get out of this store before she lost any more of her mind. “I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with the scavenger hunt.”
“What I said was that it could wait.”
He had said that. He’d also said he’d learned enough of the truth for one evening. A comment Macy still hadn’t quite decided how to take. “And now? You’re done waiting?”
“Timing seems right.” Leo started toward the front of the store.
Macy hurriedly followed. “What timing? Right for what?”
“For playing with you again.”
Oh, but her heart lurched at that. “Very funny.”
“The scavenger hunt, Macy.” He cast a glance back over his shoulder. “Isn’t that what we’ve been talking about?”
“You hardly need to move in with me because of the scavenger hunt.” She couldn’t think of any reason for him to move in with her. Not a single one.
Rent money wasn’t a legitimate issue. Leo wanting more space than the hotel allowed was bogus. He could deal with cramped quarters for an additional few days.
And she could not, would not have him moving in because she was desperate to avoid living alone. She didn’t want it to be Leo Redding who kept her company, who made the noise she needed in order to think.
She didn’t want Leo Redding for anything. She didn’t want him moving in at all. She didn’t want him, most of all, to know she’d become a consummate liar.
“I wouldn’t be moving in because of the scavenger hunt,” he said, and made his way to the end of the shortest checkout line.
Macy chose the line to the left. Not too close, not too far away. “Why then? I can’t think of any logical reason.”
He pulled off his glasses, tucked them in his pocket and looked at her then. He held her attention for the longest time, his steady gaze compelling, his entire presence commanding.
Macy couldn’t do this. She couldn’t do this! She couldn’t give in, not after holding out this long. All she had to do now was pay for her groceries and get out of the store. Another five to seven minutes and her mind would once again be hers.
Who was she kidding?
Nine days ago she’d crawled up into this man’s lap and demanded his smile. He’d given her that much, given her more, and in exchange had captured her interest. He’d kissed her full on the mouth, left behind his texture, his taste, the temptation of his wicked wit, making sure she would never forget him.
And then Leo ruined her plans for escape anyway by giving her a reason she couldn’t refute.
Simply, he said, “Because you can’t think of a reason to say no. And because I dare you to say yes.”
Oh he did, did he? One eye narrowed, she asked, “When did you say the condo would be ready?”
“Two weeks. A month at the outside.”
Two weeks she could handle. A month might be tougher. Maybe she could light a fire under Anton to get the condo finished ASAP. Or get Lauren to do the lighting, since she was responsible for leaving Macy in this roommate lurch.
On the other hand, she was stupid for even considering this madness. Especially when Leo didn’t even have the humility to beg with a poor-pitiful-me puppy-dog look, but instead met her gaze directly with a triumphant expression.
She lifted her chin and met his challenge. “If we do this, don’t even think I’m going to let my guard down for a minute. I will not pay for your groceries. I will not do your laundry, clean your toilet or wash the dishes you use. And you won’t be gaining any scavenger hunt advantage because of our proximity.”
“Face it, Macy. I’m going to win this scavenger hunt of yours whether we’re living together or not.” And then, as if he had every right, he left his line, moved into hers and added his entire collection of purchases, melons and all, to her cart.
“Correction.” She would make this one thing perfectly clear because, the way her pulse was racing, her heart thudding a heavy beat from the hollow of her throat to her toes, she needed the reminder
“What I said was that it could wait.”
He had said that. He’d also said he’d learned enough of the truth for one evening. A comment Macy still hadn’t quite decided how to take. “And now? You’re done waiting?”
“Timing seems right.” Leo started toward the front of the store.
Macy hurriedly followed. “What timing? Right for what?”
“For playing with you again.”
Oh, but her heart lurched at that. “Very funny.”
“The scavenger hunt, Macy.” He cast a glance back over his shoulder. “Isn’t that what we’ve been talking about?”
“You hardly need to move in with me because of the scavenger hunt.” She couldn’t think of any reason for him to move in with her. Not a single one.
Rent money wasn’t a legitimate issue. Leo wanting more space than the hotel allowed was bogus. He could deal with cramped quarters for an additional few days.
And she could not, would not have him moving in because she was desperate to avoid living alone. She didn’t want it to be Leo Redding who kept her company, who made the noise she needed in order to think.
She didn’t want Leo Redding for anything. She didn’t want him moving in at all. She didn’t want him, most of all, to know she’d become a consummate liar.
“I wouldn’t be moving in because of the scavenger hunt,” he said, and made his way to the end of the shortest checkout line.
Macy chose the line to the left. Not too close, not too far away. “Why then? I can’t think of any logical reason.”
He pulled off his glasses, tucked them in his pocket and looked at her then. He held her attention for the longest time, his steady gaze compelling, his entire presence commanding.
Macy couldn’t do this. She couldn’t do this! She couldn’t give in, not after holding out this long. All she had to do now was pay for her groceries and get out of the store. Another five to seven minutes and her mind would once again be hers.
Who was she kidding?
Nine days ago she’d crawled up into this man’s lap and demanded his smile. He’d given her that much, given her more, and in exchange had captured her interest. He’d kissed her full on the mouth, left behind his texture, his taste, the temptation of his wicked wit, making sure she would never forget him.
And then Leo ruined her plans for escape anyway by giving her a reason she couldn’t refute.
Simply, he said, “Because you can’t think of a reason to say no. And because I dare you to say yes.”
Oh he did, did he? One eye narrowed, she asked, “When did you say the condo would be ready?”
“Two weeks. A month at the outside.”
Two weeks she could handle. A month might be tougher. Maybe she could light a fire under Anton to get the condo finished ASAP. Or get Lauren to do the lighting, since she was responsible for leaving Macy in this roommate lurch.
On the other hand, she was stupid for even considering this madness. Especially when Leo didn’t even have the humility to beg with a poor-pitiful-me puppy-dog look, but instead met her gaze directly with a triumphant expression.
She lifted her chin and met his challenge. “If we do this, don’t even think I’m going to let my guard down for a minute. I will not pay for your groceries. I will not do your laundry, clean your toilet or wash the dishes you use. And you won’t be gaining any scavenger hunt advantage because of our proximity.”
“Face it, Macy. I’m going to win this scavenger hunt of yours whether we’re living together or not.” And then, as if he had every right, he left his line, moved into hers and added his entire collection of purchases, melons and all, to her cart.
“Correction.” She would make this one thing perfectly clear because, the way her pulse was racing, her heart thudding a heavy beat from the hollow of her throat to her toes, she needed the reminder
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