made it. Maybe somebody in there will be less crabby. Come on,” she says, looking at Veronica. “We need to hurry, or we’ll get caught in traffic.”
“What’s she talking about?” Emerson says after the girls leave.
“Probably me,” Collin says. He doesn’t even hesitate to get me out of explaining Malerie’s crazy statement.
She definitely has problems. No shortage of feisty females with attitude—the girl du jour around here.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a few minutes before you get started?” I flash her my most charming smile.
“You’re the boss,” she says, and takes her coat off.
I lead her back into the living room away from Collin and Ace. My gaze is drawn to her movements as she pulls her long hair from the neckline of her hooded sweatshirt. Static spikes baby fine hair in a circle framing her head.
Leaning in, I run my hand over the side of her head, smoothing the disarray. Her expression tells me she has no idea why I’ve done it.
I can’t stop the grin and she flushes. “Did I have stuff on my head?” she asks.
“No. It’s nothing.” I can’t quit staring at the way her blue eyes seem darker when she’s embarrassed.
She steps back, putting a couple of feet between us. “What do you need?”
I lower my voice, aware that Collin and Ace can hear us in the kitchen. “I want to make sure we’re still on for tonight.”
“Tonight?” Her tone leaves me no doubt that she’s forgotten.
My pride hackles up defensively. It’s a strange sensation I haven’t felt in years. It’s the reason I’m only interested in women who don’t mean anything to me. At least until Emerson came along.
I’d almost forgotten how hard the feeling pummels your gut.
I paste on an easy smile that almost hurts. “Don’t worry about it. If you’re busy, it’s not a problem. I have a friend who wanted to go out tonight anyway.”
I turn to walk away but she grabs my arm. Her fingers are still cold from being outside and I want to fold her into me and warm her.
“Yeah?” I study her expression, a strange mixture of excitement and hesitation. Like that moment at a lake, staring down into the dark water before jumping off the bluffs.
“I’ve had a lot going on and you didn’t mention it when you called to check on us after the break-in. And...” She seems to catch hold of her emotions, her face smoothing out into a blank canvas. She removes her hand in a quick jerky motion. “It’s a bad idea. A really bad idea. We should keep our relationship on the friend level.”
A moment of sheer brilliance overcomes me. “I’m going to confess something.”
She looks at me dubiously. Her head tilts as she waits for the rest.
“I’ve been under a lot of stress at work, and I need someone to hang out with and talk to. Somebody who isn’t going to think we’re a couple just because we go out to dinner or a movie. You’d be like one of the guys.”
Emerson is studying me with an intensity that’s a little scary. I know without a doubt that she thinks she can sniff out a lie. It’s a good thing my statement isn’t one.
Miss Human Lie Detector glances at the room behind us where we can hear the guys’ voices in deep discussion. “You should spend more time with Collin and Jordy. They’re both great.”
I wonder if she says the same about me. That I’m a great guy. “Collin is always with Veronica and Jordy is busier than ever since he sold that last app. He’s been out of town the past two days.”
“Hmm...” She nods. “What’s going on with you and work?”
I check my watch and look up at her. “I need to get going. You, me, pizza, and beer. Can we talk about it tonight?”
“Ok. I can do that.”
“Good.” I tamp down my victory grin. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Sure.” She moves past me, not looking me in the eye, and I sense she’s uncomfortable with the decision she’s made.
I’m all right with that. I’ve been uncomfortable with this undeniable
“What’s she talking about?” Emerson says after the girls leave.
“Probably me,” Collin says. He doesn’t even hesitate to get me out of explaining Malerie’s crazy statement.
She definitely has problems. No shortage of feisty females with attitude—the girl du jour around here.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a few minutes before you get started?” I flash her my most charming smile.
“You’re the boss,” she says, and takes her coat off.
I lead her back into the living room away from Collin and Ace. My gaze is drawn to her movements as she pulls her long hair from the neckline of her hooded sweatshirt. Static spikes baby fine hair in a circle framing her head.
Leaning in, I run my hand over the side of her head, smoothing the disarray. Her expression tells me she has no idea why I’ve done it.
I can’t stop the grin and she flushes. “Did I have stuff on my head?” she asks.
“No. It’s nothing.” I can’t quit staring at the way her blue eyes seem darker when she’s embarrassed.
She steps back, putting a couple of feet between us. “What do you need?”
I lower my voice, aware that Collin and Ace can hear us in the kitchen. “I want to make sure we’re still on for tonight.”
“Tonight?” Her tone leaves me no doubt that she’s forgotten.
My pride hackles up defensively. It’s a strange sensation I haven’t felt in years. It’s the reason I’m only interested in women who don’t mean anything to me. At least until Emerson came along.
I’d almost forgotten how hard the feeling pummels your gut.
I paste on an easy smile that almost hurts. “Don’t worry about it. If you’re busy, it’s not a problem. I have a friend who wanted to go out tonight anyway.”
I turn to walk away but she grabs my arm. Her fingers are still cold from being outside and I want to fold her into me and warm her.
“Yeah?” I study her expression, a strange mixture of excitement and hesitation. Like that moment at a lake, staring down into the dark water before jumping off the bluffs.
“I’ve had a lot going on and you didn’t mention it when you called to check on us after the break-in. And...” She seems to catch hold of her emotions, her face smoothing out into a blank canvas. She removes her hand in a quick jerky motion. “It’s a bad idea. A really bad idea. We should keep our relationship on the friend level.”
A moment of sheer brilliance overcomes me. “I’m going to confess something.”
She looks at me dubiously. Her head tilts as she waits for the rest.
“I’ve been under a lot of stress at work, and I need someone to hang out with and talk to. Somebody who isn’t going to think we’re a couple just because we go out to dinner or a movie. You’d be like one of the guys.”
Emerson is studying me with an intensity that’s a little scary. I know without a doubt that she thinks she can sniff out a lie. It’s a good thing my statement isn’t one.
Miss Human Lie Detector glances at the room behind us where we can hear the guys’ voices in deep discussion. “You should spend more time with Collin and Jordy. They’re both great.”
I wonder if she says the same about me. That I’m a great guy. “Collin is always with Veronica and Jordy is busier than ever since he sold that last app. He’s been out of town the past two days.”
“Hmm...” She nods. “What’s going on with you and work?”
I check my watch and look up at her. “I need to get going. You, me, pizza, and beer. Can we talk about it tonight?”
“Ok. I can do that.”
“Good.” I tamp down my victory grin. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Sure.” She moves past me, not looking me in the eye, and I sense she’s uncomfortable with the decision she’s made.
I’m all right with that. I’ve been uncomfortable with this undeniable
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