He waited two beats for effect. “That my little sister is in love.”
If she hadn’t already been sitting, her legs would have given way beneath her. “That’s impossible, Michael. I’m not in love. We’ve only been on one date.”
She wanted to punch him when his lips twitched knowingly.
“So that was a real, official date, then?”
She notched her chin in the air.
Michael burst out laughing.
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” she sniffed.
His eyes danced with mirth. “What was it we always said at every school function you went stag to?”
Oh, she didn’t want to answer that. Talk about incriminating herself. “That the first guy I went on a date with would be the one I’d marry.” She rushed on. “But you guys were teasing me. You weren’t serious.”
“Weren’t we? Tell me this, what’s your favorite ice cream?”
Man, he was all over the place on these subject changes. Last time he’d hit the nail on the head, this time… Her navel quivered and she cleared her throat. “Cookies and cream.”
“And when you eat ice cream, do you ever order any other flavor?”
“What’s the point when I know what I like?”
“Mmmhmm. And your bedspread at home. Have you changed it at all in ten years, even though it’s now raggedy and thread bare?”
She folded her hands in her lap. “It’s incredibly comfortable and special to me.”
His eyes gleamed. “Right. What about—”
“What’s your point, Michael?”
“That you’re someone who knows instantly what you like, and once you’ve decided, there are no other options for you.”
She picked at a cuticle as she processed his logic. “So, you’re saying…”
He nodded. “That if anyone was made to fall in love quickly, it’s you.” He gave her a devilish grin. “Also, that Amber plus first date equals inevitable marriage.” He winked. “Don’t worry. I’ll have Jack save all her bridal magazines for you.”
Even if Michael had hit a bulls-eye—and she wasn’t saying he had—it didn’t matter. She’d already taken herself out of that picture. “Not necessary.”
He smirked. “We’ll see.”
“No, I mean…” She sighed. “Even if you’re right in your assumption that I love Seth, nothing is going to happen between us.”
“Why?” He narrowed his eyes. “Did that pretty boy do something that I need to know about?”
“Put the guns away, Finch.” She didn’t often use his old call sign, but his demeaner called for it now. “Seth didn’t do anything. In fact…” She turned away, color creeping into her cheeks. “He told me he loved me.”
“That it?”
She swallowed. “As you might have guessed, I didn’t say it back.”
“But now you know you do love him, so you can tell him and everything will be fine.”
“Oh, to have an uncomplicated male brain.”
He rested his elbow on the back of the bench. “Yeah, itisgreat.”
