next to a forty-plus-year-old refrigerator. Obviously the guy had his priorities straight.
“How was the drive?” he inquired conversationally as he opened an overhead cabinet to get a cup.
“Long, but not terrible.”
“Hmmm.”
Michael poured two cups of coffee and smiled pleasantly when he handed mine over.
“Thank you.” I cradled the cup in both hands, letting the warmth seep through my fingertips.
We stood a couple feet away leaning against the counter, eyeing each other over our steaming cups. The mood was uncertain, but not angry or negative. My shoulders relaxed as I carefully sipped my coffee. I didn’t want to be the first to speak. I didn’t want to miss out by bringing up contractor estimates if he was willing to talk about Jovan. I looked up when he chuckled softly. Michael’s dark eyes twinkled, creasing in merriment at the corners.
“You’re funny.”
“How? What did I do?”
“You look like you have a million things to say or questions to ask. I don’t know you well, but I’m going to suggest you don’t play poker. You’d suck at it.”
His soft smile kept me from taking any offense, but I scowled at him anyway before taking another sip. He was right, of course. But that didn’t mean I was going to crack. Michael licked his lips and looked briefly away before turning back to face me.
“You know when you saw me with….”
“Your masseuse?” I supplied helpfully.
“Yeah. Jovan. I… um. It isn’t serious. That’s all.”
We stared at each other for a long moment. The air suddenly crackled with an undefined energy.
“So you’re saying what exactly? I’m lost. Is it that Jovan is not your boyfriend or it was a momentary impulse? Or—”
“Jovan isn’t my boyfriend. We just have a loose… arrangement, I guess.” He stood a little taller and uncrossed his arms, his dark eyes piercing mine with a meaningful stare.
“Cool. Well good for you.” I pasted a weak smile on my face and changed the topic. I hated the strong rush of jealousy I had no right to. I wanted to steer things back to the remodel, but something else entirely came out of my mouth. “Did you call the police about the letter from your ex?”
Michael cocked his head curiously. “No. I called… someone else. Don’t worry about Jamie.”
“Your lawyer? That’s good. He shouldn’t get away wi—”
“Not my lawyer. My—”
I drew in a deep breath as my eyes grew wide and my hand flew to cover my mouth.
“What? What are you freaking out about?”
“Please don’t tell me you arranged a hit.”
“A hit? What—” Michael doubled over in laughter. When he seemed to get control of himself, he shook his head incredulously, his dark eyes twinkling merrily.
“It’s not funny.”
“Where did you get that? Don’t tell me. You were thinking I’ve got some drug cartel connection south of the border who takes care of pesky ex-boyfriends who might try to out me or cause general mischief in my life?”
I rolled my eyes at the very suggestion, though yeah, he wasn’t that far off the mark.
“You’ve got a vivid imagination, Luke. Somehow you being a writer and a designer makes sense. You must read a lot of mysteries as well as poetry. I hope you aren’t disappointed, but the truth is far less exciting. I’m just a stupid sucker who let my dick make a poor decision for me.”
“Well, what are you going to do about him? You can’t let him get away with blackmail, extortion, swind—”
“Don’t worry, hombrecito . I won’t.”
We held eye contact for a long moment. There was a strong current between us I couldn’t read. Was it commiseration over a creepy ex? Or was it just me staring at him like an idiot because he was so damn hypnotic? I looked away and took a sip of my coffee.
“Sorry. It’s not my business. It was just so weird.”
“I know. I thought there might be a chance you wouldn’t show up today. I’m glad you did.”
Was I imagining the hint of desire I saw in
“How was the drive?” he inquired conversationally as he opened an overhead cabinet to get a cup.
“Long, but not terrible.”
“Hmmm.”
Michael poured two cups of coffee and smiled pleasantly when he handed mine over.
“Thank you.” I cradled the cup in both hands, letting the warmth seep through my fingertips.
We stood a couple feet away leaning against the counter, eyeing each other over our steaming cups. The mood was uncertain, but not angry or negative. My shoulders relaxed as I carefully sipped my coffee. I didn’t want to be the first to speak. I didn’t want to miss out by bringing up contractor estimates if he was willing to talk about Jovan. I looked up when he chuckled softly. Michael’s dark eyes twinkled, creasing in merriment at the corners.
“You’re funny.”
“How? What did I do?”
“You look like you have a million things to say or questions to ask. I don’t know you well, but I’m going to suggest you don’t play poker. You’d suck at it.”
His soft smile kept me from taking any offense, but I scowled at him anyway before taking another sip. He was right, of course. But that didn’t mean I was going to crack. Michael licked his lips and looked briefly away before turning back to face me.
“You know when you saw me with….”
“Your masseuse?” I supplied helpfully.
“Yeah. Jovan. I… um. It isn’t serious. That’s all.”
We stared at each other for a long moment. The air suddenly crackled with an undefined energy.
“So you’re saying what exactly? I’m lost. Is it that Jovan is not your boyfriend or it was a momentary impulse? Or—”
“Jovan isn’t my boyfriend. We just have a loose… arrangement, I guess.” He stood a little taller and uncrossed his arms, his dark eyes piercing mine with a meaningful stare.
“Cool. Well good for you.” I pasted a weak smile on my face and changed the topic. I hated the strong rush of jealousy I had no right to. I wanted to steer things back to the remodel, but something else entirely came out of my mouth. “Did you call the police about the letter from your ex?”
Michael cocked his head curiously. “No. I called… someone else. Don’t worry about Jamie.”
“Your lawyer? That’s good. He shouldn’t get away wi—”
“Not my lawyer. My—”
I drew in a deep breath as my eyes grew wide and my hand flew to cover my mouth.
“What? What are you freaking out about?”
“Please don’t tell me you arranged a hit.”
“A hit? What—” Michael doubled over in laughter. When he seemed to get control of himself, he shook his head incredulously, his dark eyes twinkling merrily.
“It’s not funny.”
“Where did you get that? Don’t tell me. You were thinking I’ve got some drug cartel connection south of the border who takes care of pesky ex-boyfriends who might try to out me or cause general mischief in my life?”
I rolled my eyes at the very suggestion, though yeah, he wasn’t that far off the mark.
“You’ve got a vivid imagination, Luke. Somehow you being a writer and a designer makes sense. You must read a lot of mysteries as well as poetry. I hope you aren’t disappointed, but the truth is far less exciting. I’m just a stupid sucker who let my dick make a poor decision for me.”
“Well, what are you going to do about him? You can’t let him get away with blackmail, extortion, swind—”
“Don’t worry, hombrecito . I won’t.”
We held eye contact for a long moment. There was a strong current between us I couldn’t read. Was it commiseration over a creepy ex? Or was it just me staring at him like an idiot because he was so damn hypnotic? I looked away and took a sip of my coffee.
“Sorry. It’s not my business. It was just so weird.”
“I know. I thought there might be a chance you wouldn’t show up today. I’m glad you did.”
Was I imagining the hint of desire I saw in
Similar Books
