David did not move aside. When Steve stood, the men were almost nose to nose, except that David still held a couple inches over his imaginary adversary.
Steve shuffled around him and slinked away as David took his place beside me.
“Is it necessary to remind you,” I started, “that you and I arenottogether and that implying so could give people the wrong idea?”
“He was bothering you.”
“He was being a perfect—we were just chatting,” I said with a squeak. I inched closer to David, hoping to get a whiff of the David-cologne cocktail.
“Regardless,” David said, “he should’ve checked your hand before embarrassing himself by trying to pick you up.”
“Like you did?” I asked, pursing my lips.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
David leaned back against the cushion so that I had to shift marginally to look at him. I was close enough that I wouldn’t have to move much farther before my lips would land on his. His eyes traveled down my neck to my breasts before shooting back up to my face. “It just is.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He only grunted.
“Why is it all right for you to hit on me and not him?”
“Damn it, Olivia,” he said. “Don’t provoke me. It’s inappropriate for me to answer that.”
I reeled back, and he reacted instantly, drawing me back by my upper arm. A familiar thrumming ignited throughout my body, and I gasped softly.
“Is there a problem here?” I looked up reluctantly to see Steve glowering at David’s hand on my biceps. He loosened his grip slightly and then dropped his hand.
“No, it’s fine,” I answered hastily.
Their eyes locked on each other, and I sensed David’s breathing deepen beside me. Steve looked between us, wariness etched in his features. I dismissed him with a “thank you.” I’d experienced David when he was cross, and I didn’t want to be the cause of any problems.
“I’m sorry,” David said, pulling on his collar and glaring after Steve. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“You didn’t,” I said softly. “You’re upset. Does it have to do with Maria?”
He looked confused. “What?”
“You seemed angry on the phone.”
“Irritated is more like it.”
“Did she stand you up?”
He snorted. “No. For some unknown reason, she was upset that I didn’t invite her. But that’s not what’s bothering me.”
“What then?”
“I don’t really feel comfortable talking about it.”
It was his turn to brush me off, but I didn’t intend to let him. Unfortunately, Gretchen picked that moment to drop onto the bench across from us.
“Hey,” she said with a stretched smile.
“Hi,” I said cautiously.
