Chapter 14: Robyn

Jenny seems genuinely happy to see me. She even tells Chris I’m doing a great job.

Now everyone at the table is staring at me, and I feel self-conscious. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”

“Well, I’m glad to have you,” Jenny says. “And now, speaking of the diner, I’d better get back over there to help close up.” She slides out of her seat. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

I nod. “You bet.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Chris says to Jenny as he stands and follows her.

“So, Robyn,” says the pretty Asian woman sitting next to me. “What do you think of our fair town so far?”

Micah introduced us all earlier, but there are so many new names and faces, I can’t remember them all. She’s maybe a few years older than I am, probably mid-twenties. She’s trim and fit, wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt featuring the silhouette of a rock climber with the text I do it with ropes . Her long black hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Her pretty dark eyes are lined with kohl.

“I’m Maya.” She offers me her hand, and we shake. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s small.”

She smirks. “You can definitely say that.”

“I’ve lived in Denver my whole life, so Bryce is quite an adjustment.”

Maya nods. “I get it. I came here from L.A., which is huge by comparison.”

“What brought you to Colorado?”

She shrugs. “The rocks. What else?” She says it like duh . “I’m a climber. I go where the big vertical rocks are.”

That makes me smile. “Are you with the search and rescue team?”

She nods. “I am.” She sips her beer. “And I teach rock climbing to tourists at the Lodge.”

“The Lodge?”

“McIntyre Wilderness Excursions. It’s a swanky lodge just outside town where bougie tourists come to engage in wilderness activities—you know, horseback riding, hiking, camping, rock climbing. It’s like Hunger Games , but without the crazy people, and no one dies. At least that’s the goal. We teach them to do fun, outdoorsy stuff.”

Maya points to a dark-haired guy at the other end of the table, another plaid shirt wearer. “That’s Travis. He’s a rock climber, too. Beside him is John Burke. He manages the stables. If you want to go on a trail ride, he’s your guy. Try not to stare, though.” She bumps my shoulder with hers.

I notice the man in question has burn scars covering much of the left side of his face.

“And beside him, the redhead—that’s John’s girlfriend, Gabrielle. She’s relatively new here. She runs the restaurant at the Lodge. And the couple at the end of the table—Hannah and Killian—they’re the bosses. They own the Lodge and run the S&R team.”

“S&R?” I ask.

“Search and rescue. And of course you already know our pilot, Micah.”

She winks at me, which makes me think that she suspects I know him far better than I actually do.

“He’s fixing my car.”

Smirking, she nods. “Riiight.”

“No, really. That’s it. He’s fixing my car.” And, well, now he’s letting me sleep in his bed, but I don’t mention that part. People are already getting ideas about us.

Maya nods. “Got it.”

But I don’t think she has got it.

I chat mostly with Maya for the rest of the evening. Micah’s pretending not to listen in on our conversation, but I suspect he is.

When Maya offers to give me rock climbing lessons, Micah leans over and whispers, “I don’t think so” in my ear. He sure is being bossy tonight, trying to tell me what I can and can’t do.

I lean close and whisper, “Newsflash. You’re not the boss of me.”

That earns me a grin that makes my belly flutter.

On their way out, Maggie and her husband stop to say goodbye to me. She says they’ve got to get going because their daughter, Claire, who’s at home with her big brothers, is throwing a fit and refusing to go to bed.

“She’s got some new teeth coming in, the poor thing,” Maggie says, nodding as if I should understand what that means. “She’s been cranky for days.”

The appetizers are disappearing from the trays, and somehow, magically, the trays are refilled. The jukebox is playing a mix of music, from old school country to some current pop songs. And Killian is telling us a story about his first encounter with a real-life ‘gator back in his hometown in Louisiana.

I finished my drink long ago and feel like getting another. “Excuse me,” I say as I stand. “Be right back.”

I walk up to the bar to order another drink.

Jack is standing behind the counter. “Hey, Robyn. What can I get you?”

“How about another strawberry daquiri? Heavy on the strawberry, light on the daquiri.”

“Coming right up.” He grabs a fresh glass and starts gathering the ingredients. “Are you enjoying yourself this evening?”

I nod. “It’s nice to meet more of Micah’s friends.”

Someone brushes up against me, and I smile, thinking it’s Micah. But when I glance over, I see it’s Tommy. I step aside, putting some space between us.

“Good evening, Robyn with a y ,” he says. “Not the bird,” he adds. “I didn’t forget.”

