8. Meg: A Worrisome First Encounter

Chapter eight

Meg – A Worrisome First Encounter

"There's a really hot guy that's been asking about you," Mia smirks, as she finishes making dinner for us.

"What? Why?" I whip my head around.

"He just wants to know if a woman with a dog the size of Texas is still staying here," she giggled. "His words, not mine."

"Did he say anything else?" I ask.

"Why, are you curious? Should I have corrected him and said that you actually have two cats and an iguana instead?"

"I just don't want the guy to cost me my job," I say, explaining what happened when we crashed into each other.

Mia can't hold back her laughter. "So, you bit the guy's head off?"

"He just stood there, looking at me like he didn't know what to do!" I defend. "Most gentlemen would have immediately helped me up instead of looking at me like an idiot."

"A hot idiot," she grins. "I saw him hanging out by the pool earlier today. If he's not a total himbo, I say go for it."

"Go for what, exactly?"

"Meg, you know exactly what I mean." She points at me. "You haven't dated anyone for a few years, and now you have this guy trying desperately to find out your name. Just talk to him and go from there."

I frowned. "Easier said than done."

"What's the problem? If you like him, great, but if not, he'll check out and you'll never see him again."

"What if he's trying to find me so he can complain and get me to lose my job?" I theorize.

"What gives you that impression?" She asks, as we settle at the table with our plates of pasta pesto.

"I don't know, he just seems like the kind of stuck-up guy who's used to getting what he wants," I reply. Mia gives me a look.

"Wow, you got all of that in a matter of thirty seconds? And besides, Meg, do you really think our grandfather would fire you? Come on, girl, get serious."

"Okay, you know what I mean! He's too perfect-looking and was probably raised with a silver spoon in his mouth. At least, that's the impression I got of him."

"That doesn't seem fair to me." Mia shakes her head. "You're judging this guy way too much. So, he's a little clumsy and got distracted before he could apologize for running into you. And?"

Well dang, when she puts it that way…

Maybe my best plan is to find him and apologize, even though it was his fault. I hate to admit it but those piercing brown eyes and blond hair—it's a lethal combination .

"You're thinking about it!" Mia points, teasing me. "You like him!"

"I was mad, but I'm not blind," I admit. "Yes, he's a hunk and nice to look at, and maybe, maybe there might be some redeeming qualities about the man."

"There's only one way to find out," she says teasingly. "Do you want his name?"

Trying not to seem too quick to jump on her offer, I feign a contemplative glance.

"Drew Wyatt," Mia smirks. "You're a horrible actress, you know that?"

"No way," I object.

"Really? Because you're drooling." My sister laughs that laugh she uses when she "cracks herself up." Her words, not mine.

"Shut up. It's not like you're not doing the same, Miss Wears Her Emotions on Full Display." I roll my eyes before pushing my food around my plate. "Drew, huh?"

"Yup but he wouldn't tell Susan where he's from," she says, referencing our front desk clerk. "I guess he's a bit of a mystery man."

"I guess so but I'm not getting my hopes up about him," I say, more to myself than to Mia.

The last thing I want is to fall head-over-heels for a guy just to end up having my heart broken just as fast. Still, I can't ignore the picture I have in my head of the perfect, happy life.

In an ideal world, I'd be living here in Seaside, blissfully married to my perfect match. He'd be strong and smart and know exactly how to make me laugh. He'd know the right way to push my buttons too. We'd enjoy little things like evening walks on the beach after cooking and having dinner together.

Every once in a while, we'd pick a new place to travel to. Yes, Seaside is paradise but there's an entire world out there that I still want to see. I'd hate to see it alone. We'd plan trips to Paris and kiss in the rain. We'd travel to Rome and eat pizza in the Colosseum. We'd insist on seeing Big Ben and trying all the sweets in the UK that we don't have here in the States.

I'm not saying I can't have this by myself, but it would be cool to experience some of these things with a loving man. Maybe even this Drew guy.

I wouldn't mind holding a man's hand as we walk along the beach at sunset, and taking our time heading home so we can see the moon and the stars overhead. And I wouldn't mind at all if we got to enjoy a nice meal together and talk about all the things that are important to us, the things we want to experience, and so on.

…Oh, good grief! What am I doing? I hardly know this guy and suddenly, my heart is fluttering at the prospect of romance with him. Heck, he's already asking about me so there's technically a chance he wants to get to know me, right?

Although, I'm not holding my breath. There aren't many guys who fawn over girls who bite their heads off when they first meet.

I just hope my first impression wasn't as bad as I'm making it out to be in my head.