“It comes with the territory,” he sighs.
“Hey, it’s fine,” I quickly say. “I’m sure with your sort of fame it happens a lot and you can’t go anywhere without being noticed.”
“I’m sorry she was kinda rude this morning,” he goes on.
I pop a shoulder. “It’s fine, I didn’t notice.”
He glances at me again. “But you noticed I’m cute?”
There it is. I meet his intense blue-eyed stare and forget my own name for a second. “Huh?”
“Beth… she said.”
Of course, he remembered that. “Oh.” Yes, that. I glance down to my cell in my hand, ready to send her that sarcasticthank youtext. “You know Beth, she’s always spouting some nonsense.”
“Actually, I don’t know Beth,” he chuckles. “I just met her.”
I sit back in my seat, trying to settle my sudden nerves fluttering in my stomach over Jay’s cuteness comment. I watch as the sky clouds over, Jay shifting through traffic with ease. He doesn’t even bristle one iota to any idiots on the road when he drives. It’s like nothing in the world bothers him at all. This could be a good and a bad thing.
“It’s an endearing term,” I finally say. “And you are kinda cute in your own way.”
He guffaws and quirks a brow in my direction. “I’m trying to work out if that was a compliment.”
“It was.” I say with a single nod.
“And what was that about not being interested in me inthatway?” He accentuates the word in the only way he could.
Another thing I have to try and wave off. I will strangle Beth later. “Beth was just spouting some nonsense,” I say. “She won’t let up about us at the bar.”
His soft chuckle stirs something in me, a sudden warmth radiating under the surface. “I’ll pretend to believe you.”
“Well, I also said you’re a nice guy, you always have been.”
“And that’s why you’re dragging me to dance class for your brother’s wedding?”
“Dragging seems such a strong term, Jay. You said so yourself that you’re up for a challenge. And it’s going to be a super fun wedding out in the wilderness of Nevada.”
“Well, that part I can agree on. I talked to Tanner earlier, he seems calm about it all, even as it’s getting closer.”
“I’m glad. I’m pretty sure Deb has it all under control. I can’t wait to see little Luca dressed up in his tiny tuxedo.”
“Now that I’ve gotta see,” Jay agrees. “I haven’t seen the little guy in ages.”
I rub my hands together excitedly. That little flutter in my stomach taking precedence, knowing that in less than two months’ time we will be spending an entire weekend there at The Las Vegas Resort and Spa near Red Rock Canyon. I’m looking forward to the planned spa day with the girls and the after-party breakfast the day after the wedding. I don’t want to admit that I’m looking forward to Tanner’s wedding in more ways than one. That would be stupid.
And despite Beth’s insinuations, I’m not dating any more sports guys.
It’s off the table. No matter what she or anyone else says. I’m done with them.
I glance at Jay.
“It’s gonna be fun,” he says with an eyebrow raise.
“And so is this dance lesson, you’ll see.”
CHAPTER 10
Jay
