The Difference a Day Makes (Perfect, Indiana: Book Two) by Barbara Longley Page B

his brow and stared at Ted. “Let’s see what you got, kid .”
    “Asshole.”
    “Yeah? I have one of them too. Wanna see?” Ryan unbuttoned his jeans and caught Paige peeking at him out of the corner of her eye.
    Ted shook his head, climbed into his convertible, and peeled out in a spray of gravel. Fastening himself back up, Ryan worked his way around the hood of his truck and slid into the driver’s seat. Paige sat stiff-necked beside him with an air of haughty superiority. Dang, she did that well.
    Half the time he was with her, he didn’t know if he was coming or going, and he liked that. She gave him something to think about other than the usual shit hammering away at his sanity. “Are you going to be mad at me all day?”
    “Why do you bait Ted the way you do?”
    He shrugged and started the truck. Had she not heard the implied put-down he’d just received? Was he supposed to take Ted’s insults lying down? I don’t think so.
    “Really. I want to know what it is about him that brings out the worst in you.”
    “You think that was the worst?” He glanced her. “Not even close,” he murmured. She stared at him with that one eyebrow still raised. Ryan kept his eyes on the gravel driveway and turned his truck onto the highway toward Evansville. Noah had nothing on his little sister when it came to commander stare-downs. The silent stare rattled his nerves, and he blew out an exasperated breath in surrender.
    “Don’t you think I’m aware every single day that Ted doesn’t want me at L&L? His resentment toward me is palpable.” He snorted. “The weird thing is, I have a lot of respect for the kid. He’s got an outstanding work ethic, does a fantastic job, and despite the fact that he annoys the shit out of me, I like it whenthe three of us are in the same space and working together. Being at L&L calms me. It’s…” He shook his head and concentrated on the road.
    “My brother didn’t include him in the hiring process. Ted is supposed to be a full partner. Plus, he’s the primary business administrator. He’s frustrated, that’s all. It’s not you he resents.”
    “Really? ’Cause it sure feels like that vibe is aimed my way.” Again sounding like an eight-year-old—a whiny eight-year-old. He glanced at her again to gauge her reaction. She was still staring. “Would it make you happy if I made more of an effort to get along?”
    The smile she graced him with stole his breath, and when she slid a little closer to him on the seat, he remembered why it was so important they take his truck. Mini Coopers had bucket seats. “So I gather you and Ted were together last night.” Petty, but he couldn’t help himself. He was jealous, plain and simple. “I thought you were babysitting for Ceejay and Noah.” Damn, if that smile, with all of its warmth, didn’t disappear from her face. It’s official. I’m an idiot .
    “That’s not really your business.”
    “He made a move on you.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “I got that much from the conversation.”
    “Still not your business.”
    Based on the interaction he’d witnessed, she’d turned Ted down, so he let it go. “What do you want to do first—eat or talk?”
    Her brow furrowed. “We can’t do both at the same time?”
    “Nope. I’m not spilling my guts in some restaurant full of unfamiliars.”
    “Oh.” Her expression turned pensive. “We could get takeout and find a place where we can talk while we eat.”
    “There’s a park on the Ohio River by the levee.” He warmed to the idea. “I think I have an old blanket in the tool chest in back. We can have a picnic.” Steering the truck onto the exit toward Evansville, he processed the fact that he was happy. Paige did that for him, even when she bullied him into being a better man. Too bad she’d only be around for another week. Damn. He was in trouble, because it was going to sting like a bitch when she left.

    Paige hadn’t been able to take her eyes off