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“If he’s staying with you, then he’s probably viewing you as a mother figure.”
Angela cringed and fought back panic. Mother figure. She reached for the diffuser charm she wore on a slim chain around her neck and inhaled the scent of lavender. She could do this. It was only for a summer.
“I guess you’re right.” She met Isaiah’s eyes. He seemed to watch where her fingers toyed with the charm of her necklace in the V of her blouse. Angela dropped her hand. For several tense seconds, the air stuck in her lungs.
He quickly looked away. Angela tilted her head to the side. Was he blushing?
Before she could be sure, he ran a hand over his face and shrugged. “Because of that, he may be more comfortable talking with someone else.”
“Someone like a famous basketball player whose memories of being thirteen will seem much cooler than mine.”
Isaiah shoved a hand into the pocket of his black basketball shorts. “Believe me, my teenage memories are very boring. Chess-club member, anchor for the school morning-news show, the ugliest glasses you’ve ever seen. I was an official nerd. Far from considered cool.”
Angela took in his tall, toned body and handsome face. For the life of her, she couldn’t imagine him as a nerd. “You’re joking.”
“I’m dead serious. My younger brother and older sister were the cool ones. I was the geeky middle brother along for the ride. My dad put me in basketball when I was fourteen to help me get exercise. I ended up liking basketball more than chess. Some days, I still can’t believe I made it to the pros.”
She’d seen him play and couldn’t imagine him not on the court. Finding out he hadn’t always been a superconfident jock actually made sense. He was the “good guy” of the team. The one with the preppy bow ties and always in the news when the team did something in the community. She’d admired that about him. “There’s nothing wrong with being a little nerdy.”
“I didn’t feel that way then. Girls did not look my way.” His voice didn’t hold any hint of lingering resentment, but just enough self-deprecation to make her chuckle.
“If they’d known you’d grow into such a fine man they wouldn’t have ignored you.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away. The hint of red appeared beneath his pecan skin, which in turned made him even cuter.
“That’s the thing,” he said. “I wouldn’t want them to like me because they knew I was going to be a professional baller. I’d rather they liked me because I was me.”
“I’m sure there were other girls like me, who tended to crush on the smart guys in class. I don’t like brashness and bravado. I prefer someone more laid-back. Someone I can talk to all night about anything and everything.”
Like they’d talked the night he’d sat at her bar for hours. He hadn’t been interested in the women onstage, hadn’t drooled down the front of her shirt, or spent the entire time trying to get her to go home with him. He’d talked to her about movies, music, the right way to make a martini. She hadn’t truly enjoyed talking to a guy in a long time.
“Yeah, I like that, too.” His gaze probed hers. His pull made her want to reach out to him. Run her hands across the strength of his chest. Run her lips over the fullness of his.
Movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention. Keri smiled but there was a sharpness in her eyes as she walked over that made Angela step back from Isaiah.
“Everything good?” Keri asked, and when she looked at Angela her eyebrows drew slightly together.
If Cory had guessed there was a vibe between her and Isaiah after a few seconds, then she shouldn’t be surprised Keri would look concerned after she and Isaiah had been speaking for several minutes.
Angela acknowledged Keri’s concern with a nod. “Everything is fine. Isaiah stepped in with Cory this morning. He’s in a bit of a mood.” She smiled at Isaiah. “Thanks again. I better get to work.”
Isaiah tilted his head forward. The slight bow would have looked silly if another man had done it, but seemed fitting when Isaiah made the motion. “You’re more than welcome.”
