Uh-huh. Like, for example, when one was reading a book.
“Where’d you go?” she asked.
“A little coffee shop in Cherry Creek.”
“Is that so?” She tilted her head to the side, just the teeniest tiniest of bits.
He cleared his throat. “It is.”
“I am just wondering”—she cleared her throat just as he did—“why you have to lie about a date?”
“Am I so easy to read, then?” he asked.
“Mm-hm. I’m not even in the top reader group and I can see it. That’s how you know you’re easy to read.”
He leaned in, right into her space, his breath barely brushing her exposed collarbone, but he might as well have run his fingertip along the skin there. She shivered, totally involuntarily.
Dead serious, he said, “Don’t tell my parents.”
“Still hanging out in Club Single?”
He shifted. Stood back a touch. “The dating pool just doesn’t look so appealing.” He gave her a smile that she’d just bet had women dropping at his feet daily. “Don’t want to get all pruney.”
“God forbid.” She lifted her tea. Sipped. “Not much worse than that.”
“This must be the first time we’ve agreed.” He grinned. “How should we celebrate?”
“By not telling your mother you’re a Cheater McCheater Pants when it comes to her sending you on dates?”
He barked a laugh.
“Besides, that can’t possibly be right. We’ve agreed on things before.”
They had. She was certain. Nearly. Mostly.
She trailed her fingertip along a vein of marble in the countertop. Maybe they hadn’t?
“I guess it really is a celebration then.” She lifted her
mug. He tapped his water bottle to the edge, the barest of slivers of his finger touching hers.
She stilled.
The low purr that came from him radiated through her nervous system. This didn’t feel like two people talking. And it didn’t feel innocent.
It felt like…foreplay. Which meant?—
“Really, I have to jet. I’ve got dinner for my neighbor in the car.” Everyone knew fast-food hamburgers had a shelf life of decades, but they only tasted good for a small period after preparation.
“Stop by again sometime,” Gavin said with a wave. Not likely.
“Thanks. Will do,” she said, instead of what she was actually thinking.
She grabbed her purse. Hustled to the spacious backyard where Evelyn laughed with the boys. Grabbed her kid. And scooted right the hell out of Gavin’s house and straight to her car.
The car smelled of fast-food, French fries, and escape.
She did her best to calm her mind and slow her heart rate after the race from the house. The attempt failed, but she tried.