I have to admit Tommy’s a really good-looking guy. Tall, with thick blond hair that flops over his forehead and blue eyes. I’d put him in his late twenties, about the same age as Micah and Chris. I bet they all went to school together. Tommy’s wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a fancy white dress shirt with mother-of-pearl snaps and one of those string ties. I guess this is him dressed up.

“Hello, Tommy.” I turn my attention back to Jack, who’s nearly done mixing my drink.

When Jack hands me my glass, Tommy lays some cash on the counter. “Her drink’s on me,” he says with a smile.

“Somehow I doubt that,” Jack murmurs, ignoring the money.

“No, thanks, Tommy.” I slide the money back to him. “I’m running a tab.” That’s not actually true. I just don’t want him buying me anything.

Tommy glances over at the big table where Micah and the others are sitting. “I spotted you earlier sitting with Micah Jackson. Are you two dating or something?”

“No,” I say, perhaps a bit hastily. “We’re friends. That’s all.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” he says.

As a popular Adele song starts playing over the speakers, courtesy of the jukebox, eager couples surge onto the dance floor.

Tommy holds out his hand. “How about a dance?”

“No, thanks.” I pick up my drink and, as I start to walk away, he snags my arm.

“Robyn, wait.” He looks me directly in the eye. “I owe you an apology.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I do. When we first met, at the diner, I said something I shouldn’t have. I was a bit forward with you, and I regret that. I’d like to apologize.”

“Apology accepted. Now if you’ll excuse me—” I try to pull free, but he tightens his hold.

“Don’t go. Dance with me. Just once, please.”

Even though he’s not looking our way, I get the feeling Jack is paying rapt attention. Just one word and he’d—

“Just one dance, Robyn. Let me show you I know how to be a gentleman.”

I’m already thinking he’s doing a poor job of it, but before I can even formulate a reply, he takes the drink from my hand and sets it on the bar. Then he tucks my arm in the crook of his and walks me out to the dance floor.

“You look gorgeous tonight,” he says as he pulls me close. His gaze skims my body, finally landing on my cleavage.

I’m trying to decide between kneeing him in the balls or wrapping my fingers around his neck.

“Cat got your tongue?” he asks, grinning at me.

“No. I’m just trying to decide what to make of you. You’re pushy.”

His grin widens as if he thinks that was a compliment. “When I see something

I like, I go for it.”

I frown. “I don’t like pushy men.”

He ignores that completely, and instead he reaches out to touch my hair. “Your hair is gorgeous, like a dark flame.” He reaches up and brushes his thumb across my cheek. “ You’re gorgeous. I almost didn’t bother coming tonight, but thank God I did.”

His touch sends a shiver down my spine—not the good kind, but rather the creepy kind. I attempt to pull out of his embrace, but he tightens his grip. “Let me go, Tommy.”

“Oh, come on,. Don’t run off, sugar. We’re just gettin’ to know each other.”

Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me, a firm chest pressing against my back. A pair of hands settles on my shoulders, and I know who it is even before he speaks.

Relief that Micah is here with me is palpable, so much so that I sag against him.

“I’m cutting in,” Micah says.

Tommy’s expression tightens. “Get lost, Jackson. We’re just getting started.”

“Robyn?” Micah’s lips hover above my right ear.

“No, we’re not,” I say. “We’re done.” I attempt to pull my hands free from Tommy’s, but he doesn’t take a hint.

“Let her go, Hoffman.” Micah’s using a tone of voice I’ve never heard before.

“That’s enough,” I snap, tired of Tommy’s high-handedness. I yank my hands free and step back against Micah, who drops his hands to my hips and pulls me into him.

Tommy glares at me. “Fine! Enjoy slumming with the half-breed.”

I flinch at the racial slur. “You son of a bitch!”

I raise my hand to slap him, but Micah catches my wrist and pulls it down to my side. “Don’t bother, Robyn. He’s not worth it.”

Tommy walks away and heads for the exit.

When I turn to face Micah, I’m seething on his behalf. To my surprise, he seems completely unfazed by the insult.

“You’re quite the mama bear,” he says, as if that delights him.

“Why aren’t you pissed?”

“At Tommy?” He scoffs. “What’s the point? He’s been tossing barbs at me since we were in middle school. He’s a spoiled rich kid who’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter. I couldn’t care less what he thinks about me.” Micah threads our fingers together. “At the risk of being soundly rejected, I’d like to ask you to dance.”

