Read Online Meant to Be: Southern Heat Series by Jenna Harte - Free Book Online

offer. In fact, he had once or twice.
    “Missy.” He scooted further in to the booth, not to invite her in, but to get her breasts out of his face. She was a nice woman, and he’d enjoyed the few times they’d spent together, but he’d lost interest, and despite her sensuality, he wasn’t even tempted.
    “What’cha up to?”
    “Having some dinner.” Mitch caught movement behind her and saw Jagger moving to a table near him. “With a friend. Jagger!” Mitch waved a hand. “Over here.”
    Jagger turned to his name, his gaze assessed the situation and then he turned a curious look at Mitch.
    “Well, I’ll see ya around.” Her smiled dropped into disappointment.
    Mitch nodded. “Take care, Missy.”
    Jagger watched Missy saunter off and then sat across from Mitch, his brows pulled together in disbelief.
    “Don’t ask.”
    Jagger shook his head. “Dinner? It’s not even two yet. You’re older than you look if you’re having dinner in the middle of the afternoon.”
    Mitch smirked. “Yankee. Lunch then. But after lunch , I’m having supper, not dinner.”
    Jagger laughed, lifting his arms in surrender.
    The waitress approached. Deciding he was hungry for more than dessert, Mitch ordered barbecue and a beer.
    Jagger ordered the same. “We have some of the best food in New York, but nowhere else does barbecue like the south.”
    “Of course.”
    The waitress brought their beer. “And the service can’t be beat.” Jagger grinned.
    “You settling into the house?” Mitch took a long gulp of his beer, happy for the distraction Jagger brought from thoughts of Sydney.
    “It’s getting there.”
    “Do you think you’ll be able survive slow country living?”
    “So far so good. I think you’re just worried I’ll take away from your action.”
    Mitch laughed. “I suppose that’s a possibility. I’m more charming and better looking, but you’re—”
    “Richer.” Jagger lifted his beer in salute.
    “Women do like a man with money.”
    “No worries, Mitch. My oat sowing days are coming to an end.”
    “The pigs flew and I missed it?” Mitch looked out the window and then back at Jagger with a smirk.
    “You laugh, but there comes a time in every man’s life when he’s got to settle down.”
    Mitch frowned. “I don’t think that’s an actual rule.” God, he hoped not. He may not feel the need to sow his oats with every woman in town, but he had no plans to settle down either.
    Jagger laughed. “You’ve been to war and faced down criminals, but I don’t think anything scares you more than the idea of getting married.”
    Mitch took another swallow of his beer.
    “Speaking of settling down, what’s the deal with you and Sydney Preston?”
    Mitch nearly spit out his beer. “No deal.”
    “I was thinking, a new, beautiful, smart woman in town. She’s not the type Mitch McKenna would pass up.”
    The waitress set two plates of pulled pork barbecue sandwiches in front of them, giving Mitch time to gather his thoughts. After all, the whole purpose of hiding in the diner was to get Sydney off his mind and out of his system. “I knew her from college.”
    “Oh, that’s right. You went to Princeton too.” When Jagger didn’t say more, Mitch looked up. “So, you and Sydney…”
    “Me and Sydney nothing.”
    Jagger stopped mid-bite of a fry and studied Mitch. “Are you sure about that?”
    “I’m sure.” Mitch took a bite of his sandwich, trying to ignore the voice in his head calling him a liar.
    “So, you wouldn’t mind if I asked her out?” Jagger popped the fry into his mouth.
    Hell yeah, I’d mind. The thought of Jagger and Sydney together pissed Mitch off even more. It proved that time and distance hadn’t wiped away whatever part of Sydney had bore into his soul. It was the only explanation for the yearning, even though he wanted nothing to do with her.
    Mitch shrugged and poked at a fry on his plate, hoping he was coming off as nonchalant. “You can try.”
    “You