Her jaw dropped and indignation burned in her eyes. She’d surprised him once tonight by getting on his bike, and he’d thought she was about to bolt before she squared herself and came in the house. And now this fire in her eyes. If she continued being irresistible, he wouldn’t be able to keep his distance.
“Your opinion of yourself is much too high, Mr. Mattox.” She applied the full strength of her stingy librarian-ness. “I do have a life outside of you.”
He winked. “You didn’t seem to mind my opinion of myself when you were holding on to me on the bike.”
“IfI was holding on to you, it was because you drive like a bat outta—”
“Hello?” called Kyle from the doorway. He hovered there. “Am I interrupting?”
Owen took a much-needed step back from Bree. “Not at all. This is my friend Bree Phelts.”
Kyle strode out, and Owen watched Bree as she watched Kyle. This librarian may like a smarter man, one who could code and … and whatever else Kyle did. Bree extended her hand out in front of her.
Kyle shook her hand, letting go in an appropriate amount of time. “From the polka dance, right?”
Bree blushed prettily. Kyle perked up.
Owen clenched the tong handle. The fish cut in half and dropped with a sizzle on the grill. He mentally cursed and rearranged the pieces. He’d have to eat that one and save the good piece for Bree. When he was done setting things in order, he refocused on what Kyle was saying.
“… and he ended up running through the dorm in his boxers to get away from her.” Kyle leaned back, satisfied as Bree’s laughter pealed through the warm night air.
Owen scowled openly his direction. “It wasn’t funny,” he insisted. Which only made Kyle and Bree laugh harder.
“It’s a little funny.” Bree swiped moisture from under her lashes.
He relented and his scowl dissolved. She had a natural way about her, like she wasn’t out to impress anyone, and that made him feel like he could justbeand not need to put on a show.
“It was nice meeting you.” Kyle shuffled to the French doors. “I hope to see you again.”
“Me too.” Bree smiled easily.
Owen worked to find any attraction in her gaze as she gave Kyle a small wave. He couldn’t see any, but he was feeling all sorts of anger surging through his system. Anger that Kyle interrupted his date—friend date. Anger that Bree had laughed so easily with him while Owen was still trying to figure out where the line was between friend and girlfriend.
Because the way the soft glow from the gas lanterns brushed her cheeks was making it awfully hard to care that a line even existed.
Chapter Eleven
Bree flattened her palms against Owen’s stomach on the ride home. She liked the feel of his muscles, all bumpy and strong under his shirt. She’d never really been interested in men who worked out all the time, but the benefits were hard to dismiss. Besides, those guys didn’t want a woman like her. They wanted someone who could keep up with them in the gym, not compete with them for the top SAT score.
Owen’s friendship baffled her. A couple times she’d caught him looking at her like he wanted to kiss her. And by the way her body zinged with excitement and buzzed with anticipation, his kiss would be a kiss to remember.
They bumped over the half-curb into her driveway and came to a stop. He killed the engine and she hopped off and removed her helmet, not as self-conscious as she had been the first time. After all, he’d seen her with helmet hair and they’d had afriendlyevening. She shouldn’t be worried about anything happening between them.
“You cook a delectable piece of salmon.” She handed him the helmet and he secured it to the seat she’d vacated.
“Thanks. It was a nice night.”
“I had fun.”
“Fun?” He pulled off his helmet and ran his hand through his hair.
She laughed. “Yes. Fun. Even librarians have fun sometimes.”
“Good to know.” He glanced up and down the street.
“I’ll see you soon.” She turned to go.
He took her hand, halting her progress and twirling her into his chest. He was still on the bike, so they were closer to the same height.