As I gaze up into a pair of fathomless dark eyes, tingles race through me. Butterflies careen in my belly. All good vibes. His broad shoulders block out everything and everyone, until it’s just the two of us standing here. “I’d love to dance with you.”

His expression relaxes, as if he’s relieved, or even a little bit surprised by my answer. He takes me into his arms, and we start to move. His hands guide mine, gracefully, fluidly.

“I’ll bet you charmed all the girls in high school with your smooth moves.”

He laughs. “Not so much.”

I frown. “I find that hard to believe.”

“Not too many girls in my high school were keen to dance with the half-breed .”

“Are you serious?” I’m angry for him.

“It wasn’t that big of a deal. And now, they’re not too good to bring me their vehicles when they stop running.”

“You should refuse them business.”

“Nah. It’s water under the bridge.”

Micah turns me effortlessly, and I simply follow his lead.

I’m still dumbfounded and pissed that anyone would toss racial slurs at him, now or back then. “People are such idiots.”

He chuckles. “People are people. Some are awesome, others are big disappointments.”

The song ends, and another one begins— Make You Feel My Love sung by Adele. I’ve always loved this song, but her version is one of the best.

As soon as the vocals begin, the crowd around us fades away, and my vision narrows to the man holding me in his arms. His grip on my hands is strong, firm, and somehow still gentle.

What started as a dance—more like a dare—has quickly turned into something more. Something I can’t explain. His gaze is locked on mine, his expression suddenly serious, and I can’t look away.

He releases my hands and slips his arms around me, pulling me even closer to him. When my breasts press against his chest, it feels so right.

Whoever is programming the jukebox really loves Adele, because the next slow song is one of hers, too, Easy on Me. We effortlessly move from one song to the next without missing a step. Micah presses a hand to my back, and the weight of his touch seeps into me, stealing my breath as heat rushes through me. When he begins to run his hand up and down my back, my knees go weak, threatening to buckle on me.

In a move based on self-preservation take a step back, putting some much-needed space between us. I feel flustered, overwhelmed.

“Is everything okay?” he asks.

“Sure.” I glance over at the bar, where Jack and Ruth are both watching us. “I should get my drink before it melts.” I give Micah an apologetic smile before I bolt, practically running back to the counter.

My drink is right where I left it on the bar.

Jack picks it up and hands it to me. “I kept an eye on it for you.”

I gulp the icy liquid, drinking so quickly I end up with a brain freeze. I set the empty glass on the bar. “Can I have water, please?” I’ve had enough alcohol tonight. I need water before I lose my head and do something foolish.

Ruth gives me a small smile, but she doesn’t say anything as she hands me a cold bottle of spring water.

As I twist off the cap, I glance behind me and see Micah seated once more at our table. My heart is pounding.

What the hell am I doing?

When I return to our table and take my seat beside Micah, he stands and pulls his wallet out of his back pocket, opens it, and fishes out a few bills, which he lays on the table. “Time to call it a night, guys. I’ve got an early morning.” He looks down at me expectantly. “Ready?”

Nodding, I stand and reach into my front pocket for some of my cash tips from earlier today. “I’ll pay for my own food and drinks.”

“That’s okay,” he says. “I’ve got it.”

Ignoring him, I lay a twenty on top of the money he left.

On our way out, we stop at the bar to say goodnight to Jack. Ruth’s no longer there. I wonder what she thought of me dancing with her brother.

We walk down the back hallway and stop at the last door on the right, which is partly open. I spot Ruth seated behind a desk in a room that must be her office.

“’Night, sis,” Micah says as he pauses at her door. “We’re heading out.”

When Ruth looks up, I’m struck all over again by how much they look alike.

“Goodnight, you two,” she says. “It was a pleasure to see you again, Robyn. Glad you could stop by. You’re welcome back anytime.”

Once we’re outside, Micah walks me to my door, unlocks it for me, and opens it.

“I like your sister,” I say as I settle into the front passenger seat.

He smiles. “She likes you, too.”

“How can you tell?”

“She invited you back, didn’t she?” With a grin, he closes my door and walks around to the driver’s side.

We drive back to the auto shop in silence. I don’t know about Micah, but my mind is back on that dance floor. It felt good to be in his arms. Really good. Maybe too good.

I glance over at him, wondering what he’s thinking, but his eyes are glued to the road.