Fencing You In Read Online Free

the booth and Katie Sue slid out behind him.
    “Okay.” Jenny followed Tess as they joined Gage and Katie Sue.
    The girls walked in front of Gage and Tess. It was comfortable being with him—too comfortable. She needed to shore up her resolve to not give in and date the man.
    Steady and dependable, that was what she needed. Not a guy who was slapped by women in public for whatever reason they might have. Not a guy known for being a heartbreaker and a ladies’ man. But as they headed out to their vehicles, Tess didn’t feel that he was anything like his playboy reputation. She was usually a really good judge of character.
    Apparently her senses were faulty when it came to this man.
    When they reached his truck and her car, the girls hugged each other. Tess kept the girls between her and Gage as another sort of barrier.
    “Why don’t I get your number?” he asked as the girls were saying their goodbyes.
    She shook her head. “Good try.”
    He winked. “See you, Tess.”
    She wanted to say, “If you’re lucky,” but decided that might not be the best response in front of the girls. Instead she gave a little wave then climbed into the car with Jenny.
    In moments, they were driving away. Tess had to force herself, but she didn’t look back.
    * * * * *
    “Have a drink with me tonight.” The blond-haired, blue-eyed man with the great smile spoke to Tess as she filled his cup with coffee in the Hummingbird restaurant the next morning. The man was of average height, lean and muscular.
    “I’ve told you, Harvey.” She shook her head and returned his smile. “I’m not going to date anyone right now.”
    “We won’t consider it a date.” He shrugged. “We’ll be a couple of friends out for a drink.”
    “Besides.” She slid his breakfast tab onto the table. “I’m working the bar tonight.”
    “How about tomorrow night?” he asked. “I haven’t been in town long and I could use a friend to talk with.”
    Tess shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I’ll tell you what. Just so that it’s clear it’s only friends out for a drink and not a date, I’ll meet you someplace.”
    He broke into a grin. “That’s good enough for me.”
    “How about Jo-Jo’s?” Tess pushed a blonde curl out of her face. “Jo is a good friend of mine.”
    Harvey nodded. “Sounds great.”
    “Just friends.” Tess pointed her finger. “Understood?”
    He grinned and saluted her. “Just friends.”
    “Now I need to hurry up and finish my shift.” Tess sighed. “I’ll be right back here tonight to fill in for the bartender.”
    “If I didn’t work late, I’d stop by and see you,” Harvey said.
    “Isn’t every morning for breakfast enough?” she said with a laugh.
    He shook his head. “Not even close.”
    “Better watch it, Harvey.” She put one hand on her hip and held the coffee pot in her other. “Or I’m going to begin to think you didn’t mean it when you said just friends.”
    He held up his hands. “Just teasing, sweetheart.”
    “And don’t sweetheart me.” She shook her head but still smiled. Something about him was so engaging that even though she had no interest in him beyond friendship, she couldn’t help smiling around him.
    “Tomorrow night at eight,” she said. “I’ll meet you at Jo-Jo’s.”
    “I’ll be there,” he said.
    Tess finished up her four-hour morning shift at the Hummingbird, spent the day at home until Jenny came home from school, and then returned to tend the bar in Nectars that evening for the three to seven shift. Owning an interest in the business meant crazy hours. Too bad it didn’t mean crazy-good pay.
    That evening Tess didn’t see Gage at Nectars but wasn’t surprised since she was working an earlier shift than normal. She found herself feeling disappointed that she hadn’t seen him.
    When she got off her shift and left by seven-fifteen, she drove back home, dead tired and in need of a good night’s sleep. She sighed as she climbed out of her