After that, maybe I could think about other things, but for now I had to stay focused. Elias was kindly helping me meet my goal. I couldn’t afford to confuse that with anything more than friendship.
God knew I’d made enough mistakes with men to last me a lifetime.
Maybe an evening with my friends and co-workers woulddistract me from what was going on, and I could keep Elias in the right place in my brain. A group setting would remind me how things worked. He was my brother’s employee, and friend. He was now my co-worker and friend, too.
Nothing more.
Even if it felt fantastic to be in his arms.
I hated to arrive empty-handed, even though Jace said he had everything handled, so I put together a quick plate of meat and cheese, and wrapped it up just in time to see headlights illuminating my driveway. Snow was still falling, those light flakes the size of golf balls that looked beautiful but accumulated quickly.
I was no stranger to driving in snow, but it was nice to let someone else worry about it. Especially because this way I could have a few glasses of wine.
Although lowering my inhibitions tonight might not be the best idea.
I stepped out the front door and locked it behind me, the cold biting at my ears.
I crossed the driveway, snow crunching under my boots, and climbed into Elias’s truck. There was a bakery bag on the seat between us, so clearly I wasn’t the only one who hated to arrive empty-handed.
“Hey,” I said, buckling my seat belt.
The truck smelled like freshly cut wood, but underneath that was what could only be his body wash or deodorant. Something spicy and masculine that made me want to shift a little closer.
Which was bad.
I had literally just pep-talked this crush out of my head, and now it was back because he smelled good.
Ugh. How low is the bar?
“Hey yourself, ready for this?”
I nodded. “I’m starving.”
“Yeah, me too.” He backed smoothly out of my driveway and onto the road. “Has Jace said anything to you about our whole fake dating thing?”
I shook my head. “Been too busy with the Beast. I think it slipped his mind. Why?”
“No reason.” He gave a shrug that almost passed for nonchalance. “Just curious if the guys are going to give us the third degree.”
I hadn’t thought of that. Teasing was fine, but it would be hard to take when the underlying feelings were developing. “We can handle it.”
He nodded, and focused on the road.
I studied him in the dim light for a moment before turning away. Staring at him was doing nothing for my crush.
The drive was mercifully short, and when we arrived, I could see a line of Wild Timber trucks and my best friend Sloane’s car.
We were still working on getting back to our old rhythm after things had been strained while I stressed about my wedding and she quietly fell for my brother.
She was enjoying a new relationship while I was mourning the end of an old one.
Maybe tonight could be normal. Focus on time with my best friend instead of whatever weirdness I was feeling toward Elias.
We walked in the front door, and Sloane met us with a smile. “You guys made it, man it is really coming down out there, eh?”
“Sure is.” We all headed into the kitchen, and I put the platter I’d brought on the counter. Sloane snatched the bakery bag from Elias. “Are these the little cupcakes you brought last time?Oh, I could kiss you.”
He laughed. “I’m not dumb enough to show up without them. Where are the guys?”
