Lauren Dane - The Best Kind of Trouble

“He’s an idiot. He needs it more than you do,” Ezra said, referring to one of their brothers, the drummer of Sweet Hollow Ranch.

“Yeah, there is that.”

“Okay, so hit me. What advice do you want? How to deal with the blow to your ego? Suck it up and move on. So what? There have to be dozens upon dozens of women who feel the same way about you, Paddy. You dumped her, and she does not have fond memories. You’re lucky she didn’t knee you in the gooch.”

“I didn’t dump her! It was fall, she was heading off to college and we were on the road. It was fine. No tears. No drama.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I liked her. I liked her then, and I want to know if I’d like her now.”

Ezra looked him over carefully as they left the stables. “So you want to what? Be this woman’s friend? See if she wants another turn in the sheets with you? This is your hometown, Paddy. Don’t shit where you sleep. If you charm her out of her panties and then it goes bad, then what? Do you really want some pissed-off ex-girlfriend who knows where you live?”

Paddy made a face. “It’s not like that. I can’t believe I haven’t bumped into her before now. It’s not like Hood River is a bustling metropolis.”

“Yeah, well, you’ve been out on multiple tours in a row and traveling in between.”

“True. Anyway, I don’t just want to nail her, though she’s gorgeous and all. Like I said, I want to see if we still click.”

“Cut the shit. You’re into it because it’s a challenge.”

Paddy sucked in a breath. “Okay, so maybe that’s part of it. But not all of it.”

“For whatever reason, you have an unhealthy level of self-confidence. You’re okay-looking and all. Chicks dig you, and you hate to lose. So go for it, but don’t be a dick.”

Which, come to think of it, was pretty good advice.

* * *

NATALIE WALKED INTO Common Grounds with a spring in her step. She’d had a really great dinner with her housemate and best friend the night before. They’d watched a movie, and she’d gotten eight solid hours of really good sleep.

It was sunny, a breeze came in off the Columbia and she was well and truly prepared for an excellent Friday.

She waved a hello at Bobbi. “Good morning! I think I’d like an Americano today with lots of room. What sorts of delicious, calorie-packed goodness do you have left in the case?”

Bobbi looked over to her left. “See, like clockwork.”

Natalie followed her gaze and nearly jumped when she saw Paddy Hurley sitting there with a grin on his face. The muted sunlight from the window he sat next to danced over his skin. Jesus H, he looked fantastic, his long legs stretched out, the denim straining at the thighs and over his crotch.

He packed quite a treat behind his zipper. Her belly and regions south tightened at that memory.

She snapped her gaze from his cock and tried not to blush.

“Have a seat.” He pushed the chair across from him away from the table with one booted foot. Not cowboy boots, worn work boots she figured cost more than she made in a month.

She wanted to go over and sit. Wanted to flirt and chat and let it lead right back to her place. Something about the man had gotten under her skin right from go. He was dangerous. Wanting too much was dangerous.

“I have to go to work.” With sheer force of will, Natalie turned her attention back to the bakery case.

Bobbi gave her a single raised brow but then got started on the Americano. The sounds and scent of the coffee-laden steam settled Natalie a little. “Ooh, I want one of those banana chocolate chip muffin things.”

“Here’s the thing, Natalie.” Suddenly, Paddy was standing very close. How had he done that? “That muffin is on hold. I’m a nice guy, though, so I’ll happily let you have it if you’ll sit and have coffee with me while we catch up.”

In her head, her sigh was wistful, but on the outside, she added a little annoyance to keep him back. Natalie had a weak spot for charming men, and boy, did Paddy have that in spades.

She was careful not to turn to look at him. He was so close, she probably couldn’t have kept her little resolution and stay on her Paddy Hurley–free diet. “I’ll have the blueberry one instead, then.”

Bobbi, clearly confused about the entire situation, shrugged and handed over the Americano and the muffin. Natalie thanked her and paid before heading toward the door.

Paddy caught up to her before she’d gotten more than a few steps. “Natalie? I was under the impression that when we parted ways before, things were okay between us. I guess I got it wrong. I’m sorry for whatever I did.”

Natalie paused. She might know it was best to keep him at a distance, but she didn’t want him feeling guilty or to come off looking disgruntled. “It was fine. There’s no need to apologize.”

His expression was smug for a moment, and then he caught himself with an easy smile. “So you do remember me.”

There was no way she could stop her smile in response. “Yes. You’re pretty memorable.”

“So what’s the deal?” He leaned a little closer. “You like being chased?”

With an annoyed hiss, Natalie stepped away. “No. I’m not interested in this...whatever it is. I don’t want to play games. I’m not being coy. I have a nice, quiet life. I like it that way.”

“There’s no whatever it is. Not yet. We already had that. I just think we could get to know one another again. I promise not to trash your living room or put a guitar through your television or anything.”

The charisma flowed off him in waves. It wasn’t something he put on. It wasn’t an affectation. It was impossible not to be attracted to him. They’d clicked all those years before, and it was still there, that chemical pull that made her a little sweaty and dizzy.

She stood a little straighter. “I have to go to work. I’m glad things are going well for you and your career. Have a good life, Paddy.”

He grabbed her hand, twining his fingers with hers, and a shock of connection rang through her. She could not want this.

The heat of him sort of caressed her skin, and it wasn’t even gross and sweaty because it was a thousand degrees outside. Was he some sort of sorcerer or something?

His attention shifted from where their hands were together to her face. “Wait. Let me walk you over. You’re at the library, right?”

Using all her will, she slowly pulled her hand free, their fingers still connected until the very last.

“No. Really. I can’t. I don’t have room in my life for you and all that comes with you.”

He flinched a little, but she had to give him credit for doggedness. “You don’t even know me now. How can you know what comes with me?”

“I’m truly happy to see your success. You worked for it. But come on, I’m no dummy. I know what comes with a life like yours.” She took a step away and then another until she was far enough to get a breath that wasn’t laden with him. “Enjoy your Friday.”

She left him there on the sidewalk as she kept going until finally, after she’d turned the corner, the squeezing pressure in her belly eased and she could breathe again.

She’d made the right choice.

She liked him. It wasn’t like she could lie about that. But she’d spent years of struggle to make herself a life she wanted, too many to let her ladybits take over. Truth was, she let that fear remain. The fear that his wild life would be one cringeworthy experience after the next; the fear of all that chaos and insanity kept her steadfast.

The library beckoned, and she kept moving toward it. She had a direction, and it was forward, not back. There was room for pleasure; she certainly hadn’t left sex behind, after all. But fleeting pleasure wasn’t stable or strong. That’s what he offered, and so she needed to pass on it.