Connie smiles and follows me down. When I get to the bottom step, Fraser stands and straightens his jacket as we enter the room.
“Whoa, don’t you look beautiful?”
“Thank you.” I blush as he checks me out from top to bottom and, I admit, I’m doing the same, but perhaps not in the same way.
His short dark hair is parted to one side with a slight wave, a curl hanging loosely by his forehead. He’s handsome and has just the right amount of stubble covering his jaw, and I like his dark, full moustache. He’s tall, slim and polite too. Usually, I’d find these qualities attractive, but there’s something missing, and I know exactly what it is. I don’t fancy him.
As Calla said, I’ve just got to see him as a friend. I remind myself of her advice as I retrieve my house keys from the side table and place them in my small clutch bag. “Ready?” I ask, taking another deep breath.
His hand sweeps out for me to go first. “I am, gorgeous. After you.”
TOMMY
My back is to the wall, my face side-on while my hand slowly lifts the blind. I’m so focused on what is going on outside the bedroom window, I don’t hear Max sneak up behind me. “Something's got your attention.”
I jump out of my skin. “What the fuck? Did you have to creep up on me like that?”
“I didn’t want to disturb your concentration.” He chuckles. “Is that Angie out there?”
“Yeah,” I reply, a little irritated.
“Who’s the guy? A date?”
I scowl his way briefly. “Could be.”
“Do you know him?” Max asks.
“No,” I growl as my primary focus lands on the position of his hands while he guides her into his old Audi A4.
“Angie seems to like him.”
I spin my head around to Max’s line of sight. “And how the fuck do you know that?”
“Body language.”
I huff out a sarcastic laugh. He knows nothing, but since he took my attention away from the window, they’ve driven off.
“Why are you so interested in what Angie is up to?” He smirks.
“Because she’s trying the dating game, and I want to make sure that whoever goes out with her is good enough. Angie is still fragile, and we’ve got to watch out for her.”
“If you say so.” Max chuckles again.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He shrugs. “So, what are your plans tonight?”
“I’m staying here. Connie’s next door, babysitting, so I’m in for the night with Oz. You?”
“You let Connie go to Angie’s for the night? Jesus, dude. If this date goes well, it’s your fault.”
I run my fingers through my hair. “How did you work that out?”
“If you didn’t lend her your nanny, she couldn’t go on a date.”
He’s got a point, but I promised Angie I’d help her in any way I could. “I wouldn’t do that to her. She can borrow Connie whenever she wants.”
“Then you’re an idiot.” Max shakes his head. “You obviously like her.”
