Ethan was carrying his guitar with him. I eyed it and then glanced up at him. He quirked an eyebrow and shrugged. “What?”
“So, it’s just true.” I shook my head as I walked in front of him and back up the stairs. “You really do play theguitar. I mean, I figured it was true but now that I see it, I know for sure.”
He snorted so I looked over my shoulder at him. I was on the top step so I waited for him to join me.
“You thought I was lying about playing the guitar?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Don’t guys do stuff like that to make themselves sound cool?” Heat permeated my cheeks. I was telling myself to shut up, but my mouth wasn’t listening. Apparently, I stunk at any type of flirting. I blamed my mother and this dumb, all-girls school.
“I’m the mayor’s son and quarterback of the football team. I’m not sure having ‘plays guitar’ on my resume adds much.”
I led him down the hallway to the only studio with its lights on. “Wow, humble much?” I teased.
His face reddened as he set his guitar down and turned. “I didn’t mean…what I meant to say…”
I quirked my head to the side and then laughed. “I’m joking, Ethan. You’ve got a great…what did you call it?Resume?I’m sure there aren’t many girls at Oakwood that would say no to you.” My throat went dry as I realized what I was implying. Why couldn’t I just stop talking?
Ethan had a smug look on his face as he studied me. “Was that…a compliment?”
I shrugged and turned, making my way over to the window where the stereo was sitting. I fiddled around with it, not sure what I was planning on doing. All I knew was I needed distance betweenus. It was scary, opening myself up to him like this. I always became second best to every guy in my life. Just ask my dad. He wrote the bookHow to be a Deadbeat Dad.
And for some reason, I didn’t want the same ending with Ethan. I didn’t want to be second place. I wasn’t sure if I could handle that. The disappointment would lay a crushing blow.
“Hey, did I say something wrong?” Ethan’s voice sounded from behind me.Rightbehind me.
I yelped and turned to see that his eyes were wide. He raised his hands as if to surrender. I pressed my hand to my heart and blew out my breath. “Geez. Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
He smiled. His goofy smile that made my knees turn weak. “I could add ninja to my resume.”
I laughed. Out loud and unabashed. The light in Ethan’s eyes grew brighter. Like a kid on Christmas morning. Did that mean what I wanted it to mean? Did he like talking to me? Making me laugh?
Before I basked in the warmth that was talking and flirting with Ethan, I cleared my throat and walked over to the wall where I grabbed a chair. “You’re going first,” I said.
It was almost like a rain cloud had suddenly appeared over Ethan. He furrowed his brow as he dropped his gaze. “I was hoping we would dance first.”
I shook my head. “Nope. You’ve already seen mine, now it’s time I see yours.” I nodded toward his guitar case.
A sinister expression passed over Ethan’s face and I had to sigh and roll my eyes. I knew he would take what I said the wrong way the moment it left my lips. “That’s not what I meant,” I said as I dragged the chair into the center of the studio.
Ethan shrugged as he followed me. “I didn’t say anything.”
I turned and narrowed my eyes as I placed my hands on my hips. “Yeah, but I know what you were thinking.”
Ethan leaned into me, not at all threatened by my five-foot-five frame. He towered over me and I had to say, I liked it. Maybe a little too much.
“I highly doubt you know what I’m thinking,” he said.
I wasn’t sure, but I could have sworn his voice had deepened. And there was this look in his eyes. This mysterious, sexy, bad boy look that had my heart galloping in my chest. My breath had turned heavy and my body tingled as my thoughts started racing.
“I think I do.” My voice had turned breathy. Well, if my on-fire body hadn’t been a dead giveaway to him, my dumb voice was a homing beacon to him. Suddenly, my cool collected manner had been replaced by a bright red blinking light that said ‘come on over here, Collette is attracted to you.’
He leaned closer and I couldn’t help but notice how that movement brought his lips inches from mine. I could smell his cologne. He smelled of sandalwood and cinnamon. And his body? It was likestanding next to a heated blanket. For a split second, I wondered what it would feel like to be wrapped up next to him—and then I pushed that ridiculous thought from my mind.
I needed to get my head on straight. Right now.
I took a step back and waved my hand to the chair. “You’re worried I’m going to laugh,” I said, forcing my voice to return to normal and my snarky smile to spread across my lips.
Ethan blinked a few times, like he hadn’t expected me to step away or speak. His brows furrowed as he met my gaze. Then, recognition passed over his face and he snorted. “I wasn’t thinking that,” he said as he winked. Winked!
