‘What?’ Alex smiled.
‘Nothing.’ I shook my head, flashing him a smile as I tried to yank the Minion from the railings. ‘Bloody hell, did you glue this thing in here?’
‘Here.’ He gave it a twist and a pull and the toy came out. Tucking it back under one arm, he held out his other hand for me to take. ‘Didn’t have you down as the shy type.’ He grinned.
‘Pardon?’
‘You got all shy back there. I didn’t have you pegged as that. From what I’ve heard, you’re pretty outgoing. So, I can only conclude I’m not as good at kissing as I thought I might be.’
I shook my head without looking at him. ‘Stop fishing.’ I laughed. ‘I’m just… I haven’t been out with anyone for a while. I guess I just felt a bit…’
‘Out of practise?’ Alex supplied.
‘Yes! Oh, God, did it show? It did, didn’t it?’ I let go of his hand and put both of mine across my face. ‘I’m so embarrassed,’ I mumbled through my hands.
‘Don’t be.’ Alex’s voice was soft and husky in my ear as he pulled me to him with his free arm. ‘There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I was just taking a guess from what you said earlier, and what Charlie said about you not having dated for a while.’
I dropped my hands. ‘Charlie told you that?’
He nodded.
‘Great,’ I said, raising an eyebrow. ‘Talk about sounding like a pity date! That’s the last time I tell him anything.’
‘He didn’t mean it like that. It was more aimed at me.’ He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Charlie’s way of telling me to behave myself.’
I considered him for a moment. ‘Is that true?’
He pulled a face. ‘He’s kind of protective about you, it would seem.’
‘Sweet. But unnecessary. I can look after myself.’
‘Of that I’ve no doubt.’
‘But I am interested in the fact that he felt you needed to be told to behave yourself. Quite the Lothario, are we?’
Alex laughed. ‘Not at all. Well, not these days at least.’
‘I see.’
‘I’m reformed.’
‘Really.’
‘Really.’
‘But Charlie still felt the need to tell you to behave.’
‘Old habits die hard, I guess.’
‘I guess they do.’
I smiled and carried on walking, trying to work out how I felt about Charlie feeling the need to give Alex instructions about how to behave with me. I knew he meant well but I didn’t really appreciate being talked about as if I were his little sister. Even my own brother didn’t get involved in my love life. Though I imagined the fact that he knew I had a better hook and jab than he did had something to do with that.
‘Don’t be mad at him.’
‘Who?’
‘You. At Charlie.’
