Grayden pulled back and looked at me, a crease appearing between his brows. “Piper, I’m trying to ask you on a real date. Not some secret hookup.”
“Adate?”
“Would that be so bad?”
“But I don’t date. That’s not something I’m looking for.”
“You just want to use me for my body?” When I didn’t answer, the humor in his eyes disappeared. “Oh. Shit. Not sure if I’m flattered or offended.”
“I, um, I guess we had different things in mind.”
“Oh, believe me, I love the sound of what you have in mind. I was just hoping for more.”
I forced myself to untangle from him. Take a step back.
“It’s not about you,” I said. “It’s me. After my divorce, I promised myself I wouldn’t ever get in that kind of situation again. No dating, no marriage. No falling in love. I’m done with all of that.”
Please don’t judge me for it, I added silently.
“But you and Ollie both deserve to have someone who’s devoted to you. You deserve a guy you can always count on.”
“And you thinkyou’resomeone we could always count on?” I squeezed my eyes shut. “Oh God, I’m sorry. That sounded terrible. I didn’t mean it.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked. “Nah, I understand.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t shown up today. I’m grateful.”
“You don’t have to be. You owe me nothing. But I also know a few hot hookups with you wouldn’t be enough for me.”
Wow. I’d pretty much offered him casual sex, andhe’d turned me down. But I’d turned him down too. So we were both disappointed.
It wasn’t fun.
“Friends?” I asked lamely.
“Friendship happens to be an untapped talent of mine,” he said gruffly. “Along with interrupting holiday dinners, feeding the small-town gossip machine, and impromptu snowball fights.”
“You also make a pretty good cup of coffee.”
“That’s a serious compliment coming from the likes of you.”
“It is.”
“Since we’re being so honest…” He touched my chin. “Just know, I’ll be thinking of your kiss for a very long time.”
Because I was a mess of contradictory feelings, I leaned in and brushed my lips against his again.
Grayden held my face, his kiss softer this time. Like it would be thelasttime, and he wanted to savor it. Then he kissed my nose, pulling back after an achingly slow moment.
I tried to insist on cleaning up the mess Danny had made, but Grayden refused. “You have far better things to do with your time,” he said.
He grabbed my coat and purse from where I’d left them. Returning to the kitchen, he held up the coat, and I slid my arms into it.
“Let me know if you have any more issues with Danny. So I can be there. As a friend.”
Ugh, why did that word sound so inadequate all of a sudden?
“I will. Thanks.”
