Double Shot by Christine D'Abo Page B

Ian bumped her shoulder. “You’ve been quieter than normal.”
    “I’m fine. I was expecting something and it hasn’t happened yet.”
    “Has someone gone and broken your heart? Was it Paul? I’ll kill him if he did.”
    Sadie grabbed Ian by the shoulders. “Thanks for looking out for me, but I’m fine.”
    “Shit, it was Paul. What did he do?”
    Ian was more than capable of holding his own in a fight and had enough of a temper to act on it. The last thing she wanted was him going off on a tear after an unsuspecting Paul.
    Sadie kissed his forehead and did her best to wipe away any of his concern. She didn’t want this turning into something it wasn’t. Paul would either come around or he wouldn’t. And if not, then she had one night of amazing sex to remember their friendship by.
    “Ian, please let me handle this.”
    “Sadie—”
    “I mean it. And don’t go telling Paige either. Despite what the two of you think, I am more than capable of dealing with things on my own.”
    “She’s pretty good at it, actually.”
    Sadie tensed at the sound of Paul’s voice. How had she missed the door chime? She released Ian and stepped up to the counter. “Hey.”
    “Hey.” Paul scratched his fingers through his hair. “Can we go someplace to talk?”
    Ian cleared his throat and tossed his apartment keys at her. “I even cleaned last night.”
    When she went to protest, Ian rolled his eyes and started making a cappuccino. “What was that? I can’t hear you over the sound of the steam. Going to take a break? Okay, see you later.”
    Paul chuckled and held out his hand. “I promise to behave.”
    Seeing that she wasn’t about to get any support from Ian, Sadie pulled off her apron and tossed it at her brother. “We can take the back stairs.”
    They didn’t speak as they went out through the kitchen to the hidden staircase that led to Ian’s upstairs apartment. Paul even kept his distance as she fumbled with the keys in the lock, waiting until she stepped inside and held the door open.
    “Funny enough, he doesn’t have a coffeemaker. I can offer you a cup of tea though.”
    “Yeah, that would be perfect.”
    Paul sat at the table and stared at her as Sadie did her best to ignore him and get everything they needed for tea. Unfortunately, that took far less time than it took for the water to boil, leaving Sadie at a loss for what to say.
    “I’m sorry.” Paul’s voice was nearly lost over the sounds of the kettle. “I’m an idiot.”
    The sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, the one that had formed the moment Paul stormed out of Josh’s room, finally started to recede. “It took you six days to figure that out?”
    She glanced his way, not sure she wanted to know what he was feeling. The last thing she wanted was pity, especially coming from Paul.
    The snap of the kettle turning off had her jumping. She threw tea bags into the mugs and quickly poured the water to the brim, carefully carrying them over to the table. Paul took his without looking up and began to rub his thumb across the top of the handle.
    Sadie had to fight every natural instinct she had to want to smooth things over and dismiss his overreaction. To carry on like nothing had happened. But if she did that then any chance they had at a real relationship would wither and die here at this table. She’d be damned if she was going to let that happen.
    “You know what?” She pulled the tea bag out and took a big sip, letting the liquid burn her tongue. “You’re right, you were an idiot.”
    Paul flicked his gaze to her but didn’t otherwise move.
    After taking another sip, Sadie set her mug down with a clunk and leaned across the table. She wasn’t going to settle for being the friend, not when she wanted more, but she needed to remind him of that basis first.
    “Do you remember a few years ago, that camping trip the ten of us took up to Sibbald Point?” Her question was a bit out there, but she wanted to get them back to a