“Why would you do that?” I narrow my eyes.
Quirking a brow, he says simply, “Because I like you.” He glances at my legs. “Also, have you seen yourself?”
A little thrill runs through me. I laugh nervously and cross my arms, watching him eat.
Emboldened by his compliment, I lean toward him and lower my voice. “Julian,” I say, drawing his name out. “Am I a MILF?”
He tenses and looks away, sitting up a little straighter and shifting his plate over his lap. Even from the side, I can tell he’s fighting a smile.
Well, I’ll be doggone.My turn to make him squirm.
Fun. Wildly inappropriate. But fun.
I smirk, leaning back again on my lounger. “Well, I like you too,” I say softly, sliding my sunglasses back on.
Nothing unusual happens between us the rest of that day or any other time over the next few weeks. I catch him watching me sometimes, but I’m honestly not sure if that’s new or something he’s always done. Maybe I just never noticed before.
I think I must have blown things out of proportion that day in the kitchen. It was just harmless flirting. Thank goodness I didn’t embarrass myself any worse than I already have.
Chapter
Three
At about nineo’clock on a Saturday night, my doorbell rings. I glance at the clock, puzzled about who might be visiting this late. Gage left hours ago to stay the night at a friend’s house.
I peek between the curtains next to the front door then gasp and jerk back. Julian is standing on the step, waiting patiently, while I try not to have a stroke.
He’s probably here to see Gage. Yeah, that’s it. I should open the door and just be cool. Laid back.
Yup, that’s me. Ms. Cool.
I finally step over and open the door with a flourish.
“Julian!” I say casually, like I didn’t realize it was him. “Gage isn’t here. He?—”
“I didn’t come for Gage,” he says, cutting me off with a smile. “I came for you.”
My heart stutters. “Um, me?” I stammer, as my pulse picks up.
He seems amused that he’s flustered me.
“Why?” I ask, challenging him, annoyed at his amusement. “Why are you here to see me?”
He brings his hands out from behind his back and offers me a single pink rose. “I wanted to give you this.”
My face flushes as I stare at the flower.What on earth?Well, isn’t he just full of surprises.I scrunch my brow and look back up at him.
“That’s… really sweet.” I take the rose and turn to go inside, motioning for him to follow. “Come on in.”
I pluck a bud vase from a cabinet and fill it partway with water, slip the rose in, and push the vase into the center of the kitchen island. When I turn around, Julian is sitting on a barstool at the other end. He’s watching me intently, and I find myself warming under his attention.
I stroll over to him and hop up onto the barstool next to his, studying his face. “What are you doing here, Julian?” I ask softly.
“What if I just want to chat?” His voice is level as he watches me from under a lock of black hair that’s fallen carelessly across his forehead.
I resist the sudden, surprising urge to push it away from his eyes. “Chat?”
“Yeah. Maybe all I wanna do is talk. This time.” His dark eyes heat as he gazes at me.
