Broken Beginnings

Chapter 3

“Then join me.” His eyes were sincere and I found myself following him into the warmly lit diner. The sun was beginning to set and I was worried about nightfall. Where in the world was I going to sleep if he took my car? I didn’t want to waste money on a hotel room, but it wasn’t looking like I had much of a choice. I shrugged on a sigh – I needed a shower anyway.

I followed Galen to a table in the back beside the windows. The view outside was breathtaking. The majestic mountains in the near distance made me feel – peace. They sweet-talked my soul and I couldn’t help but think this would be a good place to settle. I was almost certain the soil in this town would be a perfect place to plant my roots. The only problem was that I just didn’t know if I had gone far enough away. I just didn’t know.

Shaking the thought from my mind, I studied my surroundings. The diner looked like a log cabin turned restaurant. The intricate character it possessed was unbelievably captivating. The tables were lit by little flamed lanterns sitting in the centers. Their light flickered, casting shadows that danced over the wooden walls. It felt romantic. It felt serene. I shifted uncomfortably as I took a seat in a wooden chair. It creaked beneath my weight. I felt underdressed despite the fact that it was obviously a casual diner. Galen was in his work boots and clothes – but I was in the same sweats I had worn for the last two days. My hair was a tangled mop on top of my head and I didn’t have a spec of makeup on my face. I probably looked like a jungle creature that had just decided to try out civilization. The thought made me laugh, and once I started, I couldn’t stop.

Galen chuckled and I found myself looking for dimples. He didn’t have any, but it didn’t take away from his Godly looks. No dimples and my breath still caught. Damn, he was beautiful. “What are you laughing at?”

“Me.” I giggled and my eyes stung with tears. Was this the breakdown I thought I felt climbing to the surface in the parking lot? God, I hoped not. That would be humiliating – the man already thought I was crazy. If he witnessed a mental breakdown, surely he would commit me himself.

“What’s so funny about you?” He was frowning now. I was damn certain I looked like a psychotic crazy person and I wouldn’t put it past him to throw me over his shoulder and drive me to the nearest mental health facility for mental evaluation.  

“My appearance.” I laughed harder, holding my stomach. “I’ve been in my car for the last two days. I slept in the damn thing.” I shook my head and he frowned. “And here I am with you, in raggedy sweats and a hoodie,” I wiped at a tear. “I’m not even wearing a normal bra, for goodness sakes.”

He raised a brow before looking down at my chest. I didn’t mind. It was concealed by layers of clothing anyway. “You’re not wearing a bra?”

“Well, I am,” I waved. “It’s a sports bra. But my point is that I’m an absolute ruin and I’m sitting here with you, in a restaurant I should not be in,” I gasped for a breath. “I should be on the road. I should be putting distance between,” I paused mid-rant and found his eyes were trained on me.

“You should be putting distance between you and?” He let his words trail off in silent question.

“Never mind.” I forced my eyes to look at the table. “It’s not important.”

“I think it is.” He said gently, his elbows pressed into the table as he leaned closer to me. I flinched, leaning back away from him. The last thing I needed him thinking was that he had any chance of getting close to me. He didn’t. I wasn’t on the market for a relationship – of any kind.  

“I don’t want to talk about this.” I forced a smile. “Let’s talk about you.”

“Me?” He frowned, settling back in his chair. He didn’t take his blue eyes off me as he moved. They made my skin feel warm. Too warm. It was almost uncomfortable. “What about me?”