His jaw tightened and he looked pissed off again, and I flinched. “Sorry for asking. It’s just, with the business I want to start, rescue animals are so important. The whole ‘adopt, don’t shop’ thing needs more ground, and I didn’t know you were into helping them. It’s nice.”
“Would you be interested in going?” he asked, sounding like he’d rather take a bite out of the glass bowl.
“Don’t ask me out of pity, Brigham.” This time my voice came out stronger. I could handle brush-offs or misunderstandings, but pity was a no-no. I pointed the spatula at him. “The charity event sounds wonderful, but I will not go because you feel bad for me.”
“What? No. Damnit!” He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “I keep making this worse. Jesus.”
“You really are,” I replied, getting a hint of a smile from him.
“Look, Blue Bell, I’ll be honest here. Full truth.” He waited for me to nod before continuing. “You coming with me to this event will help me out. You would be doing me a favor. I would love to have you come with me. Are you kidding? You’re fun and you make me laugh, and that is something that I haven’t done in a while. But I didn’t want you getting involved in my shitstorm life. So I wasn’t asking out of pity or guilt. I was curious because I’m being selfish.”
“It’d help you out?”
“That’s what you got out of that?” He laughed. “Christ, woman.”
I shrugged. “I do feel a bit better about the pity thing.”
“Good, because it is far from the truth.” He eyed the flowers and scowled. “If I were to get you flowers, they would be blue. Everything blue. Not red roses.”
“Noted.”
He gave me a shy grin this time and I matched it. “Ah, there’s your smile. I missed it.”
I blushed right in the open and didn’t care. “There will be people there who have pets, yes?”
He thought about it for a second before nodding. “I guarantee it.”
I can bring business cards and network and make connections.Butterflies took root in my gut and I could hardly contain my excitement. “Okay, we’re doing each other a favor then.”
He raised one eyebrow, which sent a wave of jealousy through me, because I envied those who had the talent to move one at a time. I looked like a creeper when I attempted the eyebrow-arch move. “How is this two-sided?”
“I told you about my dream job. There will be people there who’ll travel at some point and need a place for their fur-children. I can network, spread the word and start putting myself out there. Go big or go home, Brigham. I might as well dive in.”
He ran his teeth over his bottom lip and his entire face lit up. “Deal. We can hang out, eat nice food, and we both get something out of it.”
“What is the attire for this fancy charity? Will there be puppies to adopt there? Are you famous? You know, scratch that. You probably are and I’d rather not think about it.” I found my phone and looked up at him to see a goofy, full-face smirk. “Why are you laughing at me?”
“You’re cute, Blue Bell.” He took my phone from my hands and apingwent off a few seconds later. “You have my number now and I have yours. I’ll text you the information.”
“But you avoided my questions.”
“Wear one of your little dresses. There will be animals to adopt. And in the sports world, I’m kinda well known.”
“Thank you.” I smoothed my hand over my stomach. “When is it?”
“Friday night.” His eyes filled with something like tenderness and he reached out to squeeze my shoulder again. “I’m glad we’re okay now. I know this is only for a couple months, but I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” I blinked up at him and had the insane urge to kiss him. His lips were pouty and so kissable that it was getting hard to not stare at his mouth. He had stubble around his jaw. I had never kissed someone with facial hair and I was so very curious. But I’d ruined it the last time I’d acted on an urge, so I held out my hand. “It will be very fun being your friend, Brigham Monaghan.”
He snorted and shook my hand. “You are unlike anyone I’ve ever met, Sarah Bell Blue. I can’t wait for our date on Friday.”
“Date?” I gulped.
“I’ll bring flowers meant for you this time.” He winked and took off toward the door, leaving me a little breathless and nervous and excited all at the same time.Friday…damn.I had a date with a hot sports ball guy who I would make sure to stay in the friendzone with.
Awesome.
Chapter Six
