Read Chasing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 4) for Free Online Page B

her hello, and Alexa bobbed backward, keeping the embrace at arm’s length.
    “It looks pretty crowded in there. We should hurry and get a table.”
    They shuffled awkwardly, side-by-side, toward the door.
    Once inside, the wave of noise washing over them offered Alexa the opportunity to not speak. Sam gestured toward a booth in the corner, and she followed.
    Texting him out of the blue was impulsive, but who knows? Maybe she would discover something to help her forget her landlord who seemed intent on worming his way into other areas of her life.
    The waitress came over and took their drink orders. Not wanting to head straight for liquor, Alexa decided to forgo her typical vodka soda and ask for her favorite red wine instead. Sam requested a fancy lager after his first two choices weren’t available on tap—much to his consternation.
    “It’s not like the beer’s that obscure. It just won an award as Austin’s best new India pale ale.” Sam shook his head, brows knit together.
    “I have to admit that I know nothing about the local brew scene. It sounds like you’re pretty into it.” Alexa brightened her face, encouraging Sam to continue.
    “I toyed with the idea of doing a small batch brew. But, you know, the day job gets in the way. It’s probably not going to happen.”
    “I guess I’m lucky that I get to do what I love. What do you do again?”
    “I’m a radiology technician at the hospital. It’s not that I don’t like what I do, but I have a thousand ideas about other stuff I might like better. I see a lot of sickness and a lot of scared people. It gets depressing.”
    “I can see that.” Alexa didn’t know where to take the conversation once the thought of sick and scared people was in her head.
    Sam sighed. “So…how was your holiday?”
    “Good. I went to see my parents up in Oklahoma at Christmas, and I stopped in Dallas on the way back for New Year’s. My cousin and her new husband live there.”
    “Oh! What’d you do for New Year’s?”
    More like…who did I do? “Melissa and I went to a party.”
    “She didn’t spend New Year’s with Kyle?”
    “He drew the short straw at work and had to do the overnight shift, covering the ER. She met me in Dallas instead.”
    Kyle was an orthopedic surgeon. He hadn’t been happy about having to ring in the New Year setting bones under fluorescent lights.
    “Damn. Worst job ever.”
    “I guess. Kyle has always enjoyed his work.”
    “No.” The vociferous syllable gave Alexa a start. “It’s awful. Covering the ER is the worst. Especially at night, and especially on holidays. People get drunk and get in horrible accidents. People get pissed off and shoot their relatives. It’s humanity at its worst.”
    “Wow. Sounds pretty bad…but, anyway, that’s what I did for New Year’s Eve. I went to a party in Dallas.”
    Alexa shifted in her seat to position herself for a better view of the rest of the bar and, hopefully, her waitress’ arrival with their drinks. She might need a glass of wine the size of a bathtub to get through this date.
    “Sorry. Working at the hospital gets to you.”
    Alexa’s flashed a smile like an emergency flare. “No. It’s fine. I get it.”
    Sam grinned, reaching across the table and patting Alexa’s hand, which stilled in response. “You had a good time?”
    Alexa shuffled her feet and banged her knee against the heavy wooden table leg, biting her lip to keep from cursing. She breathed through the pain and refocused on her date. “Yeah. It was a good time. What’d you do over the holiday?”
    “It was pretty lame. I was in San Antonio with my mom, my stepdad, and my baby sister—half-sister. She’s only fifteen, and Jesus, she’s a bitch.”
    Alexa flinched, and Sam reddened. “I mean…It’s just, you know, she’s a teenager, and so cranky and negative.”
    “I can see how that would get annoying. I’m going to run to the restroom. I want to wash my hands before we eat.”
    Jumping up, Alexa