Page 20 of Bridesmaid Undercover
Yup, that sounds about right.
Why wouldn’t he want to rekindle old feelings with someone he shared three years of his life with back in college? I’m sure he misses the good ol’ days. I’m sure he has a lot of wonderful memories from that time in his life. I’m a year out of college, so I don’t quite understand that kind of nostalgia. I would rather have my big toe slammed in a door than revisit a college relationship, but maybe that’s just me.
“How, uh, nice…that you’ll be in the same city as each other.”
“First time in ten years.”
“Ten years, huh?” I shake my head. “That would put you in your thirties, which means yeah, you’re probably ready to settle down.”
His smirk nearly makes me faint face-first into his lap. And what’s really sad about all of this is I would gladly poke my eye out with his crotch.
Smell that desperation? It’s deplorable.
“You say that as if being in my thirties is a bad thing.”
“Nope, I like an older man,” I say, but then catch myself. “I mean, not that I like you. I wasn’t saying that in regard to you and me, more like…just in general. Men as a whole. Not you, because that would be weird, right? Eck, gross, not you and me. Never you and me. Forever and ever, never you and me. I meant just, like the olds, the silver foxes, the men with experience, but not you…never you.”
He scratches his jaw with a smile. “Well, can’t hear that enough.”
“I wasn’t trying to insult you, I just?—”
“I’m kidding, Everly.” He places his hand on my shoulder, probably to soothe the tension that has skyrocketed through my bones. But unfortunately for me, all his warm palm and long fingers do is make me stiffer in all areas…stiff and throbby.
Yes…throbby.
Because I have no self-control around him and even though he wants to rekindle a relationship with this Maple chick, who I’m sure is a beating heart of beauty and joy, I still feel like the old crone in the corner, clearing the cobwebs out from between her legs after a simple touch from the man with the devilish eyes and kind smile.
“Of course, right, you’re joking. You’re very funny.” I wag my finger at him, hating myself more and more with every up and down flick.
He studies me for a moment. “Are you okay? Did I make you uncomfortable?”
“What? No, of course not. Did I make you uncomfortable?”
“No,” he says. “But I feel like you’re acting weird, and I hope it’s not because of something I said. Or that I caught you off guard.”
“Not at all. This is me being excited,” I say for some stupid reason. “I love love, so if I can help out in any way, I’m your girl.” I thumb toward my chest like a live action Little Orphan Annie. “So sign me up. You need help. I’m your girl.”
“You sure?”
No.
Actually, remember that toe in the doorjamb thing? I would rather do double toes. Yeah, you read that right. Two toes being slammed by a door rather than suffer through getting Hardy back with his ex.
I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do less.
“Positive,” I answer with a smile. “Just, uh, just one question.”
“What’s that?” he asks.
“Well, since you’re a seasoned man in his thirties who, though admittedly out of touch with the dating world, does seem to have a level of charisma, what would you require from me as an assistant?”
“That’s one way to ask a simple question.” He laughs but carries on. “Here’s the thing. We ended things amicably, but there might be a hint of bitterness on her end. At least, from what Polly keeps saying.”
“Oh?” I ask, intrigued as to how this perfect specimen of a man could elicit any sense of bitterness toward him.
“The thing is, she was studying zoology and animal sciences. Her main goal was to become a zookeeper for flamingos.” Huh, did not see that coming. Not every day you run into someone who wants to take care of animals for their life journey. She sounds amazing already, which does not bode well for me. “And, well, she couldn’t really follow me when it came to a job, so I had to follow her. I told her I would, but when my dad asked me to head up the agricultural side of Hopper Industries, I felt like it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, especially since my relationship with my dad was already rocky at best. I didn’t go to the school he wanted me to go to, and I was the one who gave him the most pushback about his business practices. I felt I could make an impact, so I had to go back on my word to Maple. We both decided to break up, even though she’s the one who started the conversation. We hugged and went our separate ways. Though I reached out on occasion, she didn’t do the same.”
Uh, yeah, because Mr. Perfect wasn’t going to be following her around like he promised. I think I’d be bitter too.
