Running Back to You (The Running Series, #1) Read Free Page B

one sweeping look
around the store before leaving.
    After walking up and down Arnold Avenue, we visit every shop that catches
our eye.  Several hours later, we drop our bags into the car and head to
Frankie’s Bar and Grill for a drink.  I haven’t been to Frankie’s in a while,
but it looks exactly as I remember.  There’s a modestly sized bar surrounded by
small tables for dining.  Brick walls and brass fixtures give the bar a cozy
pub atmosphere.  Televisions are showing ESPN and music is streaming from the
speakers placed strategically throughout the bar.  Auggie and I find two empty
seats right at the bar.
    After ordering a Jack & Diet Coke, I pull out my phone to check for
any missed calls or messages – nothing.  I don’t know why I bother checking,
habit I guess.  David and I broke up a month ago and haven’t spoken since.  My
Denver friends are all busy job hunting.  Auggie is the only person from high
school I really care to keep in touch with, and he’s sitting right next to me.
    The door opens and a cool, crisp breeze whisks past me.  I turn
instinctively to see who entered, and my breath hitches in my chest.  I am
staring face-to-face with the most attractive man I have ever seen in my life. 
He gracefully walks past me to the back of the pub and takes a table in the
farthest corner of the bar.  He’s joined by another man, and both appear to be
in their late twenties.  He has dark unkempt chestnut hair that is short enough
to be manageable but long enough to run your fingers through.  He takes off his
leather jacket and places it on the back of his chair.  He’s wearing a
tight-fitting white V-neck t-shirt that shows off his pecs and broad
shoulders.  God, I love broad shoulders.  His face is sharp and angular,
softened by a five o’clock shadow.  From this distance, it’s hard to discern
the color of his eyes, but they are definitely a light shade of blue or green. 
“Holy crap, Auggie.  Is that the man you saw on the street this morning?”
    “Oh, yeah, that’s definitely him.”  Auggie actually put his elbows on the
bar and places his hands under his chin like a dreamy schoolgirl.  He stares
and sighs; he actually sighs!  Subtlety is not exactly August’s strong suit.  “You
take that brick wall of a man, but leave me the blonde.  I do have a thing for
blondes, you know.”
    The waitress walks over to them and takes their order.  She is totally
flirting with them both, biting her lip and leaning in a little too closely.  I
don’t blame her at all.
    I find myself staring, too.  I’m wondering what it would feel like to be
held in those strong arms ... what the stubble on his chin would feel like
pressed against my skin ... what his favorite cologne is.  I am lost in thought
and all I can feel is my rapid heartbeat.  I’ve never been affected so greatly
by someone I didn’t even know before.  Panic sets in when he looks up at me and
catches me ogling him.  He smiles and shows the slightest hint of dimples.  I
immediately turn away, my face blazing with embarrassment.
    I try to act nonchalant, like nothing happened, but inside, I’m
mortified.  I take a final gulp of my Jack & Diet Coke and convince Auggie
to leave.  Thankfully, he concedes and we turn to go.  I put on my jacket and
head for the door.  In my panic to make a hasty exit, I forgot to tip the
bartender.  I have no choice but to return to the bar and leave a small
gratuity.  My mystery man looks up, smiles at me and gives one small nod of his
chin.  There are those dimples again.  I know I’ll be seeing them in my dreams
tonight.
    Auggie and I grab a pizza on our way home.  “So Jette, what are your
plans tonight?”  I know Auggie has plans, he always has plans.  But I also know
he would drop everything and just hang home with me if I asked.
    “Nothing.  I’m going to hang here and catch up on some episodes of The
Walking Dead I’ve been meaning to watch.”  I didn’t