Wes shifted forward. This had been a mistake. What had he been thinking? “I’m not. Never mind. I should probably get to bed.” He braced his hands to push himself up, angry at himself.
“Don’t be a baby.” Cara pushed the play button and the show resumed. “You’re as bad as my brothers! Now shh, I want to see what happens.”
Wes sat rigidly next to her, counting the minutes until he could make his escape. But as the episode continued, he found his eyes returning to her face over and over. Her full lips curled up in delight several times, and Wes finally settled back against the cushions, his breath coming easier.
The thought of Cara making fun of him shouldn’t bother him so much. He didn’t even know her. And she certainly wouldn’t be the first girl to find Wes’s obsession with Star Trek nerdy, but… He snuck a glance again. She seemed to like it.
He took the opportunity her interest in the show gave him to study her. Her pale blond hair was caught up in a clip of some sort at the back of her head, wispy bits sticking out everywhere in a messy halo. Her lips parted in laughter again at the action on the screen, and he found himself smiling along with her. It was rare that he was comfortable with other people, and he could count on one hand people he trusted. But there was something about her that was… easy.
“Are you going to make some more?”
Cara’s voice broke through his thoughts, and he realized she was asking about the empty popcorn bowl. He glanced at the TV and saw the show was over. Had she caught him ogling her?
“Sure. Do you want to watch something else?” he asked, taking the few steps into the kitchen to stick another bag in the microwave.
“No way! It says it was part one of two. So, we have to watch the next one. I know that Q is supposed to be the bad guy, but he’s my favorite so far.” She pressed the buttons on the remote to advance the episode.
Punching in the time for the popcorn, Wes turned and leaned a hip against the kitchen counter. “Should I be concerned that you like the manipulative, all-powerful character?”
“Maybe.” She winked, and his gut clenched in response.
He shook himself mentally. Calm down, he ordered his body. It didn’t mean anything—just a normal healthy response to an attractive woman.
That’s all it could be.
He pulled the steaming bag from the microwave and poured it into the bowl, adding salt. Oblivious to his reaction, Cara pushed play and turned up the volume.
Wes did his best to ignore his new roommate and concentrate on the television, but now that his body had given him an unmistakable reaction, he was uncomfortably aware of her next to him. His brain was suddenly fixated on identifying the faint floral scent that drifted his way every time she shifted. Warmth radiated off her soft curves, and for a second, he wondered what would happen if he slid his hand under the blanket, up her leg...
Don’t be that guy, Wes.Melody. Think about Melody and the future you have planned out.
It was only when Cara pushed to her feet that Wes realized the episode was over.
“Obtuse piece of flotsam.” She chuckled, quoting a character. “I’m going to have to use that. Night, Wes. Thanks for introducing me to the show. I really liked it!”
“You’re welcome,” he said, as Cara gave him a small smile before shutting her door.
He rubbed his palms down the tops of his thighs. Shit! There was no point in denying he was attracted to her, but that didn’t mean anything. Attraction is just a chemical reaction. That’s all it was.
He’d never lived with a woman as a roommate before. His body was clearly just confused by the false intimacy. Once he got to know her better, it would resolve itself. That’s it. They’d be friends–buddies–and you don’t lust after your buddies. Not that he was lusting after her, he assured himself.
Wes ran a hand back through his hair with a groan. He was overcomplicating things. She hadn’t seemed to notice so there was nothing to worry about. He set the alarm on his phone and placed it on his bedside table, unable to escape the unwelcome thought that this attraction could hamper his plan with Melody.
He couldn’t let that happen.
* * *
The next morningwhen Wes emerged from his room, he was greeted by the rich aroma of coffee and the sight of Cara pushing egg whites around in a frying pan.
“Good morning!” She sent him a sunny smile. “Did I wake you?”
He shook his head and poured himself a mug of coffee. Wes watched her cook for a few minutes, and then she slid the egg whites on to a plate. She took her plate to the table but snuck repeated glances at him. Something was bothering her. Wes grabbed a granola bar from the pantry and chewed it slowly, waiting for her to decide if she was going to say something.
“Have you talked to Melody lately?”
Was she still worried about living with him? Had he made her uncomfortable last night?
“She texted me yesterday,” Cara said into the silence, interrupting his thoughts. “I’d asked her about you.”
