I just shake my head. “It’s not for me.”
She gets my change out of the register and hands it to me. “Is that for Millie?” she asks, gesturing to the Styrofoam carton between us.
“Yep. She looked like she wanted it.”
She puts her hands on the edge of the counter. “Well, Mr. Austin Yates, there may be some hope for you yet then.”
I thank her for my meal and walk out of the diner with a light step. Even though I feel like I got the third degree, I at least feel like I may just have a chance with the curvy Millie Ogle. There’s no way her protective friend would give me the go ahead if not. I pick up my pace, excited to find out and see Millie again.
2
Millie
I knock on my dad’s door to his office and walk in to set his food on his desk. “Here ya go. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.”
He claps his hands and rubs them together. “Thanks, sweetie. My favorite.”
“You’re welcome. You going back to the ranch after you eat?”
“No, actually I have an appointment. Then I’ll be heading home.”
“All right, Dad, but you know the whole point of you hiring Mike as the store manager was so you could spend more time at home.”
He opens the package of food and inhales deeply. “I know. I’m going as soon as my meeting’s over.”
“Okay, love you.”
“Love you too. Thanks for the food, honey.”
I walk back to my office, completely avoiding Mike, and take a seat at my desk. I pick through my salad and wish I had just gotten the cake instead of what I ordered.
“I’m here to see Millie.”
The voice is one I don’t recognize, and I slide my chair a little to the side so I can see out the opened door into the store. I almost choke on a piece of lettuce when I recognize the hot cowboy I just saw minutes ago at the diner.
Mike moves and blocks my view. I can hear him talking. “I’m the manager here. Anything you need or have a question about should be directed to me.”
I roll my eyes and stand up, wiping my already sweaty palms down the front of my pants. I walk toward the door. “I’m Millie. How can I help you?” I ask the stranger.
He smiles when he notices me and bypasses Mike without another glance. “Hey, can we talk for a minute?”
“Uh, sure, come on in.” I gesture to the seat in front of my desk and walk around to the other side. I need to put some distance—and my desk—between us. My mind is going a million miles a minute, wondering what he wants with me.
“I’m Austin, Austin Yates. I saw you at Red’s.”
I know I’m blushing, and I know it’s not pretty. Some people blush, and it brings out their complexion and makes them even prettier. I’m not that kind of woman. I blush and it looks like I just ran five miles and overexerted myself. “Yeah, I saw you.” I stutter the words and clear my throat, hoping he doesn’t notice how he’s affecting me. Obviously I was wrong. I need more than a desk between us because even now the room feels ten degrees hotter.
He opens the bag he’s carrying and sets a small carton in front of me. “Well, I brought you this.”
With a lump in my throat, I ask, “You brought this for me?”
“Yeah, I wanted you to have it.”
I almost giggle, but I hold it in. This man with the handsome face, kind eyes and big smile brought me something. But just as soon as my excitement starts to rise, my delight fades in an instant. “Why?”
He shakes his head as if he’s confused by the question. I mean, it’s understandable. I don’t know this man. Why would he bring me something? “Yeah, why would you bring me something? You don’t know me.”
He scoots the chair up to the desk and leans his elbows on it. “Maybe because I want to get to know you.”
I don’t know what to say to that. I’m not the girl that most people flirt with. Actually, I have zero experience with flirting. So instead of answering him, I open the carton, and my stomach drops. It’s the apple cinnamon Blaze cake. The one that Violet and I were talking about. The one where I told her I couldn’t eat it because I was on a diet. My weight has always been an issue, and there’s no doubt the man heard the whole conversation.
I close the box and try to give him my best smile. “Thank you.”
He shakes his head. “I thought you liked that kind of cake.”
“I do. Thank you, really. I appreciate it.” I see Mike’s head as he keeps popping up in my doorway and the window, no doubt wondering what the man wants with me that he couldn’t help him with. He looks as if he’s biting at the bit to get in here.
I’m about to get up and show Austin to the door when he interrupts me. “I know this is awkward, but this is me. I don’t know any other way to be. I saw you at Red’s. I think you’re pretty and man, if you bring out the protective side of Violet like you do, you have to be a good person. I want to get to know you. Would you have dinner with me?”
I almost laugh because I can just imagine the conversation he had to have with Violet in order to get any information about me. But even though he’s handsome, I can’t just go out with a stranger. “I normally don’t go out with men I just met.”
His eyes darken. “That’s good.
