“Claire’s really upset.” Velma ran her thumb through the messages bouncing back and forth between Claire and their mother.
“That’s the understatement of the year,” he growled.
He had the look of a guy caught in the headlights of one of those Ford Super Duty trucks. “What’s it gonna take for you to help me?”
“I did help you.” Not that it had worked.
“Long term through these weddings. You know things about stamps.” His expression was one of total seriousness.
Velma shifted on the bed. “Brek, I have a job.”
“I need your help so I don’t screw up Claire’s wedding.”
Well…when he put it like that. Gah. “Fine. I’m in.”
He nodded. “What’s it gonna take to get your help with Brides One and Two?”
She sized him up. He really was worried.
“Please.” His eyes were the embodiment of sincerity.
Apparently, she was powerless against needy bikers with Nutella. “You have to wear pants when you’re home.”
“Agreed.” He inched closer to her and gestured to her laptop. “You gonna see this guy again?”
She stared at the numbers on the screen. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Great.” Brek closed her computer and moved it to her nightstand. “Now that we’re working together, I propose you drop the spreadsheet and we hash out a friends-with-benefits situation.”
Her belly went all fluttery. He couldn’t mean those benefits. Not the bedroom kind. Except they were on her bed, in her bedroom.
“Are we friends?” The words came out breathy.
He gestured his spoon to the jar between them. “We sittin’ on your bed eatin’ Nutella?”
She moved to lie on her side so they were face-to-face. “We’refriends, then. No need to ruin that with…benefits.”
“As your friend, I feel it’s my duty to inform you that you’re high-strung.”
Well, that wasn’t very nice. “That’s not kind.”
“You need to chill. Lucky for you, I have a certain skill set to help with that.” He put the lid on the Nutella, took her spoon with his, and set it all on the nightstand with her laptop. He scooted closer to her.
She resisted the urge to move backward, because she would end up on the floor. Besides, he only scared her a little bit with this whole conversation. And it wasn’t like he had touched her or anything.
He rested a hand on her waist and moved his head closer to hers. Her heart hammered loudly in her chest. Surely, he could hear it, too.
“What do you say, V?”
“You want to be friends who sleep with each other?” That couldn’t possibly be what he meant.
“I want to be friends who have sex with each other. Sleeping is optional.”
Okay, so thatwaswhat he meant.
“Way I see it, you need to relax. I can help with that. I won’t be in town long, so no long-term expectations. No weirdness when it’s over.”
Wow. That sounded super rational.
