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“What for certain?” Sometimes, a girl had to play coy.

She gave me a good-natured roll of her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know, that you’re all hot and bothered for an older man who’s your…?”

Her brows lifted with the question.

“My brother’s best friend.”

Was that confirmation of my affections? And what did it matter? It seemed plain as day, anyway.

“He seems a little…?”

Unhinged?

Scary?

“Harmless,” I offered.

Such a lie.

The man was destruction and formidability.

“And only my friend,” I clarified with a big inhalation. “More like family, honestly.”

Careful consideration filled her expression, and her head tipped to the side as she peered at me. “But that’s not the way you want it?”

Sighing, I shuffled deeper into the breakroom, and I moved for the little kitchen on the right.

I grabbed my pink water bottle from the counter.

“What’s that old cliché? You can’t always get what you want?” I gave her a wry arch of my brow as I unscrewed it and took a big swig, hoping the ice-cold water might douse the embarrassment and disappointment from this morning.

Penny moved for her cubby and tucked her purse into it. “No truer words have ever been spoken.”

Except for the ones I’d given Trevan this morning.

I supposed that was why he was so agitated.

“Let’s just keep this between us?” I almost begged it.

Incredulity filled her expression. “This is supposed to be a secret?”

I gulped with a clipped, frantic nod.

A frown made a deep V between her brows. “I don’t know how the whole world doesn’t know it. The tension between you two is combustible.”

A shiver rolled through me.

God knew the way I’d caught fire.

I huffed and forced out what felt like a lie. “No, truly, we’re just friends. I mean, I’ve always had one of those childish crushes on him because, hello, the man is hot as hell, but it’s never been returned. I’m getting over it and fast.”

“Is that so?” It was a playful challenge.

I sucked down some more water, then smacked my lips. “Yep. That is very so.”

Her expression shifted into something conspiratorially playful. She leaned my direction and whispered, “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

“I think we’re going to be very good friends, Penny Lancaster.”