And then just like that, we’re put to work, lugging heavy shelves through the candy shop, and the entire time, as I’m moving in tandem with Rupert, there are slight moments, and I mean slight, where I catch her glancing in my direction.
That…that’s all I need to tell me I’m doing something right. And if I’m honest, I completely enjoyed putting that happy smile on her face and am keen to do it again.
Chapter Eighteen
RENLEY
“Good morning,” Theo says as he steps out of his house and spots me waiting for him.
He stretches his arms above his head and moves them side to side, showing off the smallest patch of skin just above his waistline. It’s tan and firm, with the tiniest smattering of trimmed hair. Not that I’m looking or anything.
“Morning.” I feel slightly nervous today. All morning while I was getting ready, there was the slightest hint of apprehension floating in my stomach, and I haven’t been able to figure it out. The only thing I can think of that might have caused it—and this is going to sound so stupid—was how I felt when he complimented my store. Someone I didn’t really know came in and said how great it was.
It was sweet and kind, and I know I wasn’t the one who set up the store, but it still meant something that he could see how remarkable it was without even hearing my memories of the place. And his response was genuine. I could see it in the awe in his eyes. Same as Rupert.
For a moment, I almost felt connected to him.
“Are you ready for this walk?” He joins me on the sidewalk. “I’ve been dreaming about it all night.”
“Are you flirting?” I ask, wanting to stop him right there before he even starts.
“Nooooo,” he says. “If you let me finish, you’d know that I was going to say I’ve been dreaming about this all night because I couldn’t wait to wear these new shorts.”
I glance down at his gray shorts and then back up at him. “Uh-huh. The shorts.”
“Don’t flatter yourself; it was the shorts.”
“Well, I’m glad you could live out your fantasies of wearing them.”
“Do I sense a hint of sarcasm in your voice?”
“You tell me,” I say with a smile, which of course he makes a big deal out of.
“Look at that.” He points at my mouth. “A smile. An actual smile. I wasn’t aware your face could contort that way, but here you are, smiling at me.”
“I’m not smiling at you. I’m smiling at what I said because I thought it was clever.”
“Avoidance, I get it. You’re still trying to put up a wall because the energy you feel racing between us is magnetic and that freaks you out.”
“There is no energy.”
“Gossy, there is so much energy,” he says. “You can’t deny it. Look, the energy alone is trying to get my hand to touch yours.” His pinky grazes my pinky. “But I refuse to let it happen because I know the rules. I’ll suffer through the pain of holding on to all this energy. But I’m a man of my word and if I say I will—” He pauses for a second. “You know, I don’t think there was anything in the rules that said no touching. I think it just said no flirting.” He shakes his head and tsks. “Wow, that one flew right by you.It’s all right, I’ll be a respectful man and keep my distance. Despite what the powers of the earth want us to do.”
“Why does this seem like it’s flirting but in a roundabout way?”
“Listen, you can’t call me out for flirting every time I open my mouth. Sometimes I’m just talking.”
“But are you?”
“Yes.” I can see on his face that the urge to wink is so strong. But he holds back.
“Fine, we’ll chalk this up to you just talking, but I’m not falling for the bit that there is some energy between us. We must make an amendment to the rules to include no touching.”
“Oh, sorry, I only sign a contract once. If you can’t figure out what you want at the time of signing, that’s on you.”
Of course he’d say that.
“That’s a tough bargain.”
