Dylan (Bachelors of the Ridge #1) Read Online Free Page A

that when you visited somewhere new, everything felt nicer than where you came from but that was totally the case on my drive from Garrett’s to The Continental Divide. It just felt nicer than Michigan. The stores and neighborhoods, even the street signs looked foreign in a really exciting way.
    The shower had revived me, along with the Coke and a piece of cold pizza, and I felt like I could maybe meet everyone at work and not feel the hangover of a solid day of travel covering me.
    When I took a right into the parking lot, the building rose up on the crest of a small hill, all wood beams and field rock. The sharp peak of the front entrance held the metal sign proclaiming the name. It didn’t look like a brand new building, in a really good way; like it had been set there years before and everything grew around it.
    At my request, Bill had left my key to the building with Garrett, since I wasn’t positive when I’d be in for the first time. Sure, I probably should have let him know that I would be stopping by, but I kinda wanted to see it without any notice. Using my key to open the heavy front door, I walked into the darkened waiting area and a slow, easy smile spread across my face. If I had to give it a name, I’d say he was going for Industrial Log Cabin as a look, and holy shit, did it work.
    The large, curving host stand in the corner was hand-carved mahogany, with a wrought iron light fixture in the shape of a bell and three old-fashioned light bulbs visible through the spindles of metal. Along both walls were heavy benches stretching the length of the area. The floors looked like stained concrete, and they paved the way around the space to two large openings about ten feet apart, both framed with log beams.
    Through the right opening, I could hear soft voices talking followed by the high pitched laughter of a woman. The left opening fed through to the family dining room, though that still had wood-framed television screens perched above both of the rock fireplaces that flanked each wall.
    While I walked the length of the dining room, I ran my hand along the soft brown leather of the curved booths, each one easily fitting six people and I wanted to crow with freaking happiness. Everything. I loved everything that I touched my eyes on.
    The voices in the sports bar grew louder, and I turned when someone walked into the dining area, a petite woman with messy blonde hair and giant brown eyes that widened at the sight of me.
    “Umm, hi,” she said cautiously. “We’re actually not open yet.”
    I braced my hands on the back of the chair in front of me and her eyes followed the movement. She reminded me of a doe, not sure whether she should bolt in the opposite direction or not.
    “I know.”
    She pulled up a few inches taller, still so much shorter than me, after I said that so calmly. “We certainly appreciate your interest, but we don’t officially open for another four days. Be sure to come back when we do.”
    “I think I’d like to stay,” I said lightly, curious as to how she’d handle me if I really were just someone who wandered in. “It certainly looks like a nice place.”
    “It is,” she said in a voice that was kind, but firm. “You’re welcome to check out the menu online or just come on back when we open next week.”
    Our eyes held for a second, and when I started smiling, her brows dipped in confusion.
    “Man, that’s too bad. I was really hoping to get some food today.”
    “Bill?” she called out over her shoulder, keeping a steady eye on me. Inexplicably, and quite inconveniently, it sent lightning skittering down my spine. “You better come in here for a second. I’m about to karate chop this dude’s ass if he doesn’t leave.”
    I barked out a laugh and she set her jaw, which made me laugh even harder. She was a solid foot shorter than me, and couldn’t weigh more than a buck fifteen.
    Bill walked into the room and smiled at me. “Dylan! Good to see you.”
    The girl