He clears his throat. “Fine. Luckily there was no coffee in it. This pot’s slow as molasses. I’m ordering a new one. Honestly.”
He’s fidgeting on his one leg and won’t look at me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this awkward. He opens the cupboard for a new mug.
“Hey. Bossman.”
“Hm?”
“BEN!”
“What!” He finally looks at me.
“Why are you being so weird?”
He looks down at me, then away quickly.
Oh, I’m still in my pjs. A tight, thin white tank and black silk shorts with white dots. A gift from Skye when she found out I secretly love polka dots. Who doesn’t though?
…Wait.
“Are you being this weird about myboobs?Seriously?”
He huffs the most annoyed sound I’ve ever heard from him. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here. Truly, I am. But if you don’t want me to stare and comment and probably outright drool, maybe… I don’t know, a robe?”
“A robe.”
“Yes, Janelle, a robe!”
“Stop calling me that!”
“Fine! Just go put some clothes on!”
“No.”
He turns to me, looking pointedly at my face and only my face, his jaw ticking. “No?”
“No. You drive me crazy all the time with theJanelleand thewifeyand the compliments and the niceness. I finally found something to drive you crazy. Deal with it.”
His mouth falls open in shock. Then he blinks a few times.
“You are by far the strangest woman I’ve ever known,” He huffs, still annoyed.
“A ha! A real comment from you for once.”
“Haven’t I also told you you’re mean? And grumpy? And you’re absolutecrapat making scarecrows. I’m sure I mentioned that.”
I pour my coffee and grab the organic half and half that’s already out for me—annoying—and stir aggressively. “Keep going, Boss, finally the truth comes out.”
“I’ve always been completely hon—you know what? Forget it.”
“Fine,” I shrug.
“Fine.” He’s still flushed and refusing to look in my direction. I’m panting and irritated that I’m panting. How does he always manage to get a reaction out of me?
Why do I want to…
Never mind.
He stirs his sugar into his coffee, staring straight ahead at the kitchen cabinets. I stand a couple feet away, looking down and sipping my own. I think he’s almost smiling. I definitely am. Both of us are as red as the apples we picked. He’s so ridiculous. And I’m so ridiculous when I’m with him.
