He shook his head. "And there she is, ready to jump you, and you turn her down?"
This wasn't the phrasing I'd used, but I knew what he meant. Still, I felt my jaw tighten as I replied, "She's a nice girl."
"Hey, newsflash," Jeff said. "You can date the other kind. Hell, youhavebeen dating the other kind."
"Yeah, so?"
"So I'm just saying, you remember that brunette you brought to Pete's wedding? She could've been a model."
I shifted in the booth. "She, uh,wasa model."
"See?"
Idid. Mandy hadn't been stupid, but the connection – at least outside of the bedroom – had been nonexistent.
When I replied with another shrug, Jeff said, "So this new girl – she must be quite a looker, huh?"
Shewas, especially without the glasses. But then again, I'd liked herwiththem, too. As far as the hair, I wasn't a fan of the bun, but Ididlike the thought of removing the hair pins and watching her long blonde hair tumble down onto her naked shoulders.
I shifted again, this time for a different reason. Minus the hair pins, the naked thing could've happened this morning.
Ishouldbe kicking myself in the ass. And yet, I didn't regret it. A girl like Gwen was worth waiting for.
Across from me, Jeff laughed. "Shemustbe a looker if the question makes you zone out like that." He leaned forward. "So tell me. Does she know what you do?"
"More or less."
Jeff's gaze sharpened. "Alright, so what'd you tell her."
"Just the basics," I said. "That I'm a computer guy and that I work from home."
Jeff burst out laughing. "Aren'tyouthe king of understatement?"
I reached for my drink. "Maybe I'm modest." I wasn't entirely joking. I had never been one to brag, and I liked how Gwen viewed me as just a friendly neighbor.
It was refreshing, just likeher.
Sure, some might say I was more than that. But so was Gwen – whether she realized it or not.
Chapter 18
Gwen
Drake and I were sitting on his sofa when I caught movement near the front window. When I turned to look, I spotted a vivid orange furball scampering up the Christmas tree.
With a stifled laugh, I jumped to my feet. "Ginger, don't."
I was halfway across the room when Drake said with a chuckle, "Don't worry about it."
I turned to look at him. "But it's decorated."
"Yeah, so?"
At my aunt's place, she'd set up five full-sized Christmas trees before leaving for Switzerland. For obvious reasons, none of them were decorated, not even the one in the living room.
To Drake, I said, "Youdorealize she'll knock down the ornaments."
He grinned. "Probably."
