“No, really. I don’t need to.” But Iwantto, very much.
“I think you do, Delaney. Because God only knows what the man’s going to do in the second half to get your attention.”
We both laugh, but she’s not wrong.
“You sure you don’t mind?” I ask.
“Not at all. Also, to thank me, you can get me the phone number of that hottie who won the award. He was sitting at your man’s table.”
“He’s not my man.”
“Okay. Whatever you say. You might want to tell him that.”
I roll my eyes at her, take off my apron, and step out from behind the bar. I make my way to where Harrison sits. His eyes don’t stray from watching me the entire way.
“May I sit?” I ask.
“Of course.”
I take the seat next to him. For a few seconds, neither of us says anything.
“That was pretty amazing… about Holden,” I say quietly.
“Yeah. Sometimes the little prick can be pretty selfless, huh?”
“It’s hard to think of him as alittle prickwhen he’s changed the trajectory of someone’s life by dedicating ten years to him.” I hold back a smirk.
“Okay, whatever,” he mutters, then grins. It fades quickly, and he looks downward. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I was acting crazy. But seeing you back there in that outfit?—”
“Harrison, stop. I need you to stop.” The desperation I’m feeling comes out in my voice.
He meets my gaze and blinks.
“Listen, I know we shared that night, and I know there’s obviously something that makes it difficult for us to be around each other without… sparkling.”
“Sparkling?” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“Sparkling, sparking, whatever. You get my gist. But I’m not that kind of woman.”
He pulls back slightly, confusion crossing his face. “What kind of woman? Are you slut-shaming yourself about our night together?”
“No. I’m not talking about what happened in the spring, and I don’t care if people who matter know that’s how we met. But I’m talking about the fact that I haven’t put the kibosh on this—whateverthisis. You have a girlfriend, and I like her a lot. That makes this feel even lousier.”
His jaw drops and his brow furrows. I shake my head at him.
“I’m sorry, but did you think I’m a total idiot who wouldn’t have noticed? We all work in the same office, Harrison. And honestly, the more these things happen”—I wave a hand between us—“the less I think of both of us.”
“Delaney, please don’t say that. We’re not doing anything wrong. I don’t have?—.”
“Seriously? Yes, we are, Harrison.” My level of irritation is rising.
He reclines back. “What in the ever-loving hell are you talking about?”
“Ellie. You’re dating Ellie. Yet you act like a…. a scoundrel whenever you’re around me. It makes me feel shitty, and it cheapens our one-night?—”
Jesus, Delaney. Are you really about to say it cheapens your one-night stand?
I’m about to stand and ask him to give me space when he starts laughing. Loudly enough that a man from the nearest table shushes us.
