“The prickly one,” she said, managing a smile, “is just the breezy one when she’s tired. It makes her grumpy.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep. Eight hours of sleep and a strong espresso, and I’ll be back to my usual charming, chaos-resistant, Marcus-exhausting self.”
He didn’t argue. Which meant…he agreed.
Sheturned away like she didn’t care. Like his opinions didn’t land harder than they should. But her stomach was tight. Her chest felt prickly. Was this what emotional indigestion felt like?
I do not care if he likes me.
And yet.
“I’ll have to call in sick tomorrow,” she muttered. “No way I’m showing up in what I wore tonight.”
Marcus’s lips twitched. “I’ll text George. Ask him to come early and see if he can get into the cottage without breaking anything. If he’s successful, you’ll have time to primp.”
Frankie narrowed her eyes. “You mean if he manages what you couldn’t?”
He didn’t answer.
“He seems the type who’d try everything before leaving a woman without her things for even one night,” she added, watching closely.
“You think George is sweet?”
“He’s what my mom called a kind soul. The kind of man a woman should fall for. Dependable. Warm. No drama. Not the kind who disappears when things get hard.”
Marcus’s jaw flexed. “I’m sure his girlfriend appreciates that about him.”
Frankie looked up, half expecting to see the tiniest flare of jealousy. Instead, his expression stayed flat. No heat. Just…information.
Which somehow made her want to throw something at him.
Or kiss him.
Or both.
She eyed the large, creaky bed. “Why give me the master?”
Marcus smirked. “What makes you think I’m giving it up?”
“You’re expecting me to share?” Her voice hit full shrew mode. “Are you out of your flannel-wearing mind?”
He held up both hands. “Relax. I was joking.”
“Well, don’t. Surprise cohabitation jokes aren’t funny.”
“They are in romantic comedies.”
“And you know this how?”
He shrugged. “I got roped into joining last month’s romance readers’ book club. It’s a town rule, everyone has to belong to at least one.”
“I had to read twelve romances last year because—” She stopped short, catching herself before blurting her connection toNaked Runway. “I was on a committee throwing a soiree that auctioned off twelve book boyfriend tropes.”
“Book boyfriends?”
“Real-life guys who embody a book boyfriend trope. Like, George would be a small-town beta hottie.”
