Casey wasn’t as shocked as I would have expected him to be. How thoroughly had he explored the site?
Lane’s gaze was darting back and forth between us. “I’ll tell Wilder I’ll be over later.” He gave a forced smile. “Hell, with your background, you might be helpful. Want to come go through tax paperwork?”
“No.” I probably shouldn’t have answered for Casey, but I was seeing the possibility of a date start to slip away. “I owe him a drink.”
Not that I could blame him. No matter what he thought of the lingerie, anyone would be shell-shocked after being blasted by a runaway Eli.
I turned my focus back to Casey and crouched next to him so we were at eye level. “How about it?”
He swallowed hard several times. “I can’t drink at a work meeting.”
Was he hinting at something or was it merely a random comment? All kinds of odd things escaped when he got uncomfortable, so I wasn’t sure what to guess. “Then it won’t be a dinner meeting, just a drink between…friends.”
He was so still I imagined Eli poking him to make sure he was breathing. Finally, Casey nodded. “Friends.”
Lane sighed, and I glanced up to see him shaking his head. “I’m going to pull an Eli if I don’t escape. Have fun, and Casey, I’m going to call you later tonight.”
As Lane headed back to the changing area, I couldn’t help but think that he’d sounded frustrated. Pull an Eli?
Do something outrageous just for attention?
Flirt with someone unexpectedly?
Say something completely inappropriate because he thought he knew better what people needed to hear…Yeah, I had a feeling that was the one.
Casey was wearing an odd expression when I turned back to him. “Do you think he’s…mad at me?”
“No.” However, Lane was possibly frustrated with both of us. I did my best to stop guessing what he’d meant and moved my hand so it brushed against Casey’s. He didn’t pull away, but that sweet blush flared back to life. “Are you ready for dinner?”
Casey nodded slowly, the blush starting to fade. “Yes, thank you.” Then he took another long breath. “You don’t have to, though. I know you probably had other plans.”
Nothing that I was willing to confess to Casey, or within earshot of anyone else, so I shook my head. “No, I’m looking forward to it.”
Confessing that all I’d had planned was takeout and a movie at home by myself sounded pathetic when everyone else had plans with their significant others.
Casey smiled. “Then I’m all yours.”
He must have realized how that had come out because his blush flared back to life, and he started pulling his hand away. “I mean—I’m sorry—”
I set my hand on his, stopping his abrupt movement. “Don’t be.”
Taking a chance that his shy smiles and blushes were starting to mean something, I squeezed down on his hand. “I’m glad you’re all mine.”
His gaze dropped to his lap, but he didn’t try to pull his hand away. Caressing slowly over his fingers, I decided to push it a bit further. I’d been careful with him over the past year, and I was starting to think I’d beentoocareful. “I’ll warn you, though. If you’re all mine, I’m going to expect some good answers to my questions. I’m very curious to hear what you thought about the shoot and about the clothes.”
His tongue flicked out again and a delicate shiver raced through him. If I hadn’t been touching him, I probably would have missed it. I traced his fingers with mine. “Thoroughanswers.”
The barest hint of a sound escaped. Had he moaned?
Casey swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”
Refusing to let myself overanalyze his answer or what it might mean, I stood, still holding his hand. “Then let’s go.”
As he rose and looked at me for instructions, I thought about how immediate his response had been to the order. I thought back to the questions and discussions we’d had in the past. Maybe I hadn’t wanted to see it, because then I would have had to do something about it, but instructions had always been easier for him than decisions.
It was something I should have seen sooner.
He had a hard time meeting my gaze, but as I squeezed his hand, he peeked up at me and gave me a faint smile. It was tentative and shy, but it was so very Casey. “How about we walk down the street and grab something? That way we don’t have to drive right away.”
