Page 26 of Small Town Swoo
“Yeah, you know, just . . .” Again, she shrugged. “Comfortable. Like you’ve known each other forever.”
“Well, we have. We’re kind of like brother and sister.” Even as I said it, it didn’t feel true.
“Hmmm,” she murmured, her tone conveying skepticism. “I don’t think so. He was paying a lot of attention to you. I might even say there wasfawninginvolved.”
My face heated up again. “There was no fawning. He just didn’t want me to do too much because of my hand. He’s protective—like a big brother.”
Veronica laughed. “I’ll allow protective. But he wasnotlooking at you like a little sister. He was looking at you like he hopes you’re the princess whose kiss will turn him back into a man, at which point he is going to take off all her clothes and make up for that time he turned her down.”
“Stop it.” I laughed, but I felt hot beneath my sweater and peeled it off. “He has never looked at me like that.”
She gave me a look that said she knew better. “So then you probably don’t have any plans to see him again.”
“Not really.”
She feigned surprise, the fingers of one hand steepled over her heart. “Oh, youdohave plans to see him again?”
“Well, we’re friends. I’m helping him with something.”
“Something like what?”
“Something like developing more emotional depth in his acting so he can be considered for bigger roles.” I tried to make it sound businesslike.
“I see.” She set her glass down and leaned on the table with both elbows, hands clasped like an executive. “And how are you going to do that?”
“While he’s home over the next month, we’re going to watch movies I think have big, emotional performances in them. You know, likeCasablancaandTitanic.”
Her head fell back as she laughed. “I see. So you’re going to cuddle up on the couch and watch some of the most romantic movies of all time. But it’s strictly platonic.”
“There won’t be cuddling.” God, I hoped there would be cuddling.
“I have a movie suggestion.”
“Which one?”
“Friends With Benefits.”
I rolled my eyes. “Veronica.”
“It’s actually more of a prediction than a suggestion.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Are you sure?” Veronica arched one brow.
Remembering how Dash had tugged my hair Saturday night on the porch and said goodnight on the sidewalk last night with even less affection, I felt confident nodding my head. “Totally.”
We left the wine bar out the back door. At first, I didn’t see my car in the lot and got excited that someone had stolen it, but then I remembered that Dash and I had traded vehicles. Digging the BMW fob from my bag, I unlocked it.
When the lights flashed on the back of the SUV, Veronica stopped short. “Did you get a new car?”
I laughed. “Are you kidding? In what universe would I be able to afford a car like this? It’s Dash’s rental.”
She turned to me, one eyebrow raised. “And why are you driving Dash’s rental?”
“Because the check engine light is on in my car, and he was going to have Austin take a look at it.”
Veronica’s expression morphed from suspicion toconfusion. “Why would he want Austin to look at it?”
