She polished off her wine, then waved the empty glass at her server for a refill. “Closure is for losers. And I’ve already been one of those. I don’t intend to ever speak to him again. So I hope he finds his miserably-ever-after in Aruba. Or wherever. As long as it’s not near me.”
When their server returned with another glass of wine for Erin, Jason handed his empty beer to her. “I’ll have a water.”
He turned his attention back to Erin. “You’ll have to talk to him eventually.”
“No, I won’t. The Owen chapter of my life is closed.”
“Yeah? And what’s the next chapter?”
She traced a nail down his forearm. “Jason.”
He laughed. “We’re just having dinner, Erin. And then shopping. Your next chapter is Agatha.”
“Why are you so resistant to having a little fun?”
“I’m not resistant to fun. I’m resistant to hurting you.”
She lifted her chin. “You couldn’t possibly hurt me. Because my heart’s not in this.”
“Your seduction game is a little off. You’re not exactly sweeping me off my feet here.”
She laughed. “Come on, you know what I mean. We’re friends, right?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ve known each other forever. You’re hot. I’m hot. So why can’t we merge our hotness and blow off some steam?”
She made it sound so easy. And Jason was certainly interested. But he knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Not for him, anyway. Not when he’d wanted Erin for years.
Then again, maybe it would be nothing more than having what he’d always wanted. He’d indulge in the fantasy, get it out of his system, and then they could go back to being friends again, no harm no foul.
Easy, right?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Was his lifelong friendship with Erin worth the risk?
Now, that, he didn’t have an answer to.
CHAPTER
nine
DINNER WAS GREAT. The wine? Eh. Not so great. The chardonnay was weak and lacked flavor. She knew Mr. and Mrs. Dae—and their customers—were going to be so much happier once they started serving Red Moss Vineyards wines.
She left her car in the restaurant parking lot, and they took Jason’s truck to the pet supply store.
There was nothing better than having a veterinarian by her side while they walked the aisles and she filled her cart with puppy food and treats and a collar and a leash and toys—oh, God, that was so fun, all the toys.
“I don’t think she needs all these toys, Erin.”
She gave him a look. “Side of the road with a broken leg, Jason. Of course she needs all these toys.”
He shook his head. “You’re going to spoil her.”
“My stuffed teddy bear had twelve outfits. Was there any doubt?”
“I guess not.” He shook his head and they made their way down the next aisle.
By the time they got to the checkout, her cart was full.
Jason looked down at the cart, then up at her.
“What?” she asked. “She needs everything.”
“Not all those things. Not the tutu and four teddy bear chew toys and all those snacks. You’re going to make her fat.”
“She needs training treats. And I’m going to walk her every day. She will not be fat.”
“Uh-huh. We’ll see.”
“Yes, you will see. Agatha is going to be amazing.”
“With you as her mama, I have no doubt.”
She handed the clerk her credit card, then smiled up at Jason. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Her smile could light up a city. He needed to make sure she did a lot more of that. And if that meant dressing up her dog and buying her twenty-seven toys, then that’s the way it would be.
One thing was certain. Agatha wouldn’t be neglected, because it was obvious Erin was going to pour all her love into that puppy.
He carried the bags out to his truck and they climbed in.
“We should go somewhere for a drink.”
“I have surgery at seven in the morning, Erin. I can’t do a lot of drinking before an early surgery day.”
She leaned across the seat and laid her hand on his thigh. “How about dancing, then?”
He could tell she had some excess energy she needed to let off. “Fine.”
He drove to a dance club a few miles away and parked.
“I haven’t been here in years,” she said. “Let’s go kick off our shoes, metaphorically speaking.”
He didn’t mention that this was where Owen had first asked her out. He’d been there that night. He wondered if she’d say anything, or balk about the club. Since she didn’t, he figured maybe she didn’t remember.
They went inside. The club was still dark and atmospheric, but the dance floor was lit, both in brightness and the number of people on the floor.
“Do you want something to drin—”
She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go dance.”
Okay, so no drink. But Erin was laughing as she got to the floor, and who was he to complain about dancing next to a woman whose hips could move like that?
He let Erin take the lead and she sure as hell was enjoying herself. One song turned into two, then three, and by then sweat was pouring down his back. But if she could take it, so could he.
Fortunately, she finally moved in closer. “I need a drink.”
Thank God. Sure, he could handle it, but he’d already put in a full day at work, almost entirely on his feet. And he was thirsty as hell.
They wound their way through the crowd to the bar. Erin ordered a glass of wine and Jason got a beer and a water. He downed the water first to hydrate, then sipped the beer.
“That was so fun,” Erin said. “I haven’t danced like that in a long time.”
“Me, either.”
She pressed her finger against his chest. “Then you’re dating all the wrong women. And Owen and I hadn’t gone dancing in . . .”
He waited, but she’d drifted off.
“In when? When was the last time?”
She took a swallow of wine, then shrugged. “I don’t remember. I guess we got busy and forgot to go out.”
“Forgot to go dancing, you mean.”
“And other things. I need some air.”
He followed her outside. There was a back patio with tables and chairs where people could sit. Erin found them a table, so he took a seat in the chair next to her.
She tilted her head back. “The stars are pretty tonight.”
“Yeah.” He wasn’t going to push her to talk about Owen. If she wanted to discuss him, he’d be there for her as a sounding board, but he sure as hell didn’t want to talk about her ex-fiancé right now.
She straightened and picked up the glass. “You know he asked me out here. For our first date.”
“Yeah, I know. I was there.”
She turned to him. “You were? I don’t remember that.”
Ouch. “It was you and Brenna and her husband, Honor and some guy she was dating, Clay, Owen and me. We’d just gone to see a movie. I don’t remember which movie. But we all came here after.”