“You’re in a cheeky mood.”
“I’m in agoodmood.” He gave her a sideways look. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day.”
Her heart squeezed tight. Okay, maybe that made up for the fact that he hadn’t reached out to her.
“You got nothing?” he asked, boldly searching her face.
Her face warmed under his perusal. She didn’t know what to say. Truth was, she had missed him today. She didn’t know how that was even possible.
“You know you missed me,” he teased.
“Someone needs to get his ego in check.”
He chuckled. “All right. I’ll let you off the hook this time. I’ve got a story to tell you anyway.” He proceeded to tell her about a young man who’d approached him a couple months ago, asking to use the marina to propose to his girlfriend.
“It’s going down Thursday,” he said. “The anniversary of their first date, which happened to be a boat ride from the marina. He doesn’t own the boat anymore, but that’s where he wants to do the deed.
“He’s going to set up lanterns and stuff. His family’s going to light them and scatter rose petals down the pier, then disappear before they arrive.”
The story warmed her heart. “That’s very romantic. It’s good of you to participate.”
“You kidding me? You should see this guy—he’s head over heels. If she says no it’s going to breakmyheart.”
His brows drew together, a focused look on his face. But she didn’t think it was the painting he was caught up in as much as his own thoughts.
“You’re actually nervous for him,” Maddy said.
He gave a mock scowl. “It’s not easy for a guy to lay it all on the line like that. I know it’s the modern age and all, but you women have it so much easier.”
“Oh-ho.” Maddy laughed. “Is that a fact?”
“Well...” He had the grace to look chagrined. “Minus the whole pushing-a-live-human-from-your-body thing. It’s hard for a guy to put himself out there. No one likes rejection.”
“Yes, but, traditionally speaking at least, men get to make the decisions. When to ask her out. When to kiss her. When to propose. Unless the woman wants to take the lead, she’s stuck waiting, and that’s no fun either, mister.”
“Oh yeah?” He gave her a searching look, his sparkling eyes and slanted lips putting her on notice. “Let’s recall our conversation from yesterday and talk about who’s waiting for whom, hmm?”
Heat flooded Maddy’s face, and she dipped her brush in the paint to avoid his eyes. “Touché, Mr. Sullivan.”
“I wasn’t trying to score a point, only provide a nice little segue. So... have you given any thought to our conversation?”
She shook her head. “You’re a tricky, tricky man.”
“I prefer to think of it as crafty.”
“You’re awfully good with words for a man who works with boats, I’ll say that.”
“If I were that good we’d be on our first date right now instead of slapping paint on a couple of chairs.”
Her lips twitched. Truth be told, she’d thought of little else since yesterday. She knew what she was going to say—it was all over but the words. If she hadn’t known it before, she knew it now, sitting side by side, having fun even while doing a mundane chore. Connor intrigued her too much to say no. She had to know where this could go even if she also feared finding out. Worry fluttered in her belly, a thousand butterflies stirring to life.
“I don’t like that little dash between your eyebrows,” he said, his tone light. “Something tells me it precedes a negative response, so maybe I should just cut my losses and change the subject.”
They’d been teasing and playing, but she didn’t want to play games. Not about this.
She turned toward him, catching his profile. “You’re not going to get a no, Connor.”
He did a double take that ended in a long, searching look. His brows disappeared beneath the long bangs sweeping across his forehead.
