like...well, like you."

"Well considering I am me, I'm not sure how else I am supposed to act."

Finally. There's that smile.

She crossed her arms over her chest, which only served to push her breasts up more and cause me to internally groan.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just nervous."

I took a step closer and leaned in, my nose grazing her hair. I could hear her breath hitch.

"Do I make you nervous Grace?"

She looked up into my eyes, my lips mere inches from hers. I dropped my gaze to them, before looking back into her eyes. Desire flashed across them before disappearing just as quickly, but it was there; I saw it. She placed her palm against my chest and pushed.

"If anything, you make me annoyed."

I chuckled, taking a step back.

"All apart of my charm. But I guess I can say the same."

"That you annoy yourself? Well, it only makes sense."

I chuckled, running my hands down my face.

"I meant I can say the same about you. Man, what have I been doing without you Grace?" I reached out and moved a strand of hair out of her beautiful face. "Not being annoyed I guess." I winked, and she playfully hit me, immediately pulling her hand back at the contact. The playful expression she had worn was now replaced with one I could not quite place.

"I'm actually just here for the opening of the restaurant. Your mom has a contract with Whisk Me Away, you know, the restaurant back in Chicago I am the head chef at."

"I remember."

She quirked her eyebrow at me, no doubt trying to decipher my smile.

"How long will you be staying?"

"I'm not sure. I'm just here to make sure the ambience is true to Whisk Me Away's style and help with the hiring process."

Not completely true. I knew she had been offered to co-own the restaurant and even be the head chef if she desired. What I didn't know was why my mom didn't tell me she was flying in today. I was hoping to surprise her, not have it the other way and be thrown completely off my game. I would have to have a talk with my mom about that later.

I looked down at her hand, noticing a ring missing on a certain finger. Mark, the tool, had insisted they were engaged before she left.

"No ring?"

"What?"

"Where's your fiancée Grace?"

Her eyes went wide before searching my face for any meaning behind my question.

"Hey Colt, Lucy is asking about you!" Nate yelled from down the bar, his phone pressed against his ear.

"Give me just a minute." Looking back at Grace, her eyes had narrowed and she was scowling at me. She quickly recovered and placed a sweet smile on her face as if she wasn't just staring at me like I had grown two heads.

"He's back in Chicago waiting for me. Sorry, I actually have to go though."

I raised my eyebrow at her skeptically.

What the hell was I missing?

"You have to go? Now? Weren't you going to eat?"

"I was really just trying to humor your mom. But I am not feeling the best. I am actually pretty tired from the plane ride. But I will catch up with you later. Plus, I know you have to get going yourself." She nodded over at Nate.

"Yeah, but it's you Grace. Here. I'm not concerned with anything else at the moment."

She shook her head and backed away, running into a chair. She caught herself, and looked back up at me.

"It's fine. I'll see you soon, okay? Have a good night Colt."

She turned and walked quickly away, excusing herself from guests entering. Just like that, she was walking away from me yet again. I had half a mind to chase after her, but Nate calling for me again forced me to reconsider.

Regardless, she was here, back in my life. I worked too hard to get her here. The next time she decided to walk away from me, she would have to run, and a whole hell of a lot faster than that damn horse had, because there was no way I was going to let her get away from me again.

What in the world's going on?🤔

Who is the blonde? And will these characters ever just be on the same page? Aye, aye, aye.🙄😂

Communicatation people! This is why talking and honesty is so important! Lol

Only 5 more chapters guys!

Have any embarrassing stories involving your crush? I'd love to hear them!👉