“Who cares?”

“If you want to invite him, then that’s up to you since you’re interested, not me.” I felt the rush of heat again. Looking down at my drink, I tried to think of something else besides the hunk standing by the bar, whose face and the way he made me feel from just one look kept invading my mind.

“Darn,” Becky said suddenly, looking upset.

Her tone snapped my attention to her again. “What?”

“I think he has a girl friend. A blonde just wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.”

Without thinking, I turned quickly to find his back turned toward me, and sure enough, there she was. A feeling of disappointment fell on me. Oh my gosh! What am I thinking? I have a boyfriend. Well, not really a boyfriend; we were dating, though it had only been a month. Feelings of relief and guilt swept through me. I am dating Luke, I kept telling myself.

“He’s just one fish in the ocean. There’ll be others for you to catch,” I muttered, gulping down my beverage. The icy, cool drink helped me temporarily, but the heat kept coming back, so I changed the subject and hoped the hot flashes would disappear. “So, how’s work?”

“I just got tons of submissions to read. It’s never ending. I’m excited about a few of them, but I also need a break from reading.”

“You always say that, but then you drown yourself in the stories.”

“I do, don’t I?” she giggled. “Books are like picking ice cream flavors. Not everyone likes vanilla. The key is to find the flavor that is currently popular, and that determines which authors I take my chances on.”

“You’ve been doing well so far.”

“I have had some hits and a few misses, but I have to admit, I enjoy what I do. So, tell me; how’s job hunting?”

“Did I tell you I have an interview next week?”

Becky peered over my head. “No you didn’t, but that’s great. I know how much you hate that job. I’m so glad we’re catching up.”

“I don’t hate it, but I need something different. I really hope I get this one.” I paused, looking at my friend, who seemed to be half listening to me. “What are you doing? Are you staring at them again?”

She ignored my question with a bright beam in her smile. “Look behind you…no…don’t look behind you!”

“Are you okay?” I let out a small laugh.

Becky leaned closer toward me, like she was going to tell me a secret. “The blonde walked away. She probably went to the bathroom.”

“So…your point being…?”

“He’s leaning against the bar, but he’s looking right at you. Well…not at you, but your back.”

I busted out laughing…that was one of the most ridiculous things she’d said in a long while. But just the thought of him looking at me made me tense up. “My back? He could be looking at something, or someone, near me. Why would he be looking at my back? For goodness sake, stop staring.”

“You think I’m making this up.” She waved to the waitress coming our way. “One more please.” She held up her glass. “Thanks, and we’d like the menu too, please…actually, are you ready to order?”

I nodded with a smile. “The same.”

“I’ll have the fish taco combo and she’ll have the chicken salad.”

After the waitress repeated the order she walked away.

“I don’t know how you have the same thing every time we come here,” she added.

“I don’t know, I just like it, and that’s what I feel like having again. What is it, pick on Jenna day?”

“No…sorry,” she said sheepishly. “Anyway, just to prove my point, I dare you to turn around.”

“No.” I leaned back comfortably with my arms crossed.

“For someone so sweet, who never cusses, who plays by the rules, who orders the same thing every time, you sure can be stubborn.”

“Well, I can’t be all good,” I smirked.

“Turn around before she comes.”

“No.”

“Ugggh. Okay…if I’m wrong then I owe you a favor, but if you’re wrong you owe me one.”

That sounded like a risk I was willing to take, because I knew for sure she was wrong. Why would he be staring at my back?

“Fine.” I turned. My heart stopped for a second and then pounded in my chest. The familiar warmth flooded all over my body. Becky was right. Our eyes matched perfectly. He raised his bottle of beer and gave me a delicious smile that melted deep into my gut.

I didn’t even know if I smiled back, but I somehow managed to turn back around. It didn’t matter anyway, because guys like him were trouble…big trouble. Guys like him couldn’t be trusted. Why? Because he was too damn good-looking, and his ego was probably as big as the restaurant we were sitting in. I was already judging him and I didn’t know him, but it didn’t matter. I was dating Luke, even though Becky thought he wasn’t good for me. At least he wasn’t trouble.

At some point in my rambled thinking, I had to look up to my friend, whose feet were tapping on the wooden floor that my eyes were glued to. “Okay,” I said, looking squarely into her eyes. “You win.” My left index finger went straight to my mouth, a very bad habit I had when I got nervous.

Becky reached over and took my finger out of my mouth. “You’re going to bite your finger off over a guy you don’t know?” she giggled. “By the way…I can’t wait for you to return the favor.” A mischievous grin was smudged on her face.