He noticed Brian doing a car bomb at a back table, the Guinness frothing like a chemistry experiment. The man looked as miserable as Jill did. History sucked.
“It’s nothing. How about we play a game of darts? I need to forget all of the cheese talk.”
She linked arms with him. “Okay, but you have to buy me mozzarella balls if I win. They sound so good.”
He snorted, glancing over at Meredith. Jill was right. This guy was history. Her eyes were glazed over with boredom.
“Large or small?”
“Large, darling. Always.”
He laughed. Suddenly Meredith met his gaze from across the bar. His skin tightened as he took in the full effect of the recessed lighting on her hair. It looked like fire, and he felt himself developing pyromaniac tendencies. Then the Cheese Man reached for her hand, and she looked away.
Tanner followed Jill into the back game room. He tested the weight of the metal dart she placed in his hands and looked over his shoulder.
Maybe he could drill the Cheese Man accidentally and save Meredith from a lifetime of small, squishy balls.
***
Meredith watched Tanner and Jill stroll away like old pals. She turned back toward Avery. God, Tanner was right. The guy really did like cheese way too much. Mozzarella balls, indeed.
And yet here she was—stuck by her own doing. She was forcing it with Avery, and she knew it.
She glanced around the bar, nodding at a few guys she’d gone out with. Her confidence was being bolstered by all the attention. The only problem was the more she went out with other men, the more she wanted to go out with Tanner. She found herself comparing each of her dates unfavorably to him, thinking about how much broader Tanner’s shoulders were, how much brighter his smile was. He had a better sense of humor than anyone else, and she loved how his eyes crinkled at the corners out of sheer mischief. It would be so much fun to get into trouble with him…but he was also the kind of guy who would bail you out.
She knew all that, but she had Coward Syndrome. He was still a journalist.
She had to get over him so she could find Mr. Right.
Hard to do when he showed up everywhere. The mornings at the swimming pool were sheer torture. She’d had to buy a dual-lined swimsuit so he couldn’t see how turned on she got from looking at his wet, nearly naked body. And then there was her social time. Like tonight.
She sat through another story of Avery finding the most incredible stilton cheese in some remote English village.
Ditch this guy and go find Tanner, Divorcée Woman chimed in. You know you want to.
She picked up her glass, trying to ignore the voice. Lately, when Tanner was around, she could hear it with crystal clarity.
I’m only telling you what you already know.
Do not, she fired back, and then realized she was talking to herself. She shifted in her seat.
I’m not stopping until you do what you want to do. You created me to give you confidence. Running from Tanner is cowardly. You know it. I know it.
“Meredith, did you hear me?” Avery reached for her hand again.
“No, it’s getting a little loud in here,” she lied. “What did you say?”
His crooked smile suddenly reminded her of a puddle of melted cheese.
“I asked if you wanted to go somewhere quiet and talk.”
No, dear God, please. He was nice, but more talking?
Avery leaned forward. “Let’s get out of here.”
Oh, she hated this part. “I have some more people I promised to see. And Jill’s still here. How about another time?”
His crooked, melting cheese smile faded. “Okay then, I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll come by the shop.”
He beamed. “I’ll save the ash cheese.”
Great. She wondered if it was like eating cigarette ash, except with a good cheddar flavor.
“See you later, Avery.” Weaving toward the bar for a stiff drink seemed like a brilliant plan.
“Hey, Meredith,” Larry Barlow called out. He was sitting at a stool by the bar, looking good in his worn denim.
Too bad he was a jerk.
“How ya been?”
She kept her distance. “Great. You?”
“Couldn’t be better. Wanna drink?”
In what universe? “Nah, can’t. I have to find Jill.”
“She’s playing with that journalist. He’s killing her at darts.”
Jill losing at darts? That was a first.
“See ya, Larry.”
Brian was watching Tanner and Jill from the darkened doorway of the game room. A chorus of groans erupted from the onlookers as Tanner hit the bullseye.
She edged closer to Brian. “What’s this I’ve heard about a blood letting?”
His head whipped around. “I’ve never seen anyone hit that many bullseyes. Jill’s pretty upset.” There was a dark expression on his face.