Her lips pursed.Black pants and a dark long-sleeved shirt on a hot day outside.
Maybe you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen with me.
Her face grew dark.You need to get over this lack of self-esteem.
He planted his hands on his hips.I thought you always said I was too cocky.
That got her face to lighten up.Hmm.Yeah, I did.
So what is it?I’m conceited or I’m a loser?
The anger came flooding back.What is up with you?
You seemed upset to be seen with me when you met your old boyfriend.
She didn’t have time to respond before the trolley pulled up.Once they were in their seats and the vehicle had pulled away, instead of interpreting the tour guide’s spiel, she asked,How did you know he was an old boyfriend?
The way he checked out your fine figure.It was familiar.As was the way he looked right past me.
Mercedes rolled her eyes and glanced away for a moment.When she faced him again, she signed,You thought I was embarrassed.No, that guy was a total jerk when we dated and always thought his farts didn’t stink.
Really?So you wouldn’t rather be with him?
God, no.I was upset because he was being pompous as always and wanted to rekindle things.I told him no.
Evan nodded.He wasn’t sure what else to say.Their comfortable bond had been dented.
Mercedes tipped her head as if listening to something, then she shifted his way again.I’m here today, with you, because I choose to be here.With you.I enjoy your company, most of the time, when you’re not being ridiculous and condescending about yourself.
You like being with me, huh?He had to get their fun dynamic back, so he raised his eyebrows up and down.Why is that?
She wrinkled her nose.Because sometimes you’re charming and funny and I get a chance to talk about normal things.Unlike with the people at work, where all the academics want to do is show off their big fat brains.
If she didn’t like arrogant, smart people, maybe he might have a chance.He turned on some of that charm she seemed to like.
My brain would never be fat.It would be totally jacked in all the right places.He flexed his arms in a muscle pose.
Laughing, she doubled over and fell into him.Exactly where he wanted her to be.
Chapter Seven
The comfortable feeling had returned and Mercedes was so glad.When her ex, Callum, had shown up and started in with his arrogant conceit, making fun of Evan and the sign language he needed to communicate, her good mood had disintegrated.It got even worse when Evan had begun putting himself down.The man had so many things going for him, but he always copped an attitude when someone hearing behaved badly.And Callum had been a twat.She’d never tell Evan exactly what he said, even though she’d told him she was interpreting his words.But she made sure to let Callum know there would be no reconciliation between them.She’d broken up with him for a reason, and that reason hadn’t changed.He was still a jerk.
Now, she sat opposite Evan in a tiny, rented rowboat on the Charles River not far from Boston Common.As he rowed, his arm muscles bunched and released, and she couldn’t look away.When they’d paid to rent it, she made a half-hearted offer to row.He’d pulled his strong man pose again—Lord, she loved the muscles he exposed when he did that—and said he was capable of getting the boat through the river.
I think I like you rowing us around.You can’t use your hands to sign to me and mouth off with ridiculous things.
He made a face at her and paused the rowing to sign,Maybe I should sing to you.His mouth opened and a few deep notes of a song she didn’t recognize warbled out.
She flinched like she’d been struck, and he stopped singing.Not great, huh?
Not much worse than me, I suppose.She laughed.
I doubt it.I’ll bet your voice is as smooth as melted butter.Not that I know what melted butter sounds like, but I read the description somewhere once and liked it.Plus, I like adding butter to my food, so a melted butter voice seems like it should sound delicious.
She chuckled at the babbling conversation of his hands.“Row,”she ordered and pointed to the river.He picked up the oars and stroked them through the water while she enjoyed the sight of him doing it.This day was getting better.The cool breeze ruffled her curls and lifted the hem of her skirt.Evan winked as she held it down.She could tell he wanted to make a smart comment but couldn’t due to oars in his hands.
They cruised through the river for about an hour, then returned the boat.It was just about time to meet Carli and Blake at their place.He owned a gorgeous condo in the Back Bay with a balcony view of the Charles River.
