“What did?”
“That you’d grown up.”
“Uh-huh.”I suck down another slushy mouthful.
“I noticed that you were incredibly beautiful.And always positive and kind, even in difficult situations.I was so impressed by your competence and energy.You made me laugh.You really blew me away.”
“That’s sweet of you to say, Evander.But you should know that there’s a whole world of us non-virginal women who happen to be kind and competent.We even have our own support group.”
He laughs and shakes his head.I know I’m busting his balls, but he deserves it.I watch as he stretches out on his side in front of the fire, straightening his long legs and propping up on his elbow.He raises his eyes to mine.
“It made things simpler for me, all right?You stayed untouchable.Off limits.It was easier to compartmentalize chaste little Phoebe Travis if I didn’t see the truth of who you are.”
I stop chewing.I go still.Finally, we’re getting somewhere.“That’s pretty honest.”
“Because my focus right now is StellarR Tech, helping Cal run the ranch, and representing our business interests as attorney.”
“And there’s no room for anything else?”
“Exactly.”
“So what changed?When did you see who I am?”
He gives me a cocky smile.If I were wearing panties, they’d be damp.It’s awfully hard to be furious with an insanely attractive man, especially if his smile melts the places on your body where your panties should be.
“Yesterday.In your gerbil outfit.”
“My…?”I sit up straighter.“I was a flap-jackingreindeer!”
“A very pretty one, too.But you can use actual cuss words around me.”
“I’ve tried not to develop that bad habit.”
“I can respect that.”
“So wait…” I retrace my thoughts.“All I had to do was wear a costume for you to see the real me?”
He laughs hard at that.“Here’s how it happened.I saw you standing there on the sidewalk, and I thought,wait a minute.I know Phoebe is cute and generous.But how is it that I’m just now noticing that she’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous?”
I like where this is headed.
“It stopped me in my tracks.I took the time to take in the gold of your eyes and all the complicated colors in your hair.And I couldn’t stop thinking about you when I got home.About how good you’ve always been to me.And then, well, I pulled you out of the lake and it’s been impossible to think of anything but you ever since.”
Suddenly, I don’t feel so snarky anymore.I stare at him in disbelief.He holds my gaze.
“But Phoebe, since we’re being truthful, I should probably tell you something upfront.”
“All right.”
“I’m not a virgin.”
“And yet you’re so competent!”
He laughs again.“So, enough about me.Let’s talk about you, and the huge, honking crush you have on me.Tell me what’s going on with that.”Evander shoots me a stunning grin.
He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.The sexiest man on the planet.And I’m about to spill my guts to him.
I’m kind of bummed out that I’m not wearing my red dress for this.I’m not wearing anything, really, aside from these ratty old wool blankets.My hair is a tangled mess.I haven’t shaved my legs.This is all unfolding in the wrong order, not at all like I imagined it would.
