Free Falling (Fading Series) by E.K. Blair Page B

confounded, and I know I should make the smart move and stay away.

 
     
    Coming back from the gym, I finally make the decision to just go and see her. I could just as easily give the scarf she left behind the other day to Mark, but I keep holding on to it. I’ve never chased a girl. It’s always been the opposite. But I’m curious to get to know her and that curiosity surprises me, but I decide to go with it.
    I take my time getting cleaned up. I’m not even sure if she’s gonna be at work, but I’ll take the chance and stop by before I head into the bar for a few hours. When I walk downstairs, I look out the large windows to see that it’s another rainy day. Grey and cold.
    Shrugging on my jacket, I walk over to the coffee table to grab her scarf. Her scent is encased in the fabric. Light and floral. I laugh at myself for being so shot with this girl that I actually smelled it the other night.
    When I pull up to the coffee shop, I park my jeep and pick up the scarf. Why am I nervous? Walking through the door, I immediately spot her and happiness swarms, thankful that she’s here and I didn’t miss an opportunity to see her again.
    She’s talking to a chick with crazy hair and wiping down the counter. She doesn’t see me, but her friend does and gives me a smirk as she continues to talk to Candace. Finally, looking over her shoulder, she spots me as I make my way to the counter.
    “You’re gonna get an ulcer,” she teases, and it’s cute as hell.
    I laugh and say, “I didn’t come for coffee,” as I hold out the scarf.
    “Oh, I thought I had lost this,” she says as she takes it from my hand. “Thank you.”
    “No, you left it on the table, but you rushed out so fast, I didn’t have a chance to catch you.”
    Her head lowers, embarrassed I’m guessing, before quietly saying, “Sorry.”
    “No need to apologize.”
    She takes her apron and sets it on the counter when I ask, “Are you taking a break?”
    “Um, no. My shift is over.”
    “Perfect timing.” I smile and take this opportunity to spend a little time with her. “Want to have a quick drink?”
    “She’d love to,” her friend says over Candace’s shoulder, and when Candace shoots her an irritated look, she starts to stumble over her words.
    “Actually, I . . .” she starts, but never catches her sentence when she finally gives up. “Sure,” she resolves. “Let me go grab my bag.”
    I watch as she walks away, and her friend steps up with her tattoo-covered arms and asks, “What can I get you?”
    “Coffee. Black.”
    She gives me a wink as she turns to get my drink, and when she returns to me, she sets down two cups. “Candace likes hot tea,” she says with a smirk, and I wonder why she’s so eager.
    When I pull out my wallet, she tells me it’s on the house, and I go to find an empty table by the front window. Sitting down, I look up to see Candace walking towards me. She eyes the drink that’s on the table, and I tell her, “Your co-worker said you like hot tea.”
    “Oh, thanks,” she says as she takes a seat. “She’s actually my boss. Roxy.” She seems nervous, just like the other night. She takes a sip of her tea and focuses her attention out the window.
    “Did Mark tell you we are heading down to Mount Rainier on Saturday?” I ask to try and draw her attention back to me.
    “Yeah, Jase mentioned something like that to me.”
    “You should come with us.”
    “I don’t know . . . I have a lot of studying I need to get done.”
    I can tell she’s avoiding me. I’m not used to girls not being interested in me, but this one . . . she hardly seems to notice me.
    “Well, if you change your mind, we are heading out in the morning around eight.”
    “How did you know I would be here today?” she asks, changing the subject on me.
    “I didn’t,” I say, trying not to be too transparent. “I just thought I would stop by, and if you weren’t here, I was just going to leave your scarf with whoever was