Her navy-blue eyes meet mine like a challenge, one I desperately want to rise to accept. “I can think of one more,” my voice is lower, huskier and her eyes get darker.
She makes a humming sound and twists her mouth to the side before asking, her words running together slightly, “I didn’t realize you came over for dinner here.” Her eyes widen and she holds up her hands slightly, “Sorry. That’s none of my business. I’m only nosey when it comes to my best friend because it’s part of the creed, but not for like gossipy reasons.”
I can’t help but grin at how damn adorable she is. “It’s not a regular thing,” I tell her. She nods absently and for the first time in my life I’m desperate to keep the conversation going.
Normally, I don’t care. This is new and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
Since I know Eliza graduated last year, I’m going to assume Arden did as well. If I’m wrong then I’ll feel like an asshole.
“Where are you working now? I assume you graduated with Eliza?” I almost make a face as the second question slips out without me thinking through how creepy it sounds.
Hopefully, I’m not making her see me like a strange, old man rancher. As much as I hate to admit it, not taking the time to talk to women is really biting me in the ass at the moment.
“Oh,” her voice has a softness to it that makes me want to listen to it forever, “I work at the post office.”
I’m a little surprised at her answer and blurt, “You do?”
She blinks at me a few times before nodding slowly, as if I need a little extra help getting to the answer, “Yes, I work at the post office. As a desk clerk.”
I sit back in my chair and look her over again, more closely this time. Could that be what is familiar about her?
But, no, because I would have remembered seeing her there. I always deal with Reba. Strange.
“I’ve never seen you there,” my words sound far more accusatory than I intend them to. When she looks at me like I should lick slime, I soften my voice, “I’m sorry, that was rude and I didn’t intend it to sound that way. It’s just strange and I don’t get it.”
“Maybe you come in when I’m on my break,” she offers. “Is Reba behind the desk?” Before I can answer, she shakes her head, “Well, of course Reba is there, she’s the only person who covers my breaks.”
“You’re right, it is always Reba.”
She glances away from me, and something crosses over her features, a hint of guilt, maybe? I don’t know, it’s there and gone so fast I can’t catch it.
“There’s your answer, you always come in when I’m on my break.”
“Apparently,” I drawl the word as I take her in.
The curves of her body are sensual, but she seems skittish. It makes me wonder what Eliza said to get her over here and if this is some kind of set-up. I’ve had my suspicions since I walked in and found Eliza practically vibrating with excitement.
I’ll admit, part of me isn’t upset at all if this is who Eliza thought to set me up with. There’s something about Arden. I want to get to know her.
But I also feel like I’m betraying my Sunflower. I don’t even know who she is, but it doesn’t seem to matter to my heart.
As much as Arden has me curious, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m doing something wrong.
Because I desperately want to make Arden smile and laugh again.
“I’d much rather see you behind the desk at the post office,” my words are filled with sincerity, and maybe a little flirtation that I’m not entirely sure how I pull off.
Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. I watch as it spreads down her neck and under the collar of her shirt. How far does it go down her chest?
I want to find out.
I clear my throat, my Sunflower popping into my head.
“Oh?” Arden sounds innocent, but the corner of her mouth curls into a small smirk. It has my cock twitching behind the fly of my jeans. Damn it. “Why is that?”
The look on her face tells me she already knows why I would rather not have Reba be the one to help me with all my postal service needs. Her navy-blue eyes speak to me, and I fall intotheir depths for a moment before I shake my head and hope I didn’t lose myself in her for too long.
“She’s like the grandmother I didn’t agree to have adopt me,” I keep my voice low, like we’re sharing a secret.
