“Oh, Fran is yours. You two have those sea-green eyes that stand out over your blond hair,” Grace said on a sigh before she eyed her brother, who was on the other side of the gym behind me. “Why don’t we have dinner when you return for good?”
My eyebrows came together. “Dinner? Are you asking me out, baby girl?”
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, and for fuck’s sake, my body went into overdrive. “Is that a problem?”
I could hear Duke talking, but if I knew my friend, he had a way of multitasking and listening to two conversations at once. So I leaned into her ear. “You’re playing with fire.”
She giggled. “Are you afraid of my brother? He doesn’t have a say in who I see or have dinner with.”
I was flattered and pleasantly surprised she had an interest in me. I’d never gotten the vibe she did, or maybe I had been too into her to notice.
Nevertheless, I begged to differ, at least when it came to myself. No way would Duke accept me dating his sister. Ha,dating. That word wasn’t in my vocabulary.
I straightened. “What’s this about?”
I got the feeling she was as interested in me as I was in her. The silent interaction between Andie and Grace, as well as Grace cutting off her friend, was confirmation. Yet there must be something Grace wanted. She’d never been forward with me and had hardly even flirted with me.
“Can’t two friends have a bite to eat?” she asked.
I guided her chin upward. “I’m not just any friend.”
Her sparkling brown eyes flickered with mischief. “Fine, I need help with something that I don’t want my brothers, especially Duke, to know about.”
And there it was. “Does this have anything to do with the guy you shot?”
She flashed a ball-squeezing smile at me. “No, totally unrelated.”
Despite the way my body heated, I still wasn’t convinced. “Are you in danger?”
She shook her head.“Of course not. I need advice on something.” She waved me off.
“Forget I even asked.”
I could seeby her cheeks reddening that she was embarrassed, but I also detected something I couldn’t put my finger on. What if she was in more trouble? Duke had told me on the phone that Grace was off her game and he would explain in more detail when he had time. If I brushed her off and something happened to her, I would feel like a fucker. Not to mention, Duke would hold me responsible.
She was about to pivot on her heel.
“Wait.”
She beamed like she’d won this round. Fuck. She had. She was playing me.
“It’s just advice?” I asked. “Nothing more?”
“What else would it be?”
I cocked an eyebrow. “I’m good at reading people and situations, Grace.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “Is it wrong that I like you?”
Hell, no. I was rejoicing inside. “In what way?”
Her cheeks reddened as she shrugged. “Never mind.”
We locked gazes for one, two, three beats before my mouth was near her ear. “We can never be more than friends. But, baby girl, I will not deny that you’re fucking beautiful and that I could get lost in you. Still, we both know that your brother would chop off my balls.” I felt a sting of pain in my groin just saying that.
Giggling, she whispered. “That wouldn’t be good.”
I straightened. “Look, if you’re truthful about wanting my advice, I want to be clear about something.”
