"Isn't that the point?I thought we were building the business.We want everyone to know Sterling Brothers Contracting."
"Not at the expense of your health," Cooper said.
I waved my hand."I'm fine."
"If you like Belle, you shouldn't leave her hanging.Schedule another date, or send her flowers.Something," Hudson said.
"I don't need relationship advice," I grumbled.
He raised a brow."You seemed like you needed it the last time we spoke."
"And I went out with her.I did what you suggested."
Hudson leaned forward."You stood her up in high school.Then you asked her out again, promising her that you wouldn't do anything like that again, and now you're ghosting her."
I leaned back at that.I wasn't ghosting her, was I?"We text and talk most days."
"It's not enough.You need to make her feel special.Why are you avoiding her?Because she's not work?That's just an excuse," Ford said.
"We had a great first date.I made her dinner—" I couldn't tell them anything else."We connected.I've never felt anything like that."
"So tell her how you feel and that it freaked you out," Ford said.
I stared at the label on my bottle."I don't know."
"You don't want her thinking that you don't want her.Or that this is what you do.You get close, and then you run," Ford continued.
That's exactly what it looked like.
"If you like her, let her know.Why hold back?"Hudson asked.
I swirled the beer in the bottle, wondering why I was avoiding seeing her."I guess you're right."
"If you want a woman, you make the time, and if you don't, she gets that message too," Cooper said cryptically.
"Since when do you give advice on women?"I asked him.
Cooper usually stayed out of these conversations.I always thought it was because he didn't want to offer advice when he wasn't my brother.
"I'm not a complete idiot with women," Cooper said.
"That remains to be seen," I shot back.
We ribbed each other for a while, and everyone forgot about my dating issues.But I couldn't forget what they'd said.I didn't want Belle to think I was avoiding her.
I wanted to spend time with her.But it seemed impossible with my work schedule.What if I squeezed her in anyway?What if life was better with her in it, no matter how that looked?What if it didn't always have to be the perfect date?I could just stop by and kiss her, tell her how I feel, and maybe watch a movie.
Except I knew there wouldn't be any movie watching.I'd wanted her more since we were together.I couldn't resist her, and maybe that was the problem.I was scared.
But the guys had said I should treat her like she's wanted and stop waiting for the perfect time to see her.When I finished my beer, I threw cash on the table to cover it."I'm beat.”
"Don't be a stranger," Morgan said.
I waved a dismissive hand in his direction and walked out.I didn't want or need any more advice.I knew exactly what I wanted.
I headed straight for the bookshop and veered toward the door to her stairwell.Then I remembered that she wasn't expecting me, and I couldn't just knock on her door.She wouldn't hear me.
Maverick: I'd like to see you.
