“Cool. I’ll text you my address. Six o’clock?”
That was a little over six hours from now. His eyes blazed a path across my face as he waited for a response. My mind warred with itself, between the desire to enjoy Jameson’s company and the need to protect my heart.
It was only dinner, right? What could possibly happen that would derail my plans of remaining unattached?
After another minute of awkward silence, I finally answered, “Six sounds great.”
Elsie
Fate was a cruel thing.
I had just turned down Walnut Circle, searching for Jameson’s house number, when realization slammed into me like a train.
Jameson lived in averynice neighborhood.
But not just any nice neighborhood. No, it was one I had spent a lot of time in once upon a time. It wasn’t until I got to the end of the road, arriving in the cul-de-sac where Jameson’s house sat that I realized how truly terrible this was.
My foot crashed into the brake, stopping dead in the center of the circle, frozen.
Jameson’s house was the second in from the right.
While Ben’s was two houses down on the left end.
Yep. Jameson was neighbors with my ex-almost-fiancé.
Crap crap crap crap crap.
It had been four years since I had last seen Ben, and I didn’t really feel like breaking that streak now. I slammed on the gas, pulling into Jameson’s driveway as fast as I could, cringing when the tires squealed on the road. I jammed the gear shift into park and turned the car off, hoping that somehow made my car invisible just in case Ben happened to be looking out the window and recognized my car.
I hated that my ex was already ruining this date, forcing his way inside my head, when we hadn’t been together in years.
Thankfully, the sun had mostly set, hiding me in darkness, as I ninja walked my way between the trees lining the walkway to Jameson’s front door. I realized there was a possibility that my mind was making a mountain out of a molehill, and there was actually a very slim chance that, at this very moment, Ben would exit his house and see me creeping through the dark, but none of that helped to calm my racing heart.
I sighed, pressing my back against the rough bark of a tree, peeking around the trunk like I was a spy. There weren’t any lights on in Ben’s house. Maybe he wasn’t home. Taking a bracing breath, I sprinted up the front steps and knocked on Jameson’s door. My paranoia and need to avoid my ex were so strong that when he opened it, I shoved my way past him muttering, “Let me in, let me in.”
I reached for the door, needing it closed, needing a second to breathe without the possibility of Ben seeing me. Jameson eyed me like I had suddenly grown a second head. I leaned against the door, breathing hard, sweat sliding down my spine.
All in all, it was not my finest moment.
“Well, it’s good to see you too, Elsie,” Jameson chuckled.
“Sorry, I—”
And then giant paws slammed into my stomach, and I yelped.
“Whoa, down, Luna!”
The fluffy Golden Retriever listened immediately, plopping into a seated position in front of me, tongue lolling out to the side.
Jameson put his hand on my waist, and leaned so his mouth was by my ear. “Sorry, she doesn’t usually jump like that.”
My heart hammered at his proximity.Dang it, heart. Knock that off.I needed to move, to put some distance between us, but the heat emanating from him was so welcoming, and his woodsy cologne made my brain spin like I’d had too many glasses of wine.
I cleared my throat, stepping out of Jameson’s reach, barely able to meet his eyes, which flickered with amusement.
“I forgot you had a dog,” I blurted. While I had always been more of a cat person, I couldn’t deny his dog was cute.Jameson gave me a puzzled smile, probably wondering why I was acting so strange.
“Luna, go lay down.” Luna’s ears perked before she turned around and ran to a giant plush bed in the corner of the living room. “I rescued her from a shelter when my mom still lived here. I wanted someone to keep her company while I was at work.” He paused, studying me as I crossed my arms. “Are you okay? You seem…” He gave me a once over. “On edge.”
