Loving You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 2) by Leeanna Morgan

voice was a soft purr against his overstretched anxieties. He took a deep breath and tried to focus on something other than Annie’s mouth. “What else is there to worry about?”
    Annie rolled her eyes and made a scoffing noise. “Men. That’s all you ever think about.”
    She had a valid point. Especially men who were thirty-two years old and had only intentionally touched one woman in three years. “We think about other things, too.”
    Annie frowned. “Like what?”
    “Like how I’m going to beat you. We can discuss your dating issues over coffee after the game.”
    Annie followed him across to the machine that held their bowling balls. “I don’t have dating issues.”
    He picked up his ball and held it against his chest. “Yes, you do.”
    “I do not. I have men issues.”
    Dylan walked over to their lane. He was already looking forward to their after game debrief. Men issues he could tackle, especially if kissing was still an optional extra.
     
    ***
    “I can’t believe you won,” Annie said miserably. She took a sip of her hot chocolate to try and wash away the bitter taste of defeat.
    Dylan shrugged his shoulders. “Beginner’s luck, I guess.”
    She knew beginner’s luck had absolutely nothing to do with the final score. “You didn’t tell me you were so good.”
    “You never asked. I played the odd game in College. It took me a few frames to get back in the groove. You were doing okay until Milly Anderson sat at our booth.”
    Annie hadn’t been concerned at all about Milly sitting with them. Away from the bowling alley they were friends. It had been Milly’s constant questions about Dylan that had rattled her. Annie didn’t know what Dylan’s favorite takeout was, what music he liked listening to, or what color he liked the best. When Milly asked whether he had a girlfriend, Annie wasn’t too keen on sharing the one piece of information she did know.
    “That’s no excuse.” Annie picked up her spoon and scooped some froth off the top of her drink. “I’ve been bowling long enough not to let anything distract me.” She licked the creamy froth off her spoon and looked at Dylan.
    He was staring at her mouth. A blush of astronomical proportions hit her face. Dylan Bayliss looked as though he had other things on his mind. Date things that Annie didn’t want anything to do with. “I don’t mind if you ask Milly out instead of me.”
    Dylan’s gaze shot to her eyes. “What?’
    “Milly. She’s interested in you. You could take her out on a date instead of me. It would be good practice.”
    “I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.” Dylan’s eyes lit with laughter. “Milly would eat me for dinner, then come back for dessert.”
    “And you want to date me because I’m safe?” Even though Annie was opposed to the concept of dating, she started to get slightly annoyed that Dylan saw her as an easy option.
    Dylan leaned forward. “Do you want to eat me for dinner?”
    Annie choked on her drink. Her eyes started to water and Dylan passed her a paper napkin. “Thanks,” she wheezed out.
    She took a deep breath and stared at the man watching her patiently from the other side of the table. “I can’t eat you. I’m vegetarian.”
    His eyebrows shot up and what could have been a smile twitched his lips. “Really?”
    Annie wished she’d ordered a slice of cake with her hot chocolate. At least she’d have something to do other than watch Dylan laugh at her.
    “Are you sure I can’t tempt you over to the dark side?”
    Heat scorched Annie’s body in places that hadn’t been scorched in years. “You’re flirting with me.”
    Dylan frowned. “Is that a bad thing?”
    Annie nodded. It was better than admitting that she kind of liked it. “I’m helping you with colors options and…things. We have an employee and employer relationship.”
    “I’m not paying you.”
    “I’m a volunteer. Employment law gives me the same considerations as a paid