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Vulnerability flashes in her irises. “I’m trying to figure that out too—the reason.”
“Do you want us to help you? Rhys and me?”
“Well, if you really found rope, you two could…tie me up with it tonight.”
The images flip through my mind like a movie reel. Her, naked, bound to the bed. I finally manage to form a semi-coherent thought and get it past my lips. “We’re going to Home Depot, stat, to get ropes.”
She nibbles on the corner of her lips, then offers a hopeful, “Unless it was neckties you found under the bed?”
Well, that’s clear. But before I can run off like the sex superhero I am to track down a fancy men’s shop, she asks me again, “But what did you really find under the bed?”
Right. The reason I’m here. I shake off the lust and bondage. “A treasure trove. You could just call me the Indiana Jones of how to be a great boyfriend since I unearthed some vintage board games this morning with Rhys. Chutes and Ladders. Candy Land. That sort of thing. I wanted to ask if you had plans for tonight?”
Her smile is pure joy. It’s so fucking adorable I want to kiss it off. Right here, right now. I have to remind myself we’re just friends. Friends with a one-week lesson plan. At the end of this, we’ll return to playing pool rather than playing boyfriend games.
“I believe I’m free,” she says.
“Excellent.” But then I hold up a stop-sign hand. It’s not enough to make plans. “My bad. I didn’t ask if there’s something you’d rather do. Would you rather watch a movie? Play cards? Hang out in the hot tub? I want to make sure I’m planning something you actually like.”
She’s quiet for a beat, then she says softly, “Did you and Gavin talk about this?”
Why would she think that? Now I’m thrown off, and I don’t like being unprepared. “What do you mean?”
“Gavin and I talked this morning, and he made a comment about how there are guys who think they’re good boyfriends, but then they make plans a woman doesn’t actually want. Sort of like what you just said.”
That’s very specific. But Gavin and I didn’t talk in detail about Briar’s boyfriend project. “He’s a team player,” I say, hedging my answer. My mind whirs with questions about Gavin even though I keep my focus on her. “Does that work for you? Vintage games?”
“Yes, but what can I do? Do you want snacks? I can pick some up,” she offers.
I tsk her. “I want you not to work for it. Let me take care of tonight. Okay?”
She pauses, like letting go is hard for her, then sighs in faux resignation. “Bossy.”
“And you like it.”
She gives a playful bob of her shoulder. “I do.”
“Now, tell me. What do you like in the snacks department? Chocolate? Ice cream? Candy?”
She winces like she has a terrible confession to make. “More like pretzels, popcorn, and chips.”
“We’ve got board games, neckties, and savory snacks on the agenda tonight.”
She pauses, as if she’s weighing the next thing, then asks hopefully, “So is this a date with my three pretend boyfriends?”
That is a very good question, and one I don’t have the answer to. I glance around, making sure the coast is still clear. It’s just us here at her tent, and it’s time to be as direct as we were with the ties. “Do you want Gavin there?”
“For the board games?” Her tone doesn’t give anything away. She just sounds excited to hang out. “Definitely. It’ll be fun.”
That’s a start. But only a start. Stripping all the flirtation out of my voice, I press on and ask, “And what about in the bedroom?”
Her blue eyes widen, but before she can give me an answer, a curly-haired redhead in tie-dye yoga pants breezes past me and walks straight up to Briar. “Hi,” she says, a little nervous, like she’s meeting a star.
“Hey there. How are you?” Briar says, shifting into outgoing teacher mode.
“I love your videos,” the woman says, and damn, that’s cute to see someone fangirling over Briar.
“I’m so glad to hear that,” Briar says warmly.
