That hadn’t stopped him from wondering what she tasted like. It’d been on his mind since this morning. There were times when he was a real jerk. He stifled his smirk.
“Is there something wrong with my clothes?” she said.
Hadn’t realized he was staring at her. “I like that outfit,” he answered, careful to mask his attraction with a casual tone.
She brushed off the compliment with a shrug, as if she didn’t believe him. “These are work clothes.” She nodded at his long-sleeve tee and pants. “I’m not the only one who changed.”
“Felt like I should.” He glanced around the main floor. “This is nice. From what I’ve seen so far, the whole complex is.”
“I enjoy living here. The neighbors are friendly. My house isn’t big, but it’s just right for me. One of the few one-bedrooms here.”
“And two stories.”
“The bedroom is upstairs and there’s a tiny second room I use as a home office. The rest is what you see.”
Kitchen with eating counter and a small living room, all spotless. A large black cat strutted in the direction of the kitchen as if he owned the place.
“Who’re you?” he asked, crouching down to greet the animal.
“That’s Mr. T, come to check you out.”
“Do I pass muster?” Blake asked him, running his hand down the shiny black fur. The cat began to purr, and he grinned. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Let me grab a jacket, then we’ll go. Behave yourself, Mr. T. I don’t see the truck,” she said with a slight frown as they reached the visitors lot.
“I drove my car instead.” He gestured at his red Lexus sedan.
“Cushy,” she murmured.
“I like it.”
“It wasn’t in the parking lot this morning. The truck was the only vehicle I saw.”
“I use that for business, this morning to bring in the stack chairs and little table so we’d have a place to sit. Ruby is forpleasure.” The word flowed from his throat in a husky voice he hadn’t intended. Maybe she hadn’t noticed.
She glanced down, but not before he noted the sudden color in her cheeks. She’d noticed, all right. What was his problem? Best put the brakes on his attraction to her. Now.
“Ruby?” she asked.
“First time I’ve named a car. For some reason the name popped into my head. It fits. I bought her used after the bike shop’s one-year anniversary.” After months of pouring everything he had into succeeding. “I netted more than I anticipated and figured I deserved a reward.”
“Must’ve been a very good year for you.”
“Demand for bikes, whether to buy or rent, is huge. I bought Ruby from a customer’s great aunt who’d given up driving. She’d owned it four years and had driven it only fifteen thousand miles.”
Finally, a smile. “Lucky you. When I was promoted to sales manager a few years ago, I rewarded myself by buying this place. Dinner tonight won’t be for pleasure.”
“Believe me, I know. I keep forgetting to mention that Grandpop is planning to pay for the whole new unit himself as a surprise wedding gift to Caroline.”
“She won’t like that. She’s too proud to take his money.”
“It’ll be interesting to find out what happens. Don’t say anything to her.”
She didn’t appear to hear him. Too antsy. “You’re nervous, huh?” he asked.
“I’ve been trying to hide that. What gave me away?”
“Your compressed lips and the way you keep fussing with your hair. By the way, that ponytail suits you.” He liked it way better than her tight hairdo the other night.
