Free Unlucky in Love by Maggie McGinnis Page A

Lexi raised her eyebrows. “I’d never.”
    Jasper smiled as he handed two mugs over the counter. “I like her. She can stay.”
    “Thank you.” Lexi smiled as she took her mug, reaching for her wallet.
    Gunnar put a gentle hand on hers. “My treat.”
    “Thank you,” she murmured, feeling a little unbalanced by how generous everyone was being. This was the kind of thing that happened to Katie, not her. Katie rarely had to pay for a drink or a sandwich back in York, no matter where she went. Everyone knew her, and everyone loved her. It was like they handed her free stuff to thank her for gracing them with her presence.
    Lexi shook her head. No one could hear her thoughts, but still. She sounded petty, and she didn’t mean to. Didn’t want to. Katie’d never asked for any of the freebies she got. People just loved her.
Lexi
loved her.
    She just wished she didn’t wish so many times that she
was
her.
    —
    Gunnar watched Lexi as she tried her first sip of Jasper’s coffee and got an uncomfortable feeling way down low as he watched her sigh in pleasure.
    “Oh God, this is good coffee.” She smiled, opening her eyes. “Please tell me he ships to the East Coast.”
    Gunnar shook his head. “Nope. He doesn’t ship anywhere. He says the beans lose their mojo if they leave the shop. If you want to drink Jasper’s coffee, you have to get it straight from his percolators.”
    “This could be a problem.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Do you think I’d have time to get down here every morning before guests wake up?”
    “Depends.” He smiled. “How early do you like to get up?”
    “I get up at five-thirty on school days, but was hoping to break that pattern this summer.” She tipped her head. “However, for this coffee, I might have to suffer.”
    “One problem.”
    “Hmm?”
    “You don’t have a car.”
    Her face fell, which made him laugh. “Shoot. You’re right.” Then she raised her eyebrows. “Know any cowboys who are particularly vulnerable to bribery?”
    He shifted in his seat, clearing his throat unintentionally. “What does that mean?”
    “I just mean…say, if I promised someone Jenny’s donuts—or, what was it? Peanut butter cookies?—might he be willing to drive me into town for Jasper’s coffee?”
    Gunnar rolled his eyes. “And I thought my addiction was frightening.”
    “You probably get them for free, anyway, right?” Lexi’s eyes met his, then darted away, like she was uncomfortable.
    “Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Jenny’s just…generous.”
    Lexi nodded slowly. “Dating a baker—it’s a tough job, but I guess somebody has to do it.”
    “Dating? We’re not—no. Jenny’s just a friend.”
    He put down his mug, intrigued at the veiled relief he saw in her features. Interesting, but he knew better than to make her aware he’d noticed. Small talk would be much safer here.
    “So I’m curious—why Montana? Of all the places you could have gone, why did you choose this job?”
    Lexi put down her mug as well, taking a deep breath. “A number of reasons, I guess. One, I signed up so late with the agency that there were exactly two positions they offered that matched my credentials and availability—this one, or a hospital in downtown Atlanta.”
    “Ouch. Atlanta in July.”
    “Exactly. So it wasn’t much of a toss-up. And then I checked out your website, and…well, have you
seen
your website?”
    “No, but I’ve heard about it.”
    “Has anyone mentioned that you’re kind of front-and-center on it?”
    “Only the guys, when they want to be asses.” He raised his eyebrows. “And you, when you got off the plane.”
    She picked up her mug again, looking like she wished it was just big enough that she could hide behind it. “We were supposed to forget about that.”
    “So what made you up and leave Maine?”
    “The tourists.” She nodded decidedly. “You can barely navigate my town in the summertime. Nine months a year, it’s a sleepy little