“She means a more romantic selection,” Kelsey supplied helpfully, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Even though we were well into our twenties, Kelsey still loved to torture me.
“Hmm, yeah…no.” I took a cue from her and pursed my lips.
Mom opened her mouth, about to say something that would nettle me, likely, but Kelsey cut her off. “Mom, there’s going to be plenty of single guys at the wedding,” she reminded her.
“You know, I’m perfectly content withnotbeing set up,” I said lifting my hands up, palms out in surrender. “This isn’t the middle ages, anymore. Women don’tneedto be in committed relationships in their early twenties.”
“But don’t you want to, sweetie?” Mom asked, her voice kind and her words washing over me like a bucket of ice-cold water. “I just hate to think of you in that apartment all alone, that’s all.”
“Right, well.” I looked up at the ceiling, letting a heavy sigh escape my lips as I shook my head slowly. “I’m not alone. I have Dahmerandfriends, you know.”
Mom’s frown lines deepened. She hated the name I’d given my cat. She felt it was in poor taste, while I thought it was ironic.
“All I’m saying is you don’t have to keep the lease, Gwen. You should come home, save your money.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m okay. I like living alone, I like my privacy, and I like my cat—which I wouldn’t be able to keep if I came home.”
Mom sighed deeply, the corners of her eyes creased with exasperation.
“Marlene,” Dad interjected, giving her a look that warned her to quit it. I smiled gratefully, and he nodded, his eyes twinkling before he returned to his dinner.
* * *
Somehow,I made it to Friday without spontaneously combusting. It helped that I didn’t see Alaric for the rest of the week—he was busy installing products on site for the first part of the week, and Friday my dad had him cutting and assembling a platform in the shop.
For the past four days, I tried to wait as long as I could, hoping I would catch a glimpse of him—or rather, havehimcatch a glimpse of me. I was still going all out with my appearance. I was, as Kelsey put it, peacocking.
I wanted him to notice me. I wanted it to be hard for him to forget about the night we had, and I wanted him to crawl on his knees, pleading for a repeat.
Which is why I was forcing Kelsey to talk to me on the phone while I discreetly dawdled, waiting for Alaric to come by for his check. “Tell me again why I’m doing this?”
“Because you love me, and it’s your fault. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had such incredible sex, and I wouldn’t be fixing for a repeat like some kind of sex junkie.”
“Please stop saying that word to me,” Kelsey said dryly. “So what’s the plan if hedoesn’tcome for his check?”
“He will,” I said confidently, my gaze landing on the clock on the wall. Ten to five. Two minutes later, the door to the shop swung open. “Okay, yeah. Nine o’clock at the Watering Hole. I’ll see you there.”
Alaric’s gaze never wavered, and I knew he heard me. Dropping my phone into my purse, I smiled brightly at him. “Oh, hey!”
“Hey,” he nodded, flipping through the stack of envelopes, his eyes returning to mine every so often. Like he was waiting.
I knew he’d asked for a rain cheque, but I hadn’t wanted to bring it up again. It felt desperate, and I wanted to play a little hard to get—even if though I melted into a pool of wanton need whenever he looked at me.
Grabbing my red handbag, I turned off my computer, leaning forward a little more than necessary. I was trying to play up my assets, and my ass was one of them. I stood, adjusting the hem of my round-collared sheath dress before turning. It was a fun short sleeve dress, and the black, ivory and plaid pattern complimented my curves and my complexion.
I was totally peacocking and unashamed to admit it.
I passed by Alaric, locking the door to the shop. I didn’t need to look over my shoulder to know that he was tracking my movements with hungry eyes. I waited for him to say something, but he remained silent. Brooding.
Walking by him again, I met his gaze head-on. I smiled, just a little curve of my lips, and watched his pupils dilate. I lingered by the door, waiting some more, hoping he couldn’t see how fast my heart was beating.
Alaric pocketed his cheque and strolled toward the door, his arm brushing against my elbow as he moved by me. I drew in a breath, my gaze rising to find him looking down at me, his eyes flaring with hunger. He held the door while I typed in the code and then slipped past him.
In all that time, he hadn’t said a word, so I continued walking.
“Have a good weekend.” I smiled, looking over my shoulder before sashaying to my car. I felt his scorching scrutiny the entire time, but I didn’t look back. The intention was to leave him wanting so that he’d show up at the bar tonight.
I pulled from my spot and drove home, hoping like hell my plan would work. All we needed was to get away from the work setting, and then I would be able to show him that we could easily separate play from work.
