Chapter 4

"So how do you know Barrett?"Mark asks me. He tries to make the question sound casual, but I can hear the touch of annoyance in his voice.

"I just met him today." I glance up from my menu to see Mark staring at me.

He looks kind of pissed off. What the heck did I do? I never noticed how beady his eyes are before now. His round face is scrunched up, and after being in the presence of Barrett it makes me notice how small Mark is.

The image of Barrett leaning against my kitchen counter as we talked earlier flashes in my mind. His body is so big, but somehow he moves like a cat. He was so at ease and confident. I wonder if he's still there now?

"And you let him come in your house?" Mark says, breaking my train of thought.

I suddenly feel like I'm a child being scolded.

"He's my contractor and it's my home. I can let whoever I want come and go as they please." I sit up a little straighter and put the menu down on the table. I don't want to make a fuss inside the small restaurant, but I also won't let him talk to me like that.

"You're a pretty young girl, Ginny. Don't be na?ve." He goes back to looking at his own menu as if dismissing the conversation.

I try and think about what he's saying, and I'm not sure if I should be defensive. I don't know Barrett at all and I have no idea if he's a good guy or not. Maybe I shouldn"t give my key to a random stranger, but Gabi trusted him. Maybe Mark is only trying to look out for me.

"My sister used him in the past and she did the same. Plus, I looked up his company and everything I found out about them was wonderful."

I pick my menu back up, trying to let it go. I might have said that a little sharply, but if I'm lucky Mark will think I'm a rude date and won't push for a second.

"Just be careful, Ginny. That man gets around, and I don't mean just his contracting skills."

I keep my eyes pinned on the menu while not actually reading it. Even when the waitress comes and begins to ramble off the specials, I'm not listening. Mark's words hit me harder than they should. I don't care that my contractor is a ladies' man. At least that's what I'm trying to tell myself.

"And for you, miss?" I glance up at the waitress. I didn"t hear a word she said, nor have I even read the menu.

"She'll have the fish special." Mark hands her his menu, then takes mine to give her, too.

Did he just order for me? I fight an eye roll. I hate fish, but I keep that to myself. I only want this date to be over. At least no catastrophes have happened and I haven"t embarrassed myself. That's probably only because I'm at my embarrassment limit for the day.

Still, the more I think on this whole thing the more I think maybe Mark and Barrett have some problem I don't know about. Barrett looked pissed too when we pulled out of the driveway. If I had to guess from the comment Mark made, maybe they were in a fight over a woman.

"You're single, right?" I blurt out. Not that I want to be with him, but I'd never go out on a date with a man who was with someone else.

"No reason to get jealous. I only have eyes for you." He winks one of those beady eyes at me.

How did I seriously never notice them before now? I want to tell him this isn't going anywhere. I lived up to the one date that was required of me, but maybe I'll wait until the end of the date. No need to make this more awkward.

I pick up my iced sweet tea, take a drink and pray the food comes soon. It's never been hard to talk to Mark before, but at this moment I can't think of a freaking thing to say.

I know a lot of people who work for the city. I do a lot of freelance work for the mayor in our big little city. I'm really good at research and can dig up anything if you give me enough time. I've been known to sit in the library archives for days if I have to. Then I write up the cliff notes on what I'd found. I've even written dozens of the mayor speeches over the years.

"Soo…?" The word drags out.

I can't come up with anything to say. I set my tea back down onto the table and look around. Fish has to be fast to make, right?

"Barrett is—" Mark begins. I really don't want to hear Mark talk about what a ladies' man Barrett is. It makes my stomach upset. Crap. I'm going to fall for this guy. I'm going to have to avoid him as much as I can so that doesn"t happen.

"Barrett is what?" My eyes shoot up to see Barrett standing beside our table. I stare up at his handsome face, shocked that he's here. He glances over at me before his eyes go back to Mark. "Barrett is what?" he says again.

Mark pales before he turns bright red. Until now, I didn"t think it was possible for someone to turn redder than me. Though I think Mark's redness is from anger and not embarrassment.

"I'm on a date."

My eyes travel between the two of them, and I wonder what the heck is going on between them. Why is Barrett even here?

"Not anymore," Barrett throws back. Just then the waitress walks up with plates of food in her hand. "Come on, Ginny."

He holds his big rough palm out to me and I stare at it for a second. I'm not sure what to do.

"There's a problem at the house," he adds.

"You can't handle it?" Mark huffs out.

That does it. I take Barrett's hand because I'll take any reason to get out of here. His fingers lock around mine and I swear a spark fires though my whole body. Barrett gives me a small tug and I stand up from my chair.

"Sorry, Mark," I tell him as Barrett pulls out a wallet and tosses a few bills onto the table.

When we're walking out of the restaurant, I turn to look over my shoulder. Mark doesn"t say anything, but if looks could kill the two of us would be dead.

"You need to stay away from him," Barrett grits out as he opens his truck door and helps me in. He mumbles something about needing side steps installed for me. My breath hitches as he grabs my waist and lifts me up.

"You don't have to get a side step," I say, clearing my throat. Jesus, he's strong.

He turns to look at me, and his deep blue eyes rake over my body. His lips turn up at one corner, giving me a playful half-smile.

"Yeah, I do," he says, leaning close to me.

He smells like mint and sunshine, and I lick my lips thinking about what it would be like to kiss him.

He closes his eyes for a moment and mutters something under his breath. He shakes his head then pulls back and shuts the truck door. I take a second to try and get my emotions under control.

I'm used to being shy around men at times, but with Barrett it's not only about being shy. I actually care what he might be thinking about me. I don't even know what just happened back there. All I know is that I really hope that counts as a full date because I'm not doing that again.

Barrett gets in on the other side off the truck and pulls away from the curb. I glance down and realize he was double parked. I peek over at him, and his hands are clenched on the steering wheel, his knuckles white.

"I take it you don't like Mark?" I hedge. I only get a grunt as confirmation.

"Why do I need to stay away from him?" He glances over at me when he comes to a stoplight. "Wait. Why were you even at the restaurant? Did you know I was there?"