Kat waves me into the room. “Hey, Ethan! I’d get up to hug you, but my baby keeps bumping my kidneys, and I’d rather not jostle the little kickboxer rightnow.”
I nod and take off my baseball cap. “Good to see you. Thanks for the invitation todinner.”
Brady holds up the six-pack. “Hey, Tor. Look what Ethan brought. Your favoritebeer.”
I’ll be damned. Guess the beer isn’t for him afterall.
Finally, the mermaid turnsaround.
Maybe it’s the way the evening sun shines through the kitchen window, making Tori glow in a dreamy light. Maybe it’s the fact that I was baking like a catfish in the hot sun all day and probably have heat stroke. Or maybe it’s because I’m so hungry I could eat an entire Black Angus by myself. But Tori Duran looks like the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. No makeup or fuss. Just that thick, dark mane and those golden-green eyes staring back. Wary and cautious.Guarded.
Of course she’s guarded, asshole. You were a dick to her the otherday.
I do that thing with my face where I try to smile. “Hey, Tori. Nice to see youagain.”
The girl laughs humorlessly. “Did you really bring me that beer or did Brady tell you it was forhim?”
Rubbing my jaw, I consider how to answer. Lying isn’t my strong suit. Never lied to my wife. Tried not to lie to my parents growing up. What was the point when they could always sniff out the truth anyway? So it doesn’t make sense why I want to now except I don’t want to hurt Tori’s feelings. Plus, something twisted in me suddenly wants to please thisgirl.
Taking a few steps closer and leaning in, so I don’t curse in front of Izzy, I whisper, “If I admit I got it for your brother-in-law, am I back on your shitlist?”
Although I expect my answer to piss her off, the corner of her mouth tilts up like she’s amused. “You haven’t worked your way off it.” Her eyes squint playfully. “But honesty is astart.”
When I smile at her—a real one because I’m genuinely glad to see her—her lips part and she sucks in abreath.
I give her a wink. “I just need one chance,darlin’.”
8
Tori
Dinner passesin a whirlwind of pleasantries between Brady, Kat, and Ethan. I watch them and push the food around on my plate and contemplate why this guy is being nice to me when he seemed to loathe my existence two days ago. And I wonder why, when he aims that smile at me, I feel the singe of a live wire, my skin heating and burning under hisscrutiny.
Why I can’t seem to catch mybreath.
Almost asif…
Almost as if I likehim.
Sweat breaks out on my back, and I sink back in myseat.
This is completelyunacceptable.
I can’t like a man, especiallythisman. I will not be charmed by Ethan Carter or his big blue eyes and roughedges.
See, I can do this.I am a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man, and that’s how it’s going tostay.
I straighten my shoulders, proud of my internal peptalk.
“Isn’t that great, Tor?” My sister nudges me with herelbow.
“I’m sorry,what?”
Her eyes widen like I need to pay attention, and I shrug, willing myself not to feelembarrassed.
“Ethan was saying how if you took the nanny position, you could borrow his truck to bartend at night. Since you had mentioned wanting to pick up some shiftssomewhere.”
Ugh.Like I really want him to know I don’t have a car. That I don’t have near enough money to fix my oldclunker.
