He looked up. They hadn’t had dinner together last night either. He frowned, disappointment spreading, before he shook himself.
That’s exactly the problem. We’ve fallen into the habit of having dinner together every night and watching an episode of Star Trek. We aren’t dating. That’s why the lines have blurred.
Satisfied with his excuses, he settled his headphones on his ears and restarted the playlist he preferred when checking code. His fingers had just begun to type when an irritating thought intruded. His fingers slowed and then stopped. He pushed his headphones off.
She’s going out? Like on a date? Not that I care, or have any right to—why assume it’s a date? Probably a girls' night out.
None of your business, Wes, he told himself, but he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
He glared at the monitor as he deleted another mistake. He looked at her door. Wes could hear faint music, but she hadn’t reappeared.
The doorbell rang an hour later. Wes waited a minute or two, assuming Cara would come out to greet whomever it was she was going out with. But her door remained shut, and the bell rang again.
Shoving back his chair, he strode to the door. She knew he was working; couldn’t she at least get the door for her friends?
The man in the doorway was older than Wes by several years—too old for Cara. He looked like he belonged in a 1980s country club brochure. From his brown curls cut close to the pleated khaki pants and boat shoes, he looked like a caricature.
Wes had a moment of satisfaction when it became clear he was as much of a surprise to this guy as her date was to him. By the frown gathering on the guy’s face, it wasn’t a happy one.
Wes took a last look at the man’s fleece vest, and his mood suddenly improved. He couldn’t picture Cara being with someone like that. Wes took a step back in invitation.
“Are you here for Cara?” he asked with a smile.
The man shot Wes a suspicious look before he schooled his thoughts into a bland expression. “I’m Chris Keller.”
“I’ll let her know you’re here. Come on in.” Wes walked to the table and closed his laptop before walking over and rapping on Cara’s door. Chris stood awkwardly just inside, giving the room a once over.
“Cara. Your friend’s here,” he said through the door.
The door opened inward, creating a draft that fluttered her blonde hair back from her face, and all urge to smile evaporated. She looked beautiful.
“Wes, you’re in the way.”
Wes stepped back, feeling edgy. He watched as she sashayed over to the guy. Her purple top with poufy see-through sleeves, topped dark jeans tucked into high heeled boots that made her ass look...
“Chris!” Cara greeted the interloper with an air kiss on each cheek.
Wes scowled. How did she know this guy? Was she on that dating app? He told her they weren’t safe!
“It’s good to see you, Cara! You look gorgeous.”
Cara reached for her purse sitting on the sofa, and Wes saw the jerk check her out when she bent over.
Wes clenched his jaw. She hadn’t even looked back at him, just happily chirping away with Mr. no-chin. “Are you going to be late?”
Cara looked surprised by his sharp tone, but Wes’s annoyance ratcheted up when she looked at Chris for an answer. “I think we are just going to dinner—”
Chris winked at her. “Unless we find something fun to do.” He slid a sly smile in Wes’s direction, and Wes narrowed his eyes at him. “Come on, we’re going to be late for our reservation.”
Wes simmered as he watched the headlights back out of the driveway.
He returned to the computer but found himself tapping on the table and not on the keyboard. He got up and paced into the kitchen, yanking open the refrigerator door. Stacked on the middle shelves were the meals Cara had made for their dinners that week. He scowled as he grabbed a beer.
Why shouldn’t she date? He didn’t have any claim to her. Unfortunately for him, the beer did nothing for the ache in his chest. Nor did the two that followed.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
“Funny,Declan didn’t mention you were living with a guy,” Chris deadpanned when they were in his car. It smelled new, and Cara cuddled back into the soft leather. She could admit there were certain luxuries shedefinitelymissed from her old life!
