Bray said, “You know, you two do your own silent communicating. Skye was right about that. You could pass yourselves off as a couple.”
“Hate to repeat myself, but he’s not my type.” With mock regret, Knox said, “Too fussy.” With a whack to Ford’s shoulder, he added, “Do the right thing, and let me know later how it goes.”
“Yeah, all right.”
Grinning, Marcus said, “I gotta go, too, butcall me.”
Ford reached for him, but Bray got in his way. “Ease up there, Gas Pedal. You’re pissed at yourself, not anyone else.”
True. After glancing at Skye’s house, Ford blew out a breath. “I wouldn’t have hurt him—much.”
Marcus snorted. None of them took such threats seriously—they’d been friends for too long. Sharing insults was practically the same as a friendly greeting.
Bray said, “Jokes aside, keep us informed. If her ex turns out to be a bigger problem than she thinks, don’t take any chances.”
Since Bray’s wife had dealt with the ex from hell, Ford understood Bray’s concern. “It’ll be fine, but thanks.” It was another couple of minutes before his three friends departed. With his thoughts churning, he gave himself a few minutes to mentally prepare, going around back and tidying up, as always taking pleasure in what was his.
He’d worked hard to earn a good-paying job, a nice car, and a house. For as long as he could remember, he’d wanted those things. He’d wanted autonomy. He’d needed to prove—to himself more than anyone else—that he was different. Reliable. Productive. Honorable. Upstanding.
At twenty-seven, he’d reached the majority of his goals.
Giving himself a pat on the back, he took in his rectangular, aboveground pool. Not super fancy, but it looked great now that they’d built a deck all the way around it. There was room to add a small patio table and chairs, a few lounge chairs, maybe even a potted plant. He envisioned many happy hours lounging in the cool water this summer.
He’d just put away the folding chairs when he heard a car pull in and everything inside him went on alert.
Jogging to the side of the yard, he saw a slick red Mustang in Skye’s driveway.
In a split second, Ford made up his mind. He sprinted around to her back door and started to knock, but then he saw her sitting at her kitchen table, her head in her hands, her long hair streaming forward, and her shoulders a little slumped.
It was the oddest thing, but something that felt remarkably like guilt gave his heart a firm kick. His conscience, too. The dual assault was damned uncomfortable, and he didn’t like it. He didn’t want anything about her to make him uncomfortable.
Worse, other body parts did strange things that made absolutely no sense in this situation. Lungs expanding, muscles twitching . . . Awareness sparked.
Well, hell.
Knowing he only had a moment, he rapped his knuckles on the frame of the sliding door and said through the screen, “Mind if I come in?”
She jerked around so fast she nearly fell off her seat. That long, sun-kissed, honey-colored hair swung out around her. Her eyes rounded, then narrowed. “I let you off the hook.” She even managed a smile. “If your friends pressured you, they shouldn’t have. Everything is fine, so—”
“The ex is here, and I want to help. Trust me, I’ll have no problem playing my role.” The natural attraction he felt for thisbeautiful woman, regardless of whether she was in trouble or not, would aid him.
Straightening her shoulders, she said, “Not sure I believe you.”
He couldn’t blame her. Cautiously, in case she protested, he slid the screen open. “You should keep that locked.”
One dark brow lifted.
“Okay?” He stopped a few feet from her. “If you want me to leave, say so now. Otherwise, let’s do this.”
Lips that were, maybe, just alittletoo full, slowly curled. “You’re not a martyr. You don’t need to do this.”
Yeah, he most definitely did. Later, he’d figure out this new altruistic bent. For now, he wanted to get on with it. “This is me, entirely willing.”
She scoffed. “Clyde will see right through you, and that’ll just make it worse.”
“I promise he won’t.” Crouching down in front of her, he smiled. “Want me to convince you first?” His smile was slow and intimate as his gaze moved over her face. “I can, you know.”
Her lips parted and her eyes softened.
