“You like everything a certain way,” she stated, loosening her towel and flinging it onto the counter. “Everything has to be exact, or you feel out of control. That sound about right?”
She had no idea how right she was with her assessment. It was why my attraction to her left me so unsettled. She didn’t fit in the box.
“Blame it on being an engineer. Things need to work exactly right, or they don’t work at all.”
Her lips pursed at my reply. I was positive she didn’t like my answer by the way she remained silent until I lifted the grill cover and turned over the steaks.
“Those are only going to need about five more minutes.”
“The instructions said seven on each side,” I protested as I closed the lid, turning to face my adversary with her hands fisted on her hips.
“I’m telling you from experience, they only need five. But if you prefer yours well-overdone, then by all means, leave them on for seven.”
“Alex, are you upset with me or something?”
Her voice was heavy and dark, and she kept her attention on the yard, avoiding making eye contact. I couldn’t make it out completely, but I was pretty sure I made out the words, “Or something,” under her breath.
“Look, Alex, I know things are weird right now. I’ve just got a lot riding on this project and getting the girls settled before they start kindergarten.”
“And then there’s Andrew.” She turned her steely eyes on me, and I felt like I was under a microscope. She was taking in every heartbeat, every ripple of my pulse, every breath that left my lungs.
“He is a… complication.”
“Sure. I don’t want to upset my brother either. Thank goodness there’s only two more weeks until Autumn returns, and I can go back to my apartment in town.”
Fuck. Somewhere in the midst of everything, I’d forgotten Alex and I weren’t exactly playing house. She was helping her sister with the B&B and would be leaving as soon as she got back. It was like she dropped an ice bucket of cold water on me, and the shock hadn’t quite worn off.
“Yeah,” I croaked.
“Until then, we should probably avoid moments where we’re alone, unless you think you can control yourself.” Her eyes twinkled. She was challenging me and my need for accuracy and preciseness. I might not have been able to control my surroundings where Alex was involved, but I could control my reaction to her. I hoped.
“I agree. It shouldn’t be too hard.”
Alex’s gaze flicked down to my hips and back up. “Right. Not too hard.”
Her hips swayed more than usual as she stepped back into the house, leaving me feeling far from confident about the gauntlet we just threw down.
Something was definitely growing hard, and I wasn’t sure it was only my desire for control.
By the time night fell, I settled myself in one of the hanging benches on the porch with a glass of bourbon. The beer earlier wasn’t cutting it for me. I didn’t drink often, but I needed something to take away the itch to climb those stairs and knock on Alex’s door.
She left me emotionally and physically spent before dinner without lifting a finger.
Rory left shortly after the meal, and I spent the better part of the evening cleaning up the girls before bed. They exclaimed the steaks were delicious—which I left the second half for only five minutes as Alex suggested—and I felt so proud of the fact that they enjoyed my meal. Even Rory complimented it.
I hadn’t seen Alex when I finished getting the twins settled, which left me believing she was in her room.
Andrew’s text about the double date postponement remained unanswered. I wasn’t sure how I felt about dating again, especially with so much going on in my life.
Beside me, my phone rang, the chiming noise echoing across the porch.
Sasha was calling well after our daughters’ bedtime, something I made her aware of time and time again. Over the last six months, she’d been much better about calling during the day, so to see her name on the screen now left me concerned.
“Hello?” I answered, instantly regretting my decision when my ex's voice came from the other end.
I zoned out during most of the call, so when Alex stepped out onto the porch, I was immediately caught off guard. Since darkness had fallen on the B&B, I assumed she’d gone to bed or started relaxing in her room. I hadn’t expected her to join me that evening.
“The answer is no. Please only call during the times we’ve set.” I ended the call before Sasha could argue.
