Page 53 of Never Pucking Ending
I don’t even realize I’m glaring at his vehicle until Dane’s soft chuckle breaks me out of it. “If you slit his tires, will I be considered accessory to the crime?”
Blinking up at him, I gape. “What?”
His thumb jabs toward the Tahoe. “I’m sure the tinted-out car you look like you want to set on fire belongs to one of the guys in there. I can guess which one, but I won’t assume any more than I already have.”
I cover my flaming face with my palms and groan into them. “I’m sorry,” I apologize for what feels like the fortieth time. How come we’re always interrupted when we’re together?
It’s not a date.
The reminder has me dropping my hands to my sides and blowing out a breath. “I’m sorry,” I say once again. “The sketches are stunning, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to draw them and show me.”
His smile is genuine. “It was no trouble at all. I enjoyed it, and I’m glad you love them. When the times comes, I’ll get better measurements and can send you the wood options. Cedar is still a solid option because it’s a natural repellant, which means insects won’t be attracted to it. It could help preserve the books.”
The fact he considered that in his sketches makes me so much angrier at Jesse. Because Dane is a great person, and I should want to date him. I should tell Jesse to mind his own business and stay away from my dates. I should do a lot of things beyond glaring at his car and debating arson.
Internally, I sigh.
“Want to talk about it?” he asks gently, leaning his hip against the side of my car. “We can talk about it if you want.”
Is there any point in playing dumb? Nope. Am I going to do it anyway? Hell yeah. “Talk about what?”
His lips twitch upward before neutralizing. “I don’t want to invade,” he begins, “but it seems like there are some unspoken things regarding Jesse that’s bothering you.”
So we’re going there. “Like him showing up tonight?” I grumble before I can help myself.
He nods, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Like that. Or the fact it bothers you so much.”
My face twists. “It doesn’t bother you?”
One of those broad shoulders lifts. “It should, I suppose. I would have preferred to have dinner with a woman I think is pretty without being stared at by men who could probably kill me without trying that hard.”
They totally could, but I’m not going to tell Dane that. What’s the point? “You’re too nice to me,” I murmur, almost defeated that my heart doesn’t react to him thinking I’m pretty like it would have in the past.
He huffs out a laugh before opening my car door for me. “Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”
Because my stepbrother seems to always get in the way when we’re together? Because it’s obvious there’s something there no matter how much I pretend there isn’t? Because…
I wet my lips. “I don’t know,” I lie, hoping he doesn’t read into it or call me out for not being more detailed. He can fill in the blanks with whatever reason he sees fit. I’m sure he has plenty of them in his head since each time we’re out I’m distracted or leave early.
God. I deserve to be single.
“Hey,” he says softly, regaining my attention. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it doesn’t look like anything good. I’m fine. We’re fine. I’m not worried about anything.”
All I can do is stare at him.
His smile remains soft and warm, like he wants me to drill it into my head. Like me truly means it. “We’re good.”
We’re good. That simple.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him again because I can’t help it. “For Jesse showing up like that. He and his friends are actually pretty harmless. Mostly.”
His lips twitch. “Except for when people go near the women they like,” he notes casually.
So casually that it doesn’t seem like he’s implying what I think he is. But he is. He’s saying a lot between the lines.
“Um…” I rub my lips together.
He chuckles, sliding a hand into his front pocket while readjusting his briefcase strap with the other. “To be completely transparent with you, my ex and I have been talking. Nothing serious, but…”
