My Grumpy Old Bear - Jayda Marx Page 0,2

better. I like superhero movies too, but police movies are my favorite because they feel more true to life, you know?” I did know. That was the exact reason I enjoyed them so much; they got my pulse pounding and snagged my interest because they felt like they could actually be happening. “Ooh, did you see End of Watch? I loved that movie! I cried like a baby when I saw it, though.”

“Yeah, that was a good one. But I didn’t cry.” I totally cried.

“I’m not surprised. You’re so tough and manly.” God damn him for playing to my ego! Once again, I fought to keep my body language neutral, but Noah didn’t give up. “So, what about music? What are you into?”

“I like country.”

“Well, given that we live in Tennessee, that’s sort of a given, right?” he winked.

“Yeah, but I don’t like the new shit they’re trying to pass off as country music nowadays.” Fuck, I sound so old. “I like the classics, but I suppose you don’t know about them.”

“Are you kidding me? I grew up on Hank, Dolly and Loretta! My phone is literally full of their songs. Of course, I like the ‘new shit’ too, but I feel you on the classics.”

My heart leapt; I couldn’t believe we had so much in common. “So what else do you like to do?”

His grin stretched out due to my interest. Damn. I let myself slip. “I love outdoorsy stuff; horseback riding, biking, camping, that sort of thing. I especially love driving to the mountains and hiking the trails up there. Do you like that stuff?”

My heart sank right back into its dark little hole. “No.” They used to be some of my favorite things to do, but since my accident, I was unable to do any of them.

“Eh, that’s okay,” Noah shrugged. “Everybody’s got their own thing, right?”

I nodded, unsure what to say. Wait! “I do love the mountains, though. When I first moved here, I visited them all the time, driving all of the winding roads. It was fall and I couldn’t get enough of all the colors. I still go from time to time.”

“Fall’s my favorite, too,” Noah grinned. “So you haven’t always lived around here?”

“No. I moved from Nebraska after my retirement.” Again with the half-truths.

“Wow, big move. Is it tough being away from your family? Or did they move with you?”

“My parents are the only family I have, but they stayed in Nebraska. We’re not really that close.”

“Bummer,” he replied with a sad smile. “I’m not close with my family either.”

That struck me as odd since he was so young. “Why not?”

“I think that’s more of a second date story, honeybear.” He winked and stood up before I could correct him on our dating status. “Unfortunately, I need to get back to work. Thanks for hanging out with me today. Same time tomorrow?”

“I’ll be here,” sprang from my mouth before I could stop it.

His pearly teeth shone through another huge grin. “Me too.” He turned and began waiting on tables strung about the patio, giving me flirty glances in between.

What the fuck did I just do?

Chapter Two

Noah

The café was packed; much crazier than Thursday afternoons usually were. I’d been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for the past hour and there was no end in sight. Though I was insanely busy, I kept an eye out for Brooks; I didn’t want to miss him coming in.

I was becoming obsessed with the hunky older man. For a month now I’d been flirting and dropping hints that I liked him. Though we talked often, he always shrugged off my advances. I was beginning to doubt my initial read on him and wondered if he was even gay. I worried that I was actually making him uncomfortable, but the fact he kept coming back everyday squashed those concerns.

So yesterday I decided to just take the bull by the horns and sat down to lunch with him. Maybe it was a little sneaky to basically force him to have a date with me, but I couldn’t help it! I’m just so attracted to the man I couldn’t stop myself. With his sexy gray hair and eyes and his cranky attitude, he’s like my own personal little storm cloud. Every time he scowls at me or his scruffy cheeks fold up into an unimpressed smirk, I like him a little more. He’s so unlike anyone I’ve ever known, let alone dated, and I can’t get