Free The Closer You Get by Carter Ashby Page B

wouldn’t have learned just how much I love fishing. Sitting out at night under the stars, listening to the crickets and frogs and holding Cash’s hand. Hearing his voice, low and beautiful, telling me about himself. It’s comforting, you know…knowing that we’ll still have this, even after that initial burst of passion. And that this is just as good, in its way.”
    Cora’s vision was blurry with tears.  
    “Oh, God, Cora, don’t cry.”
    “I’m not,” she squeaked, wiping her tears away. “I’m just so happy for you.”
    He laughed. “I’m pretty happy for me, too. But don’t get all weepy on me. Tell me something good about you? Had any hot dates lately?”
    She snorted. “You’d know if I had. I’ve never had a hot date.”
    “Do you want one?”
    She looked at him, confused at first. Of course, she wanted one. Every girl wanted a hot date. But she realized he was justified in asking. She’d never put out the effort. And she’d shut herself off to the possibility. “Yes,” she said.
    “Maybe I can help. You got anyone in mind?”
    She swallowed and looked down at her hands. “I thought…maybe…Rye…”
    “No, way.”
    His vehemence had her jerking her head up and frowning. “Why?”
    “He’s a total horn-dog. Has no respect for women. You are way beyond too good for him.”
    She shrugged. “Okay. You’re probably right.” Still, she felt a pinching in her chest, a painful regret.  
    Dinner arrived, but she had to force it down.
    “Don’t worry,” Adam said, once the server had gone, “I’ll find someone great for you. Hey, you know Gary Floyd? He was two grades above us, remember?”
    She nodded.  
    “I’m going to set you up with him.” Adam was involved in his meal. “It’s been two years since his divorce. I think he’s ready to get back out there. It’ll be perfect.”
    And safe, she thought. Gary was a nice guy. Tall and clean cut. There wasn’t anything about him that made her knees go weak, but then, she was new to all of this. Maybe someone who made her knees go weak would also hurt her. Maybe Adam was right about Rye.

    After dinner, Adam took her back to her house for her car. She drove up to Darcy’s to meet Lyssa and Franny for drinks. Adam was meeting Cash there, but she doubted her path would cross with his again that evening. Adam was completely smitten, and if this was truly their first chance to be alone, she knew he’d be angling to get Cash back to his place as soon as possible.  
    When she walked into the bar, her friends greeted her with cheers and squeals. “You look amazing!” Franny cried.
    Lyssa gave her a hug and a proud once over. They found a table and ordered drinks. Rye was playing pool across the room. Cora seemed to know it even without looking. There was no indication he’d even noticed her walking in. She wondered if he would be wowed by her new look, or if he would care one way or the other.
    “So talk to me,” Franny said, once they got settled in with their drinks. “What’s with all these changes?”
    Cora frowned. “What changes?”
    “To your look? You’ve been dabbling with makeup lately. Dressing more consciously. And now, here you are with a drop-dead sexy haircut and a super hot dress. Spill.”
    For whatever reason meeting Rye had sparked this awareness in her, Cora didn’t want to credit him with it. This awakening was deeper than any desire to impress a man. “I guess…I just…wanna do something with myself,” she said.
    Franny and Lyssa frowned and nodded, gesturing for her to elaborate.
    “I don’t know,” Cora said. “I’ve just recently started thinking about my looks. Honestly, I wrote myself off at an early age. I was clearly nothing compared to my sisters, and I didn’t really want romance or love or anything. But for some reason, now…”  
    “Now you do,” Franny finished.
    Cora shrugged. “It’s like something just kicked in and I thought, you know, I’m not ugly. I mean, I’m not a