She flexed her hands on the steering wheel, and he stifled a laugh.
This he could do. Verbal sparring, teasing, messing around. This was safe territory. “Okay, fine. I know you were joking. But you already know what the problem is. You’re too nice.”
“I amnottoo nice.”
“You are. That’s why you have so many admirers. Rodriguez,Hank, and this RK guy. You’re nice, and guys are attracted to that.”
Her hands spasmed on the wheel. “I told him I wasn’t interested. I shouldn’t have to be cruel to get my point across.”
“I agree. How often is he asking you out?”
She waved a hand toward the phone he still held in his hand. “Look for yourself.”
He scrolled through the texts. “He’s been asking you once every couple of weeks for months.”
“Yes.”
“And you stopped responding last month. After”—Zane glanced at the phone—“warning him that you had nothing further to say.”
“Yes.”
“Block him.”
“He comes to meetings. Every week. He’s hard to avoid. He acts like we’ve had a conversation when all I’ve done is said hello or good morning.”
“I think blunt honesty would be wise in this case. Tell him you aren’t interested and won’t be interested and that his texts bother you. Tell him if they continue, you’ll block his number. And speak to your sponsor about helping to keep him away from you at meetings.”
“Yeah.”
“Want me to do it?” It would be his pleasure.
“No. I’ll do it later. Thanks.”
They rode in silence for a minute before Zane asked, “So, whatareyou doing for dinner?”
6
“I HAVE PLANS.”Tessa didn’t look at Zane, but she knew him well enough to know that he didn’t like her answer. She thought about torturing him further but couldn’t do it. “So do you.”
“I do?”
“Yes. Luke’s place. Gil’s cooking, I think. I wasn’t clear on the details. As long as Faith isn’t cooking, we’re safe.”
“Gil would never do that to me. Neither would Luke.”
“True.” Faith was one of Tessa’s best friends, but she couldn’t cook to save her life. She tried, bless her, but there was a reason Luke had taken cooking lessons from Gil before he and Faith were married.
“I thought we might as well eat there, and Faith and Ivy are anxious to see you. But I warned them that I’m planning to go back to the office after dinner.”
“Sounds good. I need to go over my notes and send a report back to DC.”
They pulled into Luke’s driveway ten minutes later.
Faith stood in the doorway and waved at them, her motions indicating that they should hurry inside.
Zane joined Tessa as they half walked, half jogged to the door.His hand was on her lower back. “This isn’t giving me the warm, fuzzy feeling I was hoping for.” His breath tickled her ear, and she fought the tremble that threatened to betray her.
“I really hope this doesn’t ruin your dinner,” Faith said in greeting as they reached the front porch. “Gil’s outdone himself.”
